Yuanta says Thai stocks to benefit from Bangkok floods, impact limited

The Office of the Insurance Commission, or OIC, together with 11 insurance companies, has begun paying compensation under the National Catastrophe Insurance policy to victims of flash floods and windstorms in Lamphun and Chiang Mai provinces, where damage totalled 227 households and one person died. Chuchat Pramulphon, Secretary-