{"success":true,"data":{"pressRelease":{"id":"180550","rtpr_id":"nGNX9GYYbz-20261027","ticker":"WTW","exchange":"NASDAQ","all_tickers":["WTW"],"title":"Specialty insurance rate softening accelerates","author":"Globe Newswire","published_at":"2026-10-27T08:00:00.126Z","article_body":"LONDON, Oct. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Specialty insurance market rates\nfell sharply in the first half of 2026 and for the 1 July renewals, generally\nexceeding the rate reductions in 2025, according to WTW’s Specialty\nInsurance Marketplace Survey (SIMS). This has led to decreases of up to 17%\nnet of claims and exposure trend as reductions.\n\nIn the first six months of 2026, both insurance and reinsurance rates declined\nby 4% gross of trend and 6% net of trend. Insurance softened at approximately\ntwice the pace in 2025, while reinsurance softened three to four times faster,\nmarking a clear acceleration in weaker rating conditions.\n\nBetween 2017 and the market peak in 2023, rates net of claims and exposure\ntrend increased by approximately 50% cumulatively. By July 2026, around 65% of\nthese rate-strengthening gains had been eroded, according to the SIMS\ninsurance rate index.\n\nThe survey draws on approximately $300 billion in gross written premium over a\n10-year cycle, including $50 billion in 2025 and $29 billion in the first half\nof 2026. It covers specialty insurers operating in the London, Bermuda and\nU.S. excess and surplus (E&S) markets. Unlike surveys based on broker-derived\ndata, SIMS relies exclusively on insurer-owned data provided by participating\nclients of WTW’s Insurance Consulting and Technology business.\n\nRichard Clarkson, Global Market Leader, Global Specialty, WTW, said: “SIMS\nuniquely captures both 1 January and 1 July renewals, providing the market\nwith granular insights. Insurance rate movements in the first half of 2026\nwere broadly consistent with the 1 January renewals, with a decline of 4%\ngross of trend compared with 5%. Against this backdrop, the 1 July results\npoint to accelerating softening, with rates down 6% gross and 9% net. Rate\nmovements across most individual classes also show no slowdown.”\n\nBeneath the headline figures, individual markets follow different insurance\ncycles. Property showed the steepest declines, with rates down 17% net of\ntrend at the 1 July renewals as softening accelerated from 2025. Energy and\nFinancial and Professional Liability (FinPro) recorded high-single-digit\nreductions net of trend, although early signs of stabilisation emerged in U.S.\nFinPro. Marine declined by mid-single digits, while Aviation and Accident &\nHealth posted low-single-digit reductions.\n\nIn Casualty, rate increases of 6% at the 1 July renewals are no longer\nsufficient to offset the estimated claims trend of 8% (in excess of exposure\ntrend), resulting in an effective 2% rate reduction. This was not yet evident\nin the 1 January renewal data and is significant given continuing concerns\nabout rate adequacy in the class.\n\nIn the first half of 2026, all 15 material insurance and reinsurance classes\nrecorded net-of-claims-trend rate decreases.\n\nThe reported figures represent the survey participants’ latest view of\nclaims trend for all years, thus providing an up-to-date picture of the full\ncycle.\n\nSIMS uses market-derived data to provide a consistent view of risk-adjusted\nrate changes across specialty classes and key geographies. WTW clients use\nthese insights to validate business plans, compare pricing trends, assess rate\nadequacy for new and renewal business, support reserving, and strengthen\nbenchmarking and performance management.\n\nNotes to Editors\n\nAbout the Specialty Insurance Marketplace Survey (SIMS)\nThe Specialty Insurance Marketplace Survey (SIMS) is a survey dedicated to\ninsurers who underwrite specialty, high volatility and complex (re)insurance\nin the London, Bermuda and US E&S insurance and reinsurance markets. WTW\npublishes SIMS twice yearly, with the next update covering results for the\nsecond half of 2026 and 1 January 2027 renewals.\n\nAbout Insurance Consulting and Technology\nWTW’s Insurance Consulting and Technology business is a global leader in\nP&C, Life, and Health insurance software and advisory services. With over\n1,700 colleagues in 35 markets, we combine deep insurance expertise with\nleading-edge technology to help insurers navigate complexity and unlock value\nacross pricing, underwriting, reserving, financial and capital modelling,\nclaims, portfolio management, and regulatory reporting.