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Flying Food Group's membership in IFSA supports scholarships, empowers students worldwide

Flying Food Group (FFG), a global airline catering company, actively participates in the International Flight Services Association (IFSA), an organization that annually awards numerous academic scholarships to recipients worldwide. In 2023, FFG helped the IFSA Foundation distribute over 25 scholarships, totaling more than $129,800.

CME Group announces historic milestone in copper options trading

CME Group has announced that open interest in copper options has surpassed 200,000 contracts, marking a significant milestone after several consecutive daily records. The top five open-interest Copper option (HX) records have been established.

A quarter of women in the workplace fear they’re “on the wrong track” for retirement

A recent study conducted by the Nationwide Retirement Institute® (NRI) has shed light on the retirement concerns faced by women in the workplace. According to the research, one in four women feel they’re “on the wrong track” for retirement, compared to 15% of men. The study also found that 41% of women hold a negative or neutral outlook on their retirement planning, in contrast to just 29% of men.Cathy Marasco, leader of Protected Retirement for Nationwide Retirement Solutions, highlighted the challenges faced by women in retirement planning, stating, “Women are actively...

Medfluence Advisors wins Gold Viddy Award with 'The Pronunciation' Healthcare Marketing Video Series

Medfluence Advisors was honored with a 2023 gold Viddy Award for their video series "The Pronunciation." Garnering over 7.2 million views on YouTube, this campaign exemplifies the company's forward-thinking strategy in healthcare marketing.

AAA Announces New Four Diamond Hotels and Restaurants Across North America

Five hotels and one restaurant have recently been added to AAA's prestigious Four Diamonds list, signifying excellence in cleanliness, comfort, cuisine, and consistency. Among the new additions are the Paradox Hotel and the AZUR Legacy Collection Hotel in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, as well as the Luminary Hotel & Co. in Fort Myers, Florida. Additionally, the Aguascalientes Marriott Hotel in Mexico and the Hotel Riu Palace Pacifico in Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, Mexico have also earned the Four Diamond designation.Mixtli, a restaurant in San Antonio, Texas, has also...

Nationwide Chosen as Puget Sound Kidney Centers’ 403(b) Plan Provider

Puget Sound Kidney Centers has selected Nationwide Retirement Solutions to provide recordkeeping and education services for its 403(b) deferred retirement contribution plans, which boast over $25 million in assets under management and around 440 plan participants.“Our highest priority when choosing a new retirement services provider was ensuring that our employees have an excellent experience,” said Tom DeBord, President & CEO for Puget Sound Kidney Centers.In addition to recordkeeping and administrative services, Nationwide will offer participants holistic financial...

Gas Prices March Higher with the Arrival of Spring

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 21, 2024)—The national average for a gallon of gas rose 11 cents since last week to $3.52. While domestic gas demand has been lackluster, rising oil prices helped push pump prices higher. The Midwest may see a bit of a price reprieve, as the large BP Whiting refinery in Indiana is back up and running after being down since February 1st."Gas prices are a lot like seasonal temperatures. They start to rise with the arrival of spring," said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson. "And the national average for gas is now higher than a year ago, which we have...

Pool Re CEO 'confident' as UK terrorism reinsurer faces pivotal vote on future

State-backed UK terrorism reinsurer Pool Reinsurance Co. Ltd. is "very confident" that its members will vote in favor of fundamental changes to how it is run. The changes, which include shifting to catastrophe treaty-style reinsurance coverage from the current facultative model, are part of Pool Re's remit to return more risk to the private insurance market, which is a condition of its unlimited guarantee from the UK government. Pool Re is classified as an arms-length body of the UK Treasury department."The government support for the scheme ... sits as a cornerstone for...

Allstate Announces February 2024 Catastrophe Losses and Implemented Rates

NORTHBROOK, Ill., March 21, 2024 – The Allstate Corporation disclosed that their "estimated catastrophe losses were below the $150 million reporting threshold for February 2024." The company also revealed that "Rate increases for Allstate brand auto insurance resulted in a premium impact of 0.1% for the month of February and 1.5% year-to-date," as well as stating that "Rate increases for Allstate brand homeowners insurance have resulted in a premium impact of 2.4% for the month of February and 2.7% year-to-date." Additionally, they mentioned that "Implemented rate increases...

Flying Food Group’s 2023 milestones: Sustainable innovations drive a greener future in aviation catering

Flying Food Group (FFG) has been at the forefront of sustainable practices within the aviation catering industry. Through the company’s sustainability initiative, Greener Runways, their efforts in 2023 mark significant strides toward a greener future. With a focus on reducing organic waste, implementing recycling trials, and upgrading their vehicle fleet, FFG is demonstrating its commitment to environmental stewardship.

