This week, there was a spate of trend reports published.

This week, Standard & Poor's reported on reinsurer investment trends, and also opportunities for reinsurers in the US mortgage market.

Douglas Shillito This week, a Swiss Re Sigma Report indicated that of the estimated $71bn of economic losses from natural catastrophe and man-made losses in the first half of the year, 44% were insured losses.

This week, interim and second quarter financials were dominated by generally positive results from large life insurers

Solvency II is a step in the wrong direction that will keep some companies alive that would be better giving themselves a decent burial and consolidating themselves out of the market now, according to industry consultant Ned Cazalet.

Growth in its Asian operations helped UK insurance giant Prudential post a forcast-beating 6% rise in first-half operating profit to £2.06bn ($2.69bn, €2.4bn), helping offset a drop in profits from its M&G asset management business.