\n\nWe’re redefining insurance through innovation and technology. By harnessing\nGenerative and Agentic AI, we’re creating next-generation processes that\nreduce friction, enhance decision-making, and unlock faster, smarter outcomes\nfor our clients. These capabilities accelerate innovation and enable us to\ndeliver with precision and scale.\n\nMore than 1,000 insurers across six continents - including many of the\nworld’s leading insurance groups - trust our unique combination of advisory\ninsight and advanced software to help power their businesses and drive\nsustainable growth.\n\nAbout WTW\n\nAt WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), we provide data-driven, insight-led solutions in the\nareas of people, risk and capital. Leveraging the global view and local\nexpertise of our colleagues serving 140 countries and markets, we help\norganisations sharpen their strategy, enhance organisational resilience,\nmotivate their workforce and maximise performance.\n\nWorking shoulder to shoulder with our clients, we uncover opportunities for\nsustainable success—and provide perspective that moves you.\n\nLearn more at wtwco.com.\n\nMedia contact\nAndrew Collis   | andrew@acolliscommunications.com\n\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d60448c5-44c1-4061-a525-161810e55c26)\n\n\n\nGlobeNewswire, Inc. 2026","article_body_html":"","raw_payload":{"data":{"id":"nGNX9GYYbz-20261027","title":"Specialty insurance rate softening accelerates","author":"Globe Newswire","ticker":"WTW","created":"2026-10-27T08:00:00.126Z","tickers":["WTW"],"exchange":"NASDAQ","article_body":"LONDON, Oct. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Specialty insurance market rates\nfell sharply in the first half of 2026 and for the 1 July renewals, generally\nexceeding the rate reductions in 2025, according to WTW’s Specialty\nInsurance Marketplace Survey (SIMS). This has led to decreases of up to 17%\nnet of claims and exposure trend as reductions.\n\nIn the first six months of 2026, both insurance and reinsurance rates declined\nby 4% gross of trend and 6% net of trend. Insurance softened at approximately\ntwice the pace in 2025, while reinsurance softened three to four times faster,\nmarking a clear acceleration in weaker rating conditions.\n\nBetween 2017 and the market peak in 2023, rates net of claims and exposure\ntrend increased by approximately 50% cumulatively. By July 2026, around 65% of\nthese rate-strengthening gains had been eroded, according to the SIMS\ninsurance rate index.\n\nThe survey draws on approximately $300 billion in gross written premium over a\n10-year cycle, including $50 billion in 2025 and $29 billion in the first half\nof 2026. It covers specialty insurers operating in the London, Bermuda and\nU.S. excess and surplus (E&S) markets. Unlike surveys based on broker-derived\ndata, SIMS relies exclusively on insurer-owned data provided by participating\nclients of WTW’s Insurance Consulting and Technology business.\n\nRichard Clarkson, Global Market Leader, Global Specialty, WTW, said: “SIMS\nuniquely captures both 1 January and 1 July renewals, providing the market\nwith granular insights. Insurance rate movements in the first half of 2026\nwere broadly consistent with the 1 January renewals, with a decline of 4%\ngross of trend compared with 5%. Against this backdrop, the 1 July results\npoint to accelerating softening, with rates down 6% gross and 9% net. Rate\nmovements across most individual classes also show no slowdown.”\n\nBeneath the headline figures, individual markets follow different insurance\ncycles. Property showed the steepest declines, with rates down 17% net of\ntrend at the 1 July renewals as softening accelerated from 2025. Energy and\nFinancial and Professional Liability (FinPro) recorded high-single-digit\nreductions net of trend, although early signs of stabilisation emerged in U.S.\nFinPro. Marine declined by mid-single digits, while Aviation and Accident &\nHealth posted low-single-digit reductions.\n\nIn Casualty, rate increases of 6% at the 1 July renewals are no longer\nsufficient to offset the estimated claims trend of 8% (in excess of exposure\ntrend), resulting in an effective 2% rate reduction. This was not yet evident\nin the 1 January renewal data and is significant given continuing concerns\nabout rate adequacy in the class.