WASHINGTON (Reuters)—Congressional Democrats drew closer Thursday to agreement on a broad health care overhaul that could lead to a final vote in the next few weeks, but vowed not to be bound by White House deadlines.

WASHINGTON (Reuters)—Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., said Thursday that he will present on Monday his own version of a financial services reform bill, after compromise talks with Senate Republicans broke down.

HAMILTON, Bermuda—Everest Re Group Ltd. made a preliminary estimate Thursday that its loss related to the earthquake in Chile is $225 million and its loss from Windstorm Xynthia in Europe is $25 million.

PARIS—Risk Management Solutions Inc. said Thursday it estimates private-market insured losses from Windstorm Xynthia will be between €1 billion ($1.36 billion) and €2 billion ($2.72 billion).

HAMILTON, Bermuda–XL Capital Ltd. awarded CEO Michael S. McGavick total compensation of $6.2 million last year, 16.2% less than the previous year, the Bermuda-based insurer said in a regulatory filing.

LONDON—Chartis Europe Holdings Ltd. has named Alexander Baugh to the new position of president and CEO as the insurance group prepares for Solvency II.

HANNOVER, Germany (Reuters)—Hannover Reinsurance Co. expects a "good" 2010 after unveiling record 2009 net profit thanks to low payouts for storms and earthquakes and a rebound in capital markets.

HARTFORD, Conn.—Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal on Wednesday filed a state lawsuit against ratings agencies Moody’s Investors Service and Standard & Poor’s Corp.

WASHINGTON—A bipartisan group of congressmen introduced legislation Wednesday that would allow risk retention groups to write commercial property coverage.

WASHINGTON (Reuters)—U.S.

WASHINGTON—Insurer and reinsurer groups reiterated their opposition Wednesday to a bill that would have the federal government guarantee debt issued by eligible state catastrophe insurance programs that cover homeowners insurance.

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Senate approved tax legislation on a 62-36 vote Wednesday that would further extend COBRA health insurance premium subsidies.

PARIS—The French insurance industry is expected to suffer “significant” losses as a result of Windstorm Xynthia, Moody’s Investors Services said Wednesday, adding that the costs of the storm will be considerably less for the...

MUNICH—Catastrophe losses estimated at €500 million ($681.1 million) from the earthquake in Chile and Windstorm Xynthia in Europe will pressure Munich Reinsurance Co.

ZURICH—Swiss Reinsurance Co. Ltd. said Wednesday it expects $600 million in losses from the earthquake that hit Chile and windstorm that battered parts of Europe.

MUNICH (Reuters)—Munich Reinsurance Co. sees star investor Warren Buffett's stake in the reinsurer as evidence that he backs its long-term strategy aimed at creating stability, Munich Re's chief executive said Wednesday.

NEW YORK (Reuters)—American International Group Inc. has formulated a new "forced ranking" system to determine bonuses and rate employee performance, the Wall Street Journal said, citing people familiar with the matter.

WASHINGTON—Legislation introduced in the U.S. House would cap penalties and set a three-year statute of limitations for failing to comply with reporting under Section 111 of the Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Extension Act.

WASHINGTON—Tax legislation that would further extend COBRA health insurance premium subsidies moved closer to passage when the Senate voted 66-34 Tuesday to stop debate on the measure.

LOS ANGELES and DETROIT (Reuters)—U.S. safety regulators and Toyota Motor Corp. dispatched investigators to San Diego on Tuesday to inspect a Prius that sped out of control on a California freeway a day earlier.