The MSA / Baron Outlook Report

The quarterly MSA/Baron Outlook Reports cover financial issues affecting the Canadian P&C industry. Each issue contains insightful, thought provoking research pieces covering various aspects of the industry. In addition to the articles, each issue contains updated summary financial results for Canada’s insurers, and updated Standard and Poor's Financial Strength Ratings which we’re certain that you will find of great interest.

As is evident from its name, the MSA/Baron Outlook Report is produced and authored jointly by MSA Research Inc., Canada’s leading provider of insurance analytics and Baron Insurance Services Inc., a well respected actuarial and consulting firm. Together, we provide concise, independent, accurate and timely information that is relevant to you, the industry professional.  Order Form (PDF)







In This Issue:

  • Q3-2011 – Traction still proving elusive
  • Ontario Auto – Under review with negative implications
  • Change for Change’s Sake? An analysis of revisions to the MCT/BAAT tests.
  • PCS-Canada Catastrophe News
  • S&P Rating Roundup
  • Third Quarter and Nine-Month 2011 Company Results

MSA's Glossary of Industry Terms, Abbreviations and Jargon.

Back Issues:
 
To order back issues, please e-mail msabaron@msaresearcher.com
or call 416 368-0777 x5


  Q2-2011
  • Q2 2011 - Neither Moribund nor Turnaround
  • Reinsurers - Taking it on the Chin
  • Key Principles for a Canadian ILS Regulatory Regime
  • PCS-Canada Catastrophe News
  • S&P Rating Roundup
  • Second Quarter and Six-Month 2011 Company Results
  Q1-2011
  • Q1-2011 - A Tale of Two Markets
  • Intact Takes a Commanding Position
  • Intact/AXA Side Shows
  • A Survey of Personal Lines in Atlantic Canada
  • PCS-Canada Catastrophe News
  • S&P Rating Roundup
  • First Quarter Company Results 
 Q4-2010  
  • 2010 - An Industry Odyssey
  • Ontario Auto - The Calm Before the Storm
  • Distracted Driving - Is the Big Picture Missing?
  • PCS-Canada Catastrophe News
  • S&P Rating Roundup
  • Fourth Quarter and Year-End Company Results
 Q3-2010  
  • Nine Months - Modest Improvement... For Some
  • The Battle for The Economical Insurance Group
  • Winners and Losers - Varying Strategies Yield Varying Results
  • Yes G-Can!  The Sale of GCAN to RSA
  • PCS-Canada Catastrophe News
  • S&P Rating Roundup
  • Third Quarter and Nine-Month Company Results
 Q2-2010  
  • Q2-2010 - Running to Stand Still
  • Insurance Linked Securities: The State of Canadian Insurance Law and Regulation
  • Cost-Saving Changes in Canada's Arbitration Clause
  • PCS-Canada Catastrophe News
  • S&P Rating Roundup
  • Second Quarter Company Results
 Q1-2010
  • Q1-2010 - Not out of the Woods
  • Part XIII - First Cut
  • Banks - Playing for Keeps
  • M&A in the Canadian P&C Industry - A Family History
  • Introducing the Baron Index
  • PCS-Canada Catastrophe News
  • S&P Rating Roundup
  • First Quarter Company Results
 Q4-2009
  • Analysis of Year-End 2009 and Outlook for 2010
  • Ontario Auto - The Seven Year Itch
  • Commercial Lines - Does Size Matter?
  • S&P Rating Roundup
  • Summarized fourth quarter and year-end company results
 Q3-2009
  • A review of nine-month 2009 results
  • Property Losses - A Mounting Problem
  • Significant M&A in 2010 - Is the Window Closing?
  • S&P Rating Roundup
  • Third quarter company results
 Q2-2009
  • A review of second quarter 2009 results
  • Bank Holdup - Flaherty's Move
  • Credit Where Credit is Due - Credit Scoring in Personal Lines
  • Extracts from S&P's 2009 Global Reinsurance Highlights
  • S&P Rating Roundup
  • Second quarter company results
 Q1-2009
  • A review of first quarter 2009 results
  • Looking for the hard market
  • Are the tanks empty? An analysis of industry reserves
  • Reinsurers - more risk, less reward
  • The case for personal lines credit scoring
  • S&P Rating Roundup
  • First quarter company results

Correction Notice: Please note that the 'PY Rolling ROE after OCI

column in the company results table should be disregarded due to a calculation error. Please contact us to obtain a corrected version of that table. We apologize for any inconvenience.

