| 9 August |
Exploring Insurance And Financial Industry Trends |
The insurance and financial industry trends were both rocked by the global financial crisis of 2008 to 2010. The crisis triggered a string of collapses of prestigious financial institutions and brought into question the established economic ideals of West capitalism. However many analysts claim that after significant restructuring, economies all over the world decided to balance an interventionist schema with a pragmatic approach that can deregulate swiftly based on domestic conditions.
One of the big concerns of modern corporations is the issue of responsibility and accountability regarding social and environmental decisions. Ernst & Young have printed a white paper showing that in 2010, there was a rise in shareholder resolutions which specifically emphasized the environment or similar issues of company accountability. Last year saw 191 resolutions over the 150 in the previous year.
The evidence indicates investors are more concerned than ever before with being responsible to society and the environment. Many argue this is almost close to becoming an essential priority because resolutions focused on these issues have risen steadily over the past six years. ExxonMobil shareholders voted to make the company be far more open to public on its oil and natural gas extraction process.
The recent global economic events have changed widely held beliefs regarding unlimited growth for corporations. Companies now need to shift their focus to sustaining long-term and steady growth as opposed to erratic bursts to meet their numerous financial goals. Sustainability requires a new pragmatic outlook where growth is not hazardously pursued.
Corporations have faltered and in some cases collapsed as a result of unrealistic growth projects that bet heavily on markets and regions or because they could not sustain expansion in a turbulent economic climate. The modern corporate strategy of sustainability requires strong leaders who can appease investor expectations and locate where the new engines of growth will begin.
The string of natural disasters that have happened in early 2011 leads many analysts to predict insurance prices will rise to respond on the number of crises. Tragedies in New Zealand, Australia and Japan have ruined whole communities and boosted insurance claims.
Lloyds of London expects the high rate of natural calamities to result in a higher rates of insurance as damaged companies seek to rebuild. This was also the view of Caitlin, another global insurer, who thinks the catastrophes of 2011 will inevitably raise insurance prices.