This month's highlights - Broking is staying strong

On 5 February, Andrew Tjaardstra wrote: "This week, I enjoyed talking to those in the market who are as passionate about broking as ever. Insurance is a resilient sector and although many businesses are hurting, brokers' client relationships are strong and will become even stronger as they concentrate on the basics: after all, holding onto the clients you already have has become the new growth play for 2009. In Jelf's results this week, its chairman described these as "strange economic times". Perhaps this is the best description, as we seem to be in the middle of a drama in which we have no idea when the finish is. I think we are still attempting to work out how we got here."

On 12 February, Tjaardstra wrote: "Zurich's UK chief executive Guy Munnoch said he had a tricky dilemma last week after deciding whether or not to go ahead with a leadership conference despite snow on the horizon. Having just returned from the Antartic, he decided that a little British snow shouldn't get in the way of the conference, so he gave the green light and rose at half-past five in the morning just to make sure he got there. Unfortunately for Guy, he was the only one who made it. We are sure, though, that announcing Zurich's latest set of results to head office - a £295m profit - was a more pleasant experience."

On 19 February: A round-up of the news; a plane crashed in Buffalo killing 49 people; HBOS posted a loss of £10bn; Alec Finch stepped down; Willis refinances loan; Catlin's profits dip; Sir Allen Stanford accused of fraud; Axa UK announced profits leap; Groupama sees profits fall and splits business into three; HSBC launches Platform 24; the Serious Fraud Office investigates AIG's Financial Products division; MMA relaunches commercial combined product; Willis Networks adds eight members.