 Q4-2008
  • A detailed analysis of year-end results
  • A review of Kingsway Financial and Intact Financial Corp
  • An analysis of the Ontario auto insurance crisis
  • S&P Rating Roundup
  • Year-end and fourth quarter company results
 Q3-2008
  • An Analysis of Nine-Month results – Other Comprehensive….Losses
  • Capital Crunch, MCT Compression and Liquidity Squeeze
  • A Review of Property Results – Subprime Underwriting
  • S&P Rating Roundup
  • Nine-Month Company Results
  Q2-2008
  • An analysis of second quarter 2008 results.
  • AIG's Canadian Operations - Financial Condition and Outlook.
  • Kingsway's Sale of York Fire and Casualty to La Capitale.
  • Extracts from S&P's Global Reinsurance Highlights.
  • Standard and Poor’s Rating Roundup.
  • Summarized second quarter 2008 financial results.
 Q1-2008
  • An analysis of first quarter 2008 results.
  • A report on Alberta auto in the wake of the Wittmann ruling.
  • A review of the Canadian reinsurance sector.
  • A snapshot of the brokered market.
  • Standard and Poor’s Rating Roundup.
  • Summarized first quarter 2008 financial results.
 Q4-2007
  • A review of year-end 2007 results and outlook for 2008.
  • A detailed analysis of the Ontario auto situation.
  • Capital Questions for Insurance Boards.
  • Standard and Poor’s Rating Roundup.
  • Summarized year-end 2007 financial results.
 Q3-2007
  • A review of nine-month 2007 results.
  • Fair value accounting and insurance metrics.
  • Shifting sands - implications of changes in accounting standards.
  • R&SA's acquisition of CNS - an analysis.
  • Standard and Poor’s Rating Roundup.
  • Nine-Month Company Results - Comparative financial results through September 30, 2007   
 Q2-2007
  • A review of second quarter 2007 results.
  • An analysis of adjustment expenses over time.
  • Fair value accounting – take two. Teething problems.
  • Global reinsurance overview from Standard and Poor’s.
  • Standard and Poor’s Rating Roundup.
  • Six-Month Company Results - Comparative financial results through June 30, 2007 
 Q1-2007
  • A Shaky Start- Review of first quarter results
  • Fair Value Accounting – Out of the Gate. How insurers managed the new accounting standard.
  • Unanticipated Consequences of Regulation.
  • Inside/Outside – Upside/Downside. OSFI’s incoming regime for the regulation of foreign insurers. An analysis.
  • S&P Rating Roundup
  • Three-Month Company Results - Comparative financial results through March 31, 2007
 Q4-2006
  •  Year-End Review – Healthy Results – Questionable Sustainability.
  • Capital Quandary – More over-capitalized than ever. What to do?
  • 2006 Top Market Rankings – Top writers by line by province.
  • A Case for Minor Lines – A review of developments in minor industry lines.
  • Standard and Poor’s Rating Roundup.
  • Summarized year-end and fourth quarter 2006 financial results for the majority of Canadian insurers.
 Q3-2006
  • A Detailed Survey of Commercial Lines.
  • An Analysis of Profit Segmentation in Advance of Year-End.
  • S&P Ratings Roundup.
  • Nine-Month 2006 Company Results
 Q2-2006
  • An analysis of six-month results.
  • New Fair Value Accounting - Mountain or molehill?
  • Fair Value Accounting - An analyst's diliemma.
  • Give and Take - A study of net, gross and ceded loss ratios.
  • S&P Ratings Roundup. 
  • Six-Month 2006 Company Results.
 Q1-2006
  • Auto reforms. Are they working or not?
  • A summary of auto product reforms.
  • S&P commentary report. Stable outlook for global reinsurers.
  • S&P Ratings Roundup.
  • Three-Month 2006 Company Results.
 Q4-2005
  • The In-Between Time. 2005 in review and outlook for '06.
  • The M&A Logjam - Buyers galore. Sellers scarce.
  • 2005 Rankings - Top markets by line by region.
  • Direct Writers Gaining Ground.
  • S&P Ratings Roundup.
  • Twelve-Month 2005 Company Results.
Q3-2005
  • Bancassurance
  • Now Closer Than Ever. 
  • Reserving Trends. 
  • The Big Deal, Swiss Re's Acquisition of GE ERC.
  • Q3 Results - An Analysis.
  • Nine-Month 2005 Company Results.
Q2-2005
  • Invested Assets
  • Risk with Modest Reward.
  • Swimming in Capital...Again. 
  • Q2 Results 
  • Maintaining Discipline.
  • Six-Month 2005 Company Results.
Q1-2005
  • Auto Insurance 
  • True Reform or the Road to Government-run insurance?
  • Q1 Results 
  • Marred by Suncor Energy Loss. 
  • Tech Tips 
  • Understanding Loss Development Charts. 
  • Three-Month 2005 Company Results.
Q4-2004
  • Preparing for the Down Cycle
  • An analysis of 2004 results.
  • Commercial Lines 
  • Landing softly? 
  • 2004 Rankings 
  • Top markets by line in each region. 
  • Twelve-Month Company Results.
Q3-2004
  • Lowering Expenses a Recipe for Success?
  • In Search of Scale. 
  • A Survey of the Canadian Reinsurance Sector. 
  • Nine-Month Company Results.
Q2-2004
  • Market Outlook
  • Efficiencies Missing in Action 
  • Where Have All the Claims Gone? 
  • Six-Month Company Results 
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