logo
Best's Review Explores the Growth of the Residual Property Market

Best's Review Explores the Growth of the Residual Property Market

Business Wirea day ago

OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The June issue of Best's Review examines how the impact of climate risk and severe weather events has reshaped the insurance industry, even causing homeowners to turn to the so-called insurers of last resort, FAIR Plans:
' The Last Resort: As Private Insurers Exit High-Risk Areas, FAIR Plans Find Competitive Foothold ' reports how homeowners are turning to the residual market because of the decline in availability of coverage, even though FAIR Plan policies may cost more and offer less coverage.
' Colorado FAIR Plan Launches With Help From Plans Countrywide, Director Says ' explains the state's troubles and how its FAIR Plan aims to remedy them.
' US Treasury's FIO: Home Insurance Affordability, Availability Undermined by Climate Risks ' looks at a recent report from the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Federal Insurance Office and how industry groups are responding.
' California Regulators Say Redrawn Wildfire Hazard Maps Will Protect Homes, Communities ' explores how the California Department of Insurance wants to empower communities with more accurate information about the hazards faced by the state.
Also included:
' Large Language Models Examine Rising U.S. Homeowners Rates ' presents responses from three artificial intelligence large language models about the forces driving the increase in homeowners rates.
' Largest European Insurers – 2025 Edition ' ranks non-IFRS 17 companies by 2023 gross premiums written and IFRS 17 companies by 2023 insurance service revenue.
Best's Review is AM Best's monthly insurance magazine, covering emerging issues and trends and evaluating their impact on the marketplace. Access to the complete content of Best's Review is available here.
For Best's Review advertising opportunities and a complete media kit, visit AM Best Advertising Services.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Ford's Hot Hatch Is Now Officially History
Ford's Hot Hatch Is Now Officially History

Miami Herald

time4 hours ago

  • Miami Herald

Ford's Hot Hatch Is Now Officially History

The end is here for Ford's last hot hatch as the company confirmed to Motor1 that every factory build slot for the Focus ST is spoken for. "All Focus ST factory orders until the end of production have now been reserved," European communications manager Finn Thomasen said. Dealers across the Continent may still have a few unclaimed cars hiding in back lots, but once those are gone-and when Focus production stops in November-the book will officially close on Ford's 45-year hot-hatch chapter. The Focus joins a growing list of Ford passenger cars already in the rear-view mirror. The Fiesta bowed out in 2023, the Mondeo in 2022, and the tiny Ka back in 2020. Without them, Ford's European portfolio is dominated by crossovers such as the Puma and Kuga. The shift has taken a bite out of sales: through April, Ford moved 149,601 vehicles in the EU, U.K., and EFTA markets-down 2.2% year-over-year and less than a third of Volkswagen's haul over the same period. Even Hyundai and Kia have pulled ahead, underscoring how much ground Ford has ceded without its affordable hatchbacks. Yes, the seventh-generation Mustang still flies the performance flag, but it's hardly a volume play. EU taxes punish engines bigger than two liters, dogging the 5.0-liter V-8, while the smaller 2.3-liter EcoBoost was pulled from European order books at the end of 2020. The pony car, therefore, lives on as a niche halo, not a substitute for the daily-drivable, budget-friendly thrills once delivered by ST-badged Fiestas and Focuses. Whether Ford ever revisits the hot-hatch formula likely depends on batteries, not boost pressure. Former Ford of Europe boss-now VW sales chief-Martin Sanders has hinted that the Blue Oval could tap further into Volkswagen's MEB electric platform, the foundation for the forthcoming Explorer and Capri EVs. VW has already promised an electric GTI; a battery-fueled Fiesta ST or Focus ST revival isn't unthinkable if the economics line up. For now, though, enthusiasts must look to the used market or pivot to rival brands still flying the internal-combustion hot-hatch flag. The Fiesta Supersport of 1980 lit the fuse; the Escort RS, Fiesta XR2, and decades of ST variants kept the fire roaring. With the Focus ST's curtain call, the combustion-powered Ford hot hatch becomes history. What replaces it, if anything, will almost certainly hum rather than howl. Until that day arrives, the faithful will remember the glory years and, if they're lucky, snag one of the last STs before they're gone. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Costco goes bananas to protect members from tariffs
Costco goes bananas to protect members from tariffs