\n\nIn the first half of 2026, all 15 material insurance and reinsurance classes\nrecorded net-of-claims-trend rate decreases.\n\nThe reported figures represent the survey participants’ latest view of\nclaims trend for all years, thus providing an up-to-date picture of the full\ncycle.\n\nSIMS uses market-derived data to provide a consistent view of risk-adjusted\nrate changes across specialty classes and key geographies. WTW clients use\nthese insights to validate business plans, compare pricing trends, assess rate\nadequacy for new and renewal business, support reserving, and strengthen\nbenchmarking and performance management.\n\nNotes to Editors\n\nAbout the Specialty Insurance Marketplace Survey (SIMS)\nThe Specialty Insurance Marketplace Survey (SIMS) is a survey dedicated to\ninsurers who underwrite specialty, high volatility and complex (re)insurance\nin the London, Bermuda and US E&S insurance and reinsurance markets. WTW\npublishes SIMS twice yearly, with the next update covering results for the\nsecond half of 2026 and 1 January 2027 renewals.\n\nAbout Insurance Consulting and Technology\nWTW’s Insurance Consulting and Technology business is a global leader in\nP&C, Life, and Health insurance software and advisory services. With over\n1,700 colleagues in 35 markets, we combine deep insurance expertise with\nleading-edge technology to help insurers navigate complexity and unlock value\nacross pricing, underwriting, reserving, financial and capital modelling,\nclaims, portfolio management, and regulatory reporting.\n\nWe’re redefining insurance through innovation and technology. By harnessing\nGenerative and Agentic AI, we’re creating next-generation processes that\nreduce friction, enhance decision-making, and unlock faster, smarter outcomes\nfor our clients. These capabilities accelerate innovation and enable us to\ndeliver with precision and scale.\n\nMore than 1,000 insurers across six continents - including many of the\nworld’s leading insurance groups - trust our unique combination of advisory\ninsight and advanced software to help power their businesses and drive\nsustainable growth.\n\nAbout WTW\n\nAt WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), we provide data-driven, insight-led solutions in the\nareas of people, risk and capital. Leveraging the global view and local\nexpertise of our colleagues serving 140 countries and markets, we help\norganisations sharpen their strategy, enhance organisational resilience,\nmotivate their workforce and maximise performance.\n\nWorking shoulder to shoulder with our clients, we uncover opportunities for\nsustainable success—and provide perspective that moves you.\n\nLearn more at wtwco.com.\n\nMedia contact\nAndrew Collis   | andrew@acolliscommunications.com\n\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d60448c5-44c1-4061-a525-161810e55c26)\n\n\n\nGlobeNewswire, Inc. 2026"},"type":"article","timestamp":"2026-10-27T08:00:00.194163077Z","server_sent_at_ms":1793088000194},"received_at":"2026-10-27T08:00:00.261Z","source_url":null},"analysis":{"id":"168393","press_release_id":"180550","analysis_json":{"industry":{"label":"Insurance Brokers","sector":"Financials"},"redFlags":["accelerating specialty rate softening signals a cyclical downturn for insurance-sector revenue/premium growth (industry context, not WTW-specific)"],"eventType":"other","narrative":"WTW's Specialty Insurance Marketplace Survey found specialty insurance and reinsurance rates fell 6% net of trend in H1 2026, with insurance softening at roughly twice the 2025 pace and reinsurance three to four times faster.\n\nProperty led declines with rates down 17% net of trend at 1 July renewals, while casualty increases of 6% no longer cover an estimated 8% claims trend. By July 2026, about 65% of the 2017-2023 cumulative rate gains of ~50% had been eroded, and all 15 material classes posted net decreases.\n\nThe survey draws on roughly $300 billion of gross written premium over 10 years and is published by WTW's Insurance Consulting and Technology business as market intelligence, not a company financial disclosure.","sentiment":"neutral","agentHooks":{"shouldPost":false,"suggestedAngle":"SIMS data shows accelerating soft-market conditions across specialty lines — relevant context for insurer (not WTW) earnings, especially property and casualty pricing."