Weblog - 27 January 2011 | People & Opinion

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A round-up of the latest insurance stories online

It didn’t take long for the rumour-mill to spring into life this year. Last week talk on the stock markets focused on a takeover bid for RSA.

It’s not the first time the insurer has been the centre of such market chatter – and I doubt it will be the last. Web traffic spiked as online readers rushed to our site to read that Zurich and Finnish insurer Sampo were the latest companies linked to a bid.

Radio silence from all parties will do nothing to quell the speculation, particularly as this year analysts predict an increase in mergers and acquisitions activity in the insurer space. In a web exclusive for our online subscribers, we looked at how likely a bid for RSA is.

Celebrity news ranked highly in the weblog top 10 again this week. Following David Beckham’s brief flirtation with the web league last week, Naomi Campbell caused a stir when it was claimed that insurers could save millions by slashing success fee payments following a groundbreaking European judgment in a case involving the supermodel.

There was excitement when the iPad was used for the first time between a broker and underwriter in Lloyd’s. The tablet computer is quickly becoming the must-have gadget down on Lime Street.

And eyebrows were raised when online readers learned of Igal Mayer’s return to the UK. The former Aviva UK general insurance chief is taking over as its European head, based in London. Subscribers to our news alert service crowded on to the site when the headline appeared in their inbox.

We also updated online readers on the sale of Provident Insurance, and revealed the new role handed to AXA’s managing director of claims, David Williams.