Miami Herald

time4 hours ago

  • Miami Herald

Costco goes bananas to protect members from tariffs

As a general rule, it's a good idea for retailers to offer outstanding customer service. But Costco takes that concept a step further than most. Costco is known not only for its extremely competitive prices, but also for one of the most flexible return policies in all of retail. Buy something you don't like or whose quality isn't up to par, and with very few exceptions, you can bring it back for a full refund at any time. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Costco does other things to offer great value to members. It keeps a close eye on its inventory, while aiming to introduce new products from which customers can benefit. Related: Costco plans new checkout option members should love And you can bet that Costco keeps tabs on prices, too. The warehouse club giant prides itself on offering unbeatable deals. Those extend to everything from groceries to household essentials to electronics. Even though the tariff situation is still evolving, it has retailers spooked across the board. Many retailers rely on foreign trade partners to source goods. And they know that if tariffs drive the cost of goods upward, they're going to have to pass at least some of that increase onto consumers. Related: Costco quietly drops popular product, saddens fans Unfortunately, consumers can't afford to be paying more at the register at a time when inflation is still a problem. So it's a tough situation overall. Recently, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon acknowledged that the company might have to raise prices in response to tariffs. Even though he noted that Walmart would do its best to avoid tariff-related increases, he owned up to the fact that the company probably would not be able to absorb all of the extra costs on its own. If a giant like Walmart is sounding tariff warnings, you can bet that smaller retailers will be looking at raising prices, too. They may simply have no choice. While many retailers are sounding alarms on tariffs, Costco is doing the opposite. During the company's most recent earnings call, the Costco leadership team reassured investors that it had the tariff situation under control. "We're remaining agile as a situation with tariffs evolves," CEO Ron Vachris said. "As an example of this, during the third quarter, we rerouted many goods sourced from countries with large tariff exposure to our non-U.S. markets." Related: Costco brings back food court favorite, but members aren't happy In addition to moving goods strategically, Costco also intentionally held prices steady on key grocery items, even if that meant eating into profits. During that same last earnings call, CFO Gary Millerchip called out two such items – pineapples and bananas. "We felt it was important to really eliminate the impact there for the member," Millerchip explained. "We essentially held the price on those to make sure that we're protecting the member." In addition to keeping prices steady on key produce items, Costco also lowered prices on essential items like butter, eggs, and olive oil, Millerchip said. More Retail: Walmart CEO sounds alarm on a big problem for customersTarget makes a change that might scare Walmart, CostcoTop investor takes firm stance on troubled retail brandWalmart and Costco making major change affecting all customers To be fair, Costco isn't just holding and lowering prices out of the goodness of its heart. The company relies on membership fees for a huge chunk of its revenue. So Costco is invested in making members happy by keeping prices as stable as possible. But regardless of the company's motives for keeping prices low, Costco members still benefit. And at a time when so many retailers may be looking at price increases, Costco's commitment to shielding members from tariffs can't be overlooked. Maurie Backman owns shares of Costco. Related: Walmart makes surprise cuts as it looks at tariff price hikes The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.

China says it may speed up rare earths application approvals from EU
China says it may speed up rare earths application approvals from EU

Yahoo

time6 hours ago

  • Yahoo

China says it may speed up rare earths application approvals from EU

By Brenda Goh SHANGHAI (Reuters) -China is willing to accelerate the examination and approval of rare earth exports to European Union firms and will also deliver a verdict on its trade investigation of EU brandy imports by July 5, its commerce ministry said on Saturday. Price commitment consultations between China and the EU on Chinese-made electric vehicles exported to the EU have also entered a final stage but efforts from both sides are still needed, according to a statement on the Chinese commerce ministry's website. The issues were discussed between Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic in Paris on Tuesday, according to the statement. The comments mark progress on matters that have vexed China's relationship with the European Union over the past year. Most recently, China's decision in April to suspend exports of a wide range of rare earths and related magnets has upended the supply chains central to automakers, aerospace manufacturers, semiconductor companies and military contractors around the world. The ministry said China attached great importance to the EU's concerns and "was willing to establish a green channel for qualified applications to speed up the approval process." Commerce Minister Wang during the meeting "expressed the hope that the EU will meet us halfway and take effective measures to facilitate, safeguard and promote compliant trade in high-tech products to China," according to the statement. Chinese anti-dumping measures that applied duties of up to 39% on imports of European brandy - with French cognac bearing the brunt - have also strained relations between Paris and Beijing. The brandy duties were enforced days after the European Union took action against Chinese-made electric vehicle imports to shield its local industry, prompting France's President Emmanuel Macron to accuse Beijing of "pure retaliation". The Chinese duties have dented sales of brands including LVMH's Hennessy, Pernod Ricard's Martell and Remy Cointreau. Beijing was initially meant to make a final decision on the brandy duties by January, but extended the deadline to April and then again to July 5. China's commerce ministry said on Saturday that French companies and relevant associations had proactively submitted applications on price commitments for brandy to China and that Chinese investigators had reached an agreement with them on the core terms. Chinese authorities were now reviewing the complete text on those commitments and would issue a final announcement before July 5, it said. In April, the European Commission said the EU and China had also agreed to look into setting minimum prices of Chinese-made electric vehicles instead of tariffs imposed by the EU last year. China's commerce ministry said the EU had also proposed exploring "new technical paths" relating to EVs, which the Chinese side was now evaluating.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store