},"keyFigures":{"customDimensions":{"gwp_2025":"$50 billion","gwp_h1_2026":"$29 billion","gwp_survey_pool_10yr":"$300 billion","casualty_claims_trend_estimate":"8%","cumulative_rate_gain_2017_to_2023":"~50%","casualty_rate_increase_july_renewals":"6%","classes_with_net_rate_decreases_h1_2026":"15 of 15","share_of_rate_gains_eroded_by_july_2026":"~65%","insurance_rate_change_net_of_trend_h1_2026":"-6%","insurance_rate_change_gross_of_trend_h1_2026":"-4%","reinsurance_rate_change_net_of_trend_h1_2026":"-6%","property_rate_change_net_of_trend_july_renewals":"-17%"}},"quotedText":"the 1 July results point to accelerating softening, with rates down 6% gross and 9% net","namedEntities":{"people":[{"name":"Richard Clarkson","role":"Global Market Leader, Global Specialty, WTW"},{"name":"Andrew Collis","role":"media contact"}],"products":["Specialty Insurance Marketplace Survey (SIMS)","Insurance Consulting and Technology"],"companies":[{"name":"WTW","ticker":"WTW","relationship":"filer / survey publisher"}],"dollarAmounts":[{"amount":"$300 billion","context":"gross written premium in survey pool over 10-year cycle"},{"amount":"$50 billion","context":"survey gross written premium in 2025"},{"amount":"$29 billion","context":"survey gross written premium in H1 2026"}]},"materialImpact":{"score":1,"reasoning":"This is WTW's semiannual Specialty Insurance Marketplace Survey — a thought-leadership data publication from its Insurance Consulting and Technology business, not an earnings, deal, or corporate event. It describes industry-wide rate softening; no direct financial impact on WTW is quantified."},"tickerRelevance":{"others":[],"primary":"WTW"},"globalImportance":22,"audienceRelevance":15,"eventTypeSecondary":[],"importanceComponents":{"tickerTier":"large-cap","eventGravity":"industry-survey-publication","issuerAuthored":true,"sectorReadThrough":"bearish for specialty insurers","directFinancialImpact":"none quantified"}},"event_type":"other","event_type_secondary":null,"sentiment":"neutral","material_impact_score":1,"narrative":"WTW's Specialty Insurance Marketplace Survey found specialty insurance and reinsurance rates fell 6% net of trend in H1 2026, with insurance softening at roughly twice the 2025 pace and reinsurance three to four times faster.\n\nProperty led declines with rates down 17% net of trend at 1 July renewals, while casualty increases of 6% no longer cover an estimated 8% claims trend. By July 2026, about 65% of the 2017-2023 cumulative rate gains of ~50% had been eroded, and all 15 material classes posted net decreases.\n\nThe survey draws on roughly $300 billion of gross written premium over 10 years and is published by WTW's Insurance Consulting and Technology business as market intelligence, not a company financial disclosure.","key_figures":{"customDimensions":{"gwp_2025":"$50 billion","gwp_h1_2026":"$29 billion","gwp_survey_pool_10yr":"$300 billion","casualty_claims_trend_estimate":"8%","cumulative_rate_gain_2017_to_2023":"~50%","casualty_rate_increase_july_renewals":"6%","classes_with_net_rate_decreases_h1_2026":"15 of 15","share_of_rate_gains_eroded_by_july_2026":"~65%","insurance_rate_change_net_of_trend_h1_2026":"-6%","insurance_rate_change_gross_of_trend_h1_2026":"-4%","reinsurance_rate_change_net_of_trend_h1_2026":"-6%","property_rate_change_net_of_trend_july_renewals":"-17%"}},"named_entities":{"people":[{"name":"Richard Clarkson","role":"Global Market Leader, Global Specialty, WTW"},{"name":"Andrew Collis","role":"media contact"}],"products":["Specialty Insurance Marketplace Survey (SIMS)","Insurance Consulting and Technology"],"companies":[{"name":"WTW","ticker":"WTW","relationship":"filer / survey publisher"}],"dollarAmounts":[{"amount":"$300 billion","context":"gross written premium in survey pool over 10-year cycle"},{"amount":"$50 billion","context":"survey gross written premium in 2025"},{"amount":"$29 billion","context":"survey gross written premium in H1 2026"}]},"model_name":"glm-5.3-flashx","prompt_hash":"sha256:5c812bd9e28b810d","schema_hash":"sha256:05005c02d9cffac9","created_at":"2026-10-27T08:00:08.674Z","global_importance":22,"audience_relevance":15,"importance_components":{"tickerTier":"large-cap","eventGravity":"industry-survey-publication","issuerAuthored":true,"sectorReadThrough":"bearish for specialty insurers","directFinancialImpact":"none quantified"}},"durationMs":8046,"modelName":"glm-5.3-flashx"}}