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☆ Morning Bid: Bank of Japan excites, Dow unlucky, Intel jumps
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Specifically, the central bank said it would offer to buy 10-year JGBs at 1.0% in fixed-rate operations, instead of the previous rate of 0.5% - tolerating the wider band for bond market borrowing rates. With July core inflation in Tokyo falling back to a 10-month low, the need for tightening may be ebbing anyway. Friday's data is expected to show another drop in the Fed's favoured core PCE inflation gauge in June. For markets more broadly, Friday seems a little scattergun so far after a heavy week of macro policy and corporate news. U.S. Treasury yields fell back from two-week highs hit after the punchy U.S. economy readouts and central bank moves, with the 2-to-10 year yield curve steepening as recession fears abate.

Persons: Mike Dolan, Dow Jones bluechips, T Rowe Price, Nick Macfie Organizations: Bank of Japan, Dow, Nikkei, Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Treasury, ECB, Intel, U.S, Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Proctor, Gamble, Colgate Palmolive, Franklin Resources, Newell Brands, Church, Dwight, Charter Communications, Dallas Fed, University of Michigan, Reuters, Thomson Locations: U.S, Wall St, Tokyo, Wall, Asia, Centene, Franklin

☆ 2 huge employers just said they're dumping Wegovy from their health plans. It's a sign of a crackdown on popular weight-loss drugs.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-22 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Ascension and the University of Texas System are set to stop paying for workers' weight-loss drugs. Jenny started taking the popular weight-loss injection Wegovy in February and saw results almost immediately. picture alliance/Getty ImagesThe crackdown on insurance coverage for weight-loss drugs may be just beginning. Renee Rayburg, a consultant at Pharmaceutical Strategies Group who helps companies manage their spending on prescription drugs, said she hadn't seen many employers retreat completely from covering weight-loss drugs, as Ascension is doing. Any weight-loss drugs that hit the market in the future would also be excluded.

Persons: Jenny, Wegovy, Ascension, Renee Rayburg, hadn't, Saxenda, Angela Fitch, Fitch, Eli Lilly's Mounjaro, Getty, Marianne Ayala, Tracy Spencer, Spencer, Drugmakers, haven't, she's, that's Organizations: University of Texas, Companies, Pharmaceutical, Group, PSG, Wegovy, UT, Obesity Medicine Association . Obesity Medicine, Obesity Medicine Association, Food, Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, Novo Nordisk

☆ Third quarter is a key time for extreme weather events. Here's what to expect for exposed stocks
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The third quarter is a key time for extreme weather events. An El Niño weather pattern is widely expected for 2023. "Following three years of La Niña, climate scientists expect 2023 to have El Niño conditions with near-100% certainty given current signals," Karp said in a note to clients last month. Insurers are also among the stocks to typically move in relation to extreme weather events. This year should be a fairly typical one for hurricanes, as El Niño is typically linked to a less severe season.

Persons: Nature, —, Sophie Karp, La, Karp, El, bode, Morgan Stanley, Andrei Stadnik, Stadnik, Matthew Carletti doesn't, hasn't, Jefferies, Yaron Kinar, Brown, Arthur J, Gallagher, Aon, Niño, Generac, Aaron Jagdfeld, Bob Huang, bullish, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, Energy, DTE Energy, WEC Energy, CNBC Pro's, WEC, Xcel Energy, Portland General Electric, Edison International, CenterPoint, Southern Company, Duke Energy, Nextera Energy, El, Insurance Australia Group, Suncorp, Arch Capital, Everest Re, Bloomberg, Arch Locations: El, Canada, U.S, Gulf, Pacific Northwest, California, Michigan, Avista, Portland, American, Mexico, CenterPoint Energy, Bermuda, Texas

☆ U.S. property catastrophe reinsurance rates rise up to 50% on July 1-report
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Higher reinsurance rates can affect the premiums which insurers charge to their customers. U.S. reinsurance rates for policies which previously faced claims for natural catastrophes rose 30-50%, Gallagher Re said. Reinsurance rates for similar policies in Florida rose 30-40%, the broker added. State Farm said in May it would stop selling new insurance policies to homeowners in California. Reinsurance rates for some types of aviation war policies rose by up to 100% on the July 1 renewal date, Gallagher Re said.

