In a new report, Fitch provides an analysis of property/casualty industry reserves at year-end 2008, examining recent reserve development trends, Fitch's estimate of industry reserve adequacy, and consideration of several statistical factors that reveal a recent modest weakening in reserve levels.
According to Fitch's analysis, the potential for the market to shift toward a future reserve deficiency is greater now due to the following factors:
-- Fitch's estimate that any redundancy in loss reserves for most recent accident years at year-end 2008 is more closely offset by projected deficiencies in asbestos and environmental losses, and other prior year exposures.
-- Continued reporting of strong favorable reserve development in 2009 first-half statutory reporting.
-- Questions whether the redundancy of hard market accident years 2003-2006 is now fully reflected in reported reserves.
-- Indications that most recent 2007 and 2008 accident years are more likely adequately reserved and will not develop redundantly over time.
For a copy of the report titled 'Property/Casualty Industry Loss Reserve Adequacy: At A Crossroads ' dated Nov. 2, 2009, please see the Fitch Ratings web site 'www.fitchratings.com' under the following headers: Sectors>>Insurance>>Topical Research & Special Reports.