UK insurance M&A the outlier as EMEA deal volume falls in 2023

Mergers and acquisitions in the UK insurance industry saw a rise in 2023, contrasting with a broader slowdown in deal activity across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. According to S&P Global Market Intelligence data, "there were 156 acquisitions of UK insurance targets last year, up from 130 in 2022."While deal numbers across EMEA decreased, the UK stood out as the most active M&A market in the region. The main driver behind the UK's volume was broker M&A, with a large number of small brokers and larger groups pursuing buy-and-build strategies. Notable deals included...

Save the Date: Triple-I and International Insurance Society Joint Industry Forum in Miami

The Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) has announced that it will hold its 2024 Joint Industry Forum (JIF) in Miami, Florida, on Tuesday, Nov. 19, and Wednesday, Nov. 20. The event will focus on providing expert perspectives on the state of the insurance industry under the theme Solutions for a New Age of Risk.Triple-I's CEO, Sean Kevelighan, emphasized the importance of updating assumptions and priorities for risk and insurance professionals, stating, “Senior risk and insurance professionals need to continuously update their assumptions and priorities, and...

State Farm General Insurance Company Makes Difficult Decisions Impacting California Policyholders

Bloomington, IL, March 20, 2024 — State Farm General Insurance Company, in an effort to ensure its long-term sustainability in California, has announced some significant changes that will affect a portion of its policyholders in the state.The company revealed that approximately 30,000 homeowners, rental dwelling, and other property insurance policies will not be renewed. Additionally, around 42,000 commercial apartment policies will also not be renewed. It is important to note that renters insurance will not be impacted by these decisions.These actions, specific to...

2023 US life statutory results: Individual annuity growth hits 21-year high

According to estimates from S&P Global Market Intelligence, individual annuity direct premiums and considerations surged by 21.8% in 2023, marking a third straight year of double-digit growth. The most substantial annual growth rate for this product category since 2002."A resilient domestic economy, rising interest rates, and ample supply of attractive products led to outsized expansion in individual annuities during a year of otherwise mixed growth in business volumes for the US life insurance industry." - S&P Global Market IntelligenceThe top six individual entities...

Whiskers & Widgets: Inside Nationwide’s AI-Infused Pet HealthZone

On March 19, 2024, Nationwide introduced a groundbreaking digital resource, the Pet HealthZone, powered by generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI), aimed at providing pet owners with valuable insights into their pets' health. Dr. Emily Tincher, Nationwide’s senior director of pet health, and Melanie Kolp, Nationwide’s senior vice president and chief technology officer of technology strategy, data and innovation, shed light on the functionality of this innovative platform.The Pet HealthZone leverages over 40 years of pet insurance data to offer pet owners personalized...

Fla. Property Insurers See Positive Turnaround in 2023

Florida domestic residential property insurers saw a positive financial turnaround in 2023 after seven years of struggling. According to an analysis by S&P Global Market Intelligence, the group of around 50 insurers reported a net income of $147.3 million for the year, marking a significant improvement from previous years of losses exceeding $1 billion.One of the key factors contributing to this improvement was a notable increase in investment income and better underwriting results. Additionally, the industry benefited from a mild hurricane season and saw a rise in...

JPMorgan Chase partners with Academy Museum of Motion Pictures

JPMorgan Chase has announced a partnership with the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. As a result of the partnership, the financial institution, headquartered in New York City, will sponsor select temporary exhibitions, the museum's regular feature, and community related events.

It’s Not Too Late to Plan a Road Trip for the Eclipse

WASHINGTON, DC (March 18, 2024) – Even though many eclipse enthusiasts have had April 8, 2024 marked on their calendars for years, there are some people who are just now deciding they want to experience this natural phenomenon in person. If this is you, it’s not too late.According to AAA booking data, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio are the most popular cities along the path of totality for the upcoming eclipse on April 8, 2024. Indianapolis, Cleveland, and Buffalo are also top eclipse-viewing destinations, with Dallas experiencing a significant increase in reservations...

California insurance regulator to greenlight wildfire cat models

Property and casualty insurers doing business in California will be able to expand their use of catastrophe modeling under a new proposal from the state regulator. The California Department of Insurance is proposing that insurers be permitted to use catastrophe models that include wildfire, terrorism, and flood lines for both homeowners and commercial insurance lines.The proposal, which is the second element of the regulator's Sustainable Insurance Strategy introduced by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, aims to revise what can be included in catastrophe modeling. This...

S&P webinar: Persisting volatility could weigh on APAC insurers' profitability

Amidst persisting volatility in capital markets, insurers in the Asia-Pacific region are facing uncertainties over earnings, prompting them to actively manage their investments. According to S&P Global Ratings analysts, 98% of rated insurers in Asia-Pacific have a stable outlook, but the ongoing market fluctuations are impacting profitability.Lead analyst Wenwen Chen highlighted that insurers in the region are reassessing risk-return balances and becoming more selective due to credit stresses, particularly in real estate and alternative investments. Chen also noted that...