Persons: Mike Blake, Gallagher Re, James Vickers, Gallagher, Hurricane Ian, Aon, Carolyn Cohn, Noor Zainab Hussain, Louise Heavens Organizations: REUTERS, Farm, Gallagher Re, Reuters, Vickers, Hurricane, U.S, Industry, Boeing, Thomson Locations: Laguna Niguel , California, U.S, California, Florida, In Florida, Russia, Khartoum, London, Bengaluru

☆ Dublin airport staff's salary data breached
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] An Irish Hare is seen at Dublin Airport in Dublin, Ireland, December 3, 2021. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne/File PhotoJuly 2 (Reuters) - Some Dublin airport staff's financial information has been compromised by a cyber-attack on provider company Aon (AON.N) that also affected various other firms, the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) said on Sunday. Britain's Sunday Times reported that the attack on file-transfer software tool MOVEit, used by Aon, affected nearly 2,000 Dublin airport staff, as well other agencies and companies in the US and UK. "DAA is offering support, advice and assistance to employees impacted by this criminal cyber-attack," the Irish airport authority said, without giving further details. Reporting by Anirudh Saligrama, additional reporting by Gursimran Kaur, Editing by David Gregorio and Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Irish Hare, Clodagh, AON, Anirudh Saligrama, Gursimran Kaur, David Gregorio, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Dublin Airport, REUTERS, Dublin Airport Authority, Sunday Times, Thomson Locations: Irish, Dublin, Ireland

☆ Obesity drug Wegovy's popularity has US employers rethinking insurance coverage
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Patrick Wingrove | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/2] A selection of injector pens for the Saxenda weight loss drug are shown in this photo illustration in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., March 31, 2023. A new and more expensive version of the drug specifically for weight loss, called Wegovy, had been approved in 2021 by U.S. health regulators. Employers that cover weight-loss drugs have required medical practices to document patients’ need for Wegovy since it was approved. The federal Medicare healthcare program for Americans aged 65 and older cannot cover weight loss treatments by law. Only 16 states – the most populous being California, Pennsylvania and Michigan – cover Wegovy and other obesity drugs under their Medicaid plans for low-income patients.

Persons: Jim Vondruska, Shawnte, Aon, Mercer, Willis Towers Watson, Eli Lilly, Jeff Levin, Levin, Scherz, Michael Manolakis, William Yancy, Manolakis, Patrick Wingrove, Michele Gershberg, Suzanne Goldenberg Organizations: REUTERS, New, Warner Bros, Warner Bros Discovery Inc, Reuters, Marsh & McLennan, Employers, Barclays Research, Novo Nordisk, Duke University, Thomson Locations: Chicago , Illinois, U.S, New York, Marsh, Wegovy, California, Pennsylvania, Michigan

☆ Millions of Americans’ personal data exposed in global hack
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Millions of people in Louisiana and Oregon have had their data compromised in the sprawling cyberattack that has also hit the US federal government, state agencies said late Thursday. The breach has affected 3.5 million Oregonians with driver’s licenses or state ID cards, and anyone with that documentation in Louisiana, authorities said. The hackers exploited a flaw in a popular file-transfer software known as MOVEit made by Massachusetts-based Progress Software. Hundreds of organizations across the globe have likely had their data exposed after the hackers used the flaw to break into networks in recent weeks. US officials described the cyberattack as an opportunistic, financially motivated hack that has not caused disruptions to agency services.

Persons: Casey Tingle, Aon, John Bel Edwards, ” Munish Walther, Puri, It’s, ”, Jeff Greene, “, Greene Organizations: CNN, Department of Energy, BBC, British Airways, University of Georgia, Social, Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles, Louisiana Gov, US, Progress Software, FBI, Infrastructure Security Agency, National Security Council, Aspen Locations: Louisiana, Oregon, Russian, Massachusetts, Clop, Ukraine

Separately, state agencies said late Thursday that millions of people in Louisiana and Oregon had their data compromised in a security breach. The cyberattack has targeted federal and state agencies. No other federal agencies have confirmed being impacted. And on Thursday, state agencies said 3.5 million Oregonians with driver’s licenses or state ID cards had been impacted by a breach as well as anyone with that documentation in Louisiana. But much of the responsibility now lies on businesses and federal agencies rather than individuals, according to Cattanach.

