The FINANCIAL -- Zurich Financial Services Group announced that based on preliminary estimates it expects the impact of the floods in Thailand, the increased cost of the earthquakes in New Zealand, and the further benefits of recoveries from its global aggregate catastrophe reinsurance cover in total, for the fourth quarter 2011, to range between USD 200 - 250 million, according to Zurich.

The FINANCIAL -- After today’s decision by the Federal Reserve to maintain the target fed funds rate at zero to 25 basis points, Swiss Re’s Chief Economist, Kurt Karl, commented: “Weak economic activity, moderating inflation and fiscal tightening will keep the Fed on hold through mid-2013, perhaps longer” , according to Swiss Re.

The FINANCIAL -- Extreme weather conditions are occurring more frequently with the impact on businesses becoming more severe. There are some key actions which can be taken to reduce that impact, according to Allianz.

The FINANCIAL -- Only 20 centimeters of snow on the roof of your house weighs around two tons - as much as an elephant. This is a strain that many roofs are not readily designed to withstand, according to Allianz.

The FINANCIAL -- Snow-covered traffic signs are also easily missed. And, in general, the issue of visibility is a particularly important one in winter, according to Allianz.