Market News

Aon's 2025 Insurance-Linked Securities (ILS) Annual Report highlights alternative capital reaching $121 billion, with catastrophe bond issuance at $21.7 billion and sidecars at $17 billion. Insurer participation rose to 58 percent, while Florida-focused issuances reached $5 billion. Despite global catastrophes, catastrophe bonds delivered 14.1 percent returns for investors. Read More

AM Best released its revised criteria, "Rating Captives and Other Alternative Risk Transfer Entities." The update clarifies treatment of incorporated and unincorporated cell entities, affirms the weakest link approach, details letters of credit standards, and emphasizes parental support and governance in evaluating captive insurance companies' credit ratings. Read More

The July 2025 "Ivans Index" showed year-over-year premium renewal rate increases across most commercial lines, including commercial auto, business owners policy (BOP), general liability, property, and umbrella, while workers compensation declined. Month over month, general liability, umbrella, and workers compensation saw gains, while commercial auto, BOP, and property recorded decreases in rate changes. Read More

The Cayman Islands passed two amendment bills to prepare for the 2027 Financial Action Task Force (FATF) assessment, strengthen anti–money laundering compliance, modernize nonprofit governance, and clarify tokenized investment fund regulation under its virtual asset regime, reinforcing the jurisdiction's global competitiveness and appeal as a FinTech and financial services hub. Read More

Global reinsurers met their cost of capital for a second year in 2024, supported by stronger market discipline and risk management. AM Best reports capital efficiency improved while reinsurance rate hikes slowed into early 2025. Alternative capital and tighter underwriting standards continue to influence industry performance ahead of major market conferences. Read More