Persons: “, ” Robert Cattanach, Dorsey, you’re, ”, Clop, Brett Callow, Emsisoft, ” Callow, Aon, they’ve, ” CISA, Allan Liska Organizations: CNN, Infrastructure Security Agency, Whitney, Department of Justice, The Department of Energy, BBC, British Airways, Boston Globe, Sydney Phoenix, US Department of Homeland, Johns Hopkins University, University of Georgia, –, Progress Software Locations: Russian, Louisiana, Oregon, Minnesota, Illinois, Arlington , VA, Baltimore, Georgia’s

☆ Tornado alley is widening, putting millions more people and properties at risk
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Much of that is because the season is starting earlier, and tornado alley is expanding due to a warmer climate. Tornadoes need four ingredients to form, explained Ashley: moisture, instability (which provides the energy necessary for the storms), wind shear and lift. When a powerful F-4 tornado plowed through Rolling Fork, Mississippi, in March, residents were largely unprepared. The only one that I can remember is 1971, and the tornado bypassed Rolling Fork. That's precisely why the widening of tornado alley is fast becoming a new focus for insurers.

Persons: Walker Scott Ashley, Ashley, Eldridge Walker, Walker, That's, John Dickson, Dickson, Eric Andersen, Aon Organizations: Climate Central, Northern Illinois University, Tornadoes, Global, U.S ., Farm, Allstate Locations: U.S, Northeast Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Fork , Mississippi, Rolling, Kansas, Mississippi, Aon, California

☆ These financial stocks were most loved—and hated—by hedge funds during the banking crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-24 | by ( Yun Li | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The banking crisis wreaked havoc in the industry in recent months, and hedge funds have been picking winners and losers among financial stocks, according to Goldman Sachs. Goldman then identified financial and real estate stocks with the largest recent changes in ownership among hedge funds. As for financial and real estate stocks that hedge funds sold the most in the first quarter, Welltower topped the list with 26 funds dumping the name. A number of hedge funds also decreased their exposure to Visa and CME Group . East West Bancorp , Aon , First Interstate BancSystem and Discover Financial Services were other names that hedge funds hated last quarter amid the banking chaos.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Goldman, Charles Schwab, Welltower, Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway Organizations: Focus Financial Partners, Investors, Valley Bank, First, Fidelity National, SLM Corp, Everest, Visa, CME Group, U.S . Bancorp, East West Bancorp, Aon, Discover Financial Services Locations: BlackRock, First Republic, U.S, Omaha

☆ Morning Bid: Amazon cools, Intel warms, Japan hesitates
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] A smartphone with a displayed Intel logo is placed on a computer motherboard in this illustration taken March 6, 2023. But the dramatic re-acceleration of Big Tech stocks this week - where the NYFANG+TM (.NYFANG) index of the top 10 Big Tech stocks is now up 37% so far this year - is competing with multiple macro narratives that are increasingly hard to read. With the Fed meeting in view, the release of March PCE price inflation data later on Friday tops the diary. Wall St stock futures fell back 0.4% after a wild ride in Amazon.com shares overnight. With much of Europe and Asia closed on Monday for the May Day bank holiday, Asia bourses advanced in Wall St's slipstream but Europe retreated sharply on some jarring corporate updates.

☆ Big Tech earnings, crucial inflation call — here comes the biggest week of earnings season
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-22 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Stocks stuck to a holding pattern this week as investors brace for an incoming wave of Big Tech earnings and the Fed's favorite inflation reading. Earnings reports have generally been better than expected so far this first quarter. Humana (HUM) reports before the bell Wednesday; Meta Platforms and Pioneer Natural Resources (PXD) report after the bell Wednesday. ET: Personal Spending & Income (includes PCE Price Index) Club trades this week Just one trade: We added 150 shares of Coterra Energy (CTRA) on Wednesday. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade.

