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Danny Walkinshaw looks at the latest insurance stories online

The big issues just keep on rolling in during what has been a massive week for insurance news online.

First, one headline that brokers and insurers alike would not have welcomed less than two weeks into the new year was the story ‘Motor insurer results “worse than feared”.’

This alarm-bell ringing came from actuarial and business consultancy EMB’s annual report on the motor market, which would have made for grim reading for underwriters, as well as brokers, who have suffered from challenging times in the motor sector over the past year (see insurancetimes.co.uk for the latest independent broker blog by Peter Smits for more on this).

In more unwelcome news for brokers, particularly those of a smaller nature, details of the trade associations’ responses to the FSA’s consultation paper on its latest fee proposals began to emerge, with the early signs leaning towards the FSA?imposing a major increase for the little guys.

No doubt Biba and the IIB will fight their ground forcefully, so keep an eye out for further developments on this issue.

On to pleural plaques and the Scottish courts’ decision to uphold its bill allowing plaques victims to claim compensation. The news swept across UK websites, as those affected in Scotland and those campaigning in England and Wales for a similar deal rejoiced. But it’s not all over just yet for insurers, for as insurancetimes.co.uk revealed last week, the four main parties, AXA, Aviva, RSA and Zurich, have now lodged an appeal.

And who could forget the Jackson Review, which caused an explosion of online stories when it was finally unveiled last week after a year of consultation. Trade publications and broadsheets alike covered the review’s recommendations, which include a ban on referral fees for personal injury claims.