Commercial faces long road to hardening rates
Despite insurers announcing improved profitability last year, the commercial market still faces tough trading conditions
The slew of insurers announcing commercial combined operating ratios (COR) at or above 100%, along with RSA’s decision to cull 200 brokers from its agency base, has highlighted the tough conditions facing insurers and brokers. However, brokers may be able to draw some comfort from the fact there appears to be little prospect of further mass agency cancellations.
As the box (below) details, insurers have recently announced improved profitability in 2011 and better group CORs than in 2010. However
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