☆ Insurer Travelers profit falls as costs from severe storms bite
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

April 19 (Reuters) - Property and casualty insurer Travelers Companies Inc (TRV.N) on Wednesday reported a fall in quarterly profit, hurt by severe wind and hail storms in parts of the United States in March. The storms pushed up the insurer's catastrophe losses net of reinsurance to $535 million from $160 million a year earlier. Two U.S. lenders crumbled after a flight of deposits spiraled out of control last month, sparking a global crisis that shook investor confidence in the banking industry and rattled markets. The turbulence has since subsided after intervention by regulators, but analysts have warned the banking industry will suffer long-term repercussions. Travelers' profit was helped by a 4% rise in net investment income to $663 million.

☆ Insurer Travelers profit falls on U.S. storm costs
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

April 19 (Reuters) - Property and casualty insurer Travelers Companies Inc (TRV.N) on Wednesday reported a 6% fall in quarterly profit, hurt by severe wind and hail storms in parts of the United States in March. The storms pushed up the insurer's catastrophe losses net of reinsurance to $535 million from $160 million a year earlier. Two U.S. lenders crumbled after a flight of deposits spiraled out of control last month, sparking a global crisis that shook investor confidence in the banking industry and rattled markets. The turbulence has since subsided after intervention by regulators, but analysts have warned the banking industry will suffer long-term repercussions. Travelers' profit was helped in part by a 4% rise in net investment income to $663 million.

☆ Morning Bid: Runaway Tech arrested
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The coast may be clearing on interest rates but a spluttering economy still has the power to check runaway stock markets. Friday's release of January's U.S. employment report will provide some clues - but Big Tech gave its own readout on Thursday. Apple earnings fell short of expectations and it forecast revenue would fall for a second quarter in a row. But even though iPhone sales fell for the first time since 2020, it said sales were likely to improve as production had returned to normal in China after COVID-related shutdowns. To what extent layoffs in the tech sector are fanning out across the economy will be monitored in the payrolls report later and the Fed will be watching wage growth like a hawk.

☆ Stocks may face an inflection point in the week ahead as the Fed meets and Apple posts earnings
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Patti Domm | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

The Fed's meeting Tuesday and Wednesday comes amid a flood of corporate earnings reports, with about 20% of the S & P 500 reporting that week. The most important day for earnings is Thursday, when Apple , Alphabet and Amazon report after the bell. The Nasdaq Composite was up 11% for the month as of Friday afternoon, well ahead of the 6.2% gain in the S & P 500. Traders have been watching the S & P 500 edge closer to the key threshold of 4,100 , its high from December. AAPL 1Y line apple Apple is also important because of the signals it can send about the strength of the consumer, supply chains and China's reopening.

☆ Natural disasters caused $313 bln economic loss in 2022 - Aon
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jan 25 (Reuters) - Natural disasters, many driven by climate change, caused global economic losses of $313 billion in 2022, insurance broker Aon (AON.N) estimated on Wednesday, of which less than half was insured. Losses from natural catastrophes covered by the insurance sector amounted to $132 billion, 57% above the 21st-century average, it added, leaving a global 'protection gap' of 58%. Hurricane Ian is the second most expensive natural disaster the insurance sector has ever faced. Aon estimated about 31,300 people died due to natural catastrophe events in 2022, of which about two thirds were linked to severe heatwaves in Europe between June and July. Similarly, in Pakistan the monsoon season caused 175% above-average precipitation from July to September, said Aon citing the local Meteorological Department.

☆ Hot Market for Cyber Insurance Begins to Stabilize
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Richard Vanderford | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +6 min

The market for cyber insurance has begun to stabilize after a surge in ransomware attacks in recent years propelled a steep rise in premiums, observers say. Cyber insurance can pay ransoms to hackers who lock company technology systems, or it can help offset the cost of responding to data breaches. The insurance itself remains relatively niche—insurer Munich Re Group estimated the global value of cyber insurance premiums at $9.2 billion at the outset of 2022, compared with hundreds of billions of dollars spent in the U.S. alone for commercial insurance, according to the Insurance Information Institute—but events spurring premium increases have become familiar. But not all companies can, as some must have cyber insurance to work with partners, Mr. McNicholas said. “The cyber insurance community has to be fairly nimble and flexible in how it looks at risk.”Write to Richard Vanderford at Richard.Vanderford@wsj.com

☆ Why your healthcare is about to get a lot more expensive
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Supply-chain and labor shortages, along with pent-up demand, are increasing costs for healthcare. But they might be in for more bad news as healthcare costs rise. Premiums could rise even more in 2024 as higher healthcare costs settle in and get passed down to consumers. You can thank people flocking back to the doctor, more expensive equipment, and surging labor costs for your higher future bill. Labor costs are rising across the boardJob openings in healthcare are still elevated, and well above pre-pandemic levels, according to Fitch.

