Most-read stories for the week include a look at individual annuity considerations in the third quarter and pieces on the future of the reinsurance market.

Insolvent Calif. insurer 'small' but hardly insignificant

The whirlwind demise of a California insurer in the aftermath of a deadly and devastating wildfire offers an important lesson for the property and casualty industry.

Insurance pricing uncertainty persists in wake of California wildfires

The effects of a tightening in retrocession capacity could be felt first by insurers looking for protection from California wildfire risk after a second consecutive year of deadly and damaging blazes.

Homeowners loss ratios improve, premiums increase in Q3

Despite several high-profile catastrophes, the U.S. homeowners insurance industry's loss ratio improved by 14 percentage points in the third quarter compared to the prior-year period.

Reinsurance prices flat for now, but ILS-fueled retrocession crunch looms

Reinsurance prices for business that avoided major catastrophes this year look flat heading into Jan. 1 renewals, but a shortage of retrocession capacity could prompt increases late in the process or at renewal dates later in 2019, market participants predict.

Individual annuity considerations surpass $50B again in Q3

An improved sales environment has helped U.S. life insurance individual annuity considerations grow 11.5% year over year during the first nine months of 2018.