☆ AI in Insurance: How three forward-looking insurers are infusing AI into their front, middle, and back offices
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Insider Intelligence | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Insider Intelligence details AI use cases within the insurance industry, and explores potential risks to this tech. download the app Email address By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to be contacted by Insider Inc. and receive emails from Insider Intelligence and eMarketer (e.g. And insurers are integrating AI implementations across their front, middle, and back offices in order to fend of tech-savvy startups. To help insurance professionals navigate this digital transformation, Insider Intelligence put together the AI in Insurance Report. The report assesses the business impact of insurers that choose to implement AI in their front, middle, and back offices.

LONDON, Oct 15 (Reuters) - It started out simply enough: British pension schemes were looking for a way to match their assets to future pension payments. But the strategy gradually became riskier, according to interviews with pension scheme trustees, consultants, industry experts and asset managers. Globally, investors are worrying about other financial products predicated on low interest rates, now that rates are rising. Nearly two-thirds of Britain's defined benefit pension schemes use LDI funds, according to TPR. "When people talked about interest rates, all they obsessed about was interest rates falling," said David Fogarty, an independent trustee at professional pension scheme trustee provider Dalriada Trustees.

☆ Americans have largely avoided health care inflation so far – but that’s about to change
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

About 155 million Americans have work-based health insurance, the largest source of coverage by far, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Delayed impact of inflation on health careWhile the cost of gas, food and other essentials can change quickly based on inflation and market conditions, health care operates differently. In fact, health care costs are bucking their own typical trend. Workers are projected to shell out an average of 2.6% more for health care this year, compared to 2021, Aon calculated. Increases expected to continueNext year will only be the start of an extended period of increased health care costs, experts said.

☆ With Interest Rates Rising, Companies Look to Unload Pension Liabilities
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( Jennifer Williams-Alvarez | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +6 min

Rising interest rates are boosting corporate pension plans, providing finance chiefs with an option to lighten their companies’ balance sheets and transfer obligations to insurers. PREVIEWWhen interest rates rise, liabilities for defined-benefit plans—a type of pension plan that promises fixed amounts to participants—shrink. They can also move just a portion of their pension obligations, but that still requires a high funding status. “If interest rates level off or decrease, the funded status could fall pretty quickly,” said Matt McDaniel, a partner at Mercer who advises companies on pension risk transfers. Recent stock market declines have hurt some defined-benefit pension plans invested in publicly traded equities, Mr. McDaniel said.

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☆ Open enrollment season for 2023 employee benefits is getting underway. What to watch for
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Sarah O'Brien | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Hinterhaus Productions | Digitalvision | Getty ImagesIt's that time of year, when workers get to make some decisions about their employee benefits. Many companies are beginning to hold their annual open enrollment period, which is when employees can sign up for 2023 health insurance — as well as consider other benefits, if your employer offers them. Some may offer extras like supplemental life or disability insurance, pet insurance or help with education costs. "People tend to [review] their benefits very quickly," said Paul Fronstin, director of health benefits research at the Employee Benefit Research Institute. For 2023, the annual cap on HSA contributions is $3,850 for self-only coverage and $7,750 for family coverage.

☆ Judge denies U.S. bid to stop UnitedHealth plan to buy Change
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( Diane Bartz | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A U.S. judge on Monday denied the Justice Department’s bid to stop UnitedHealth Group from buying Change Healthcare, a court filing showed, in a blow to the U.S. administration’s tougher enforcement of antitrust issues. UnitedHealth announced the all-cash deal in January 2021, saying it would help streamline administrative and payment processes. UnitedHealth said it was “pleased with the decision” and looked forward to combining with Change as quickly as possible. The Justice Department had said that UnitedHealth and Change Healthcare offer competing software for processing healthcare claims and together serve 38 of the top-40 health insurers in the country. The Justice Department also lost a bid to win convictions of executives at chicken processing companies that it accused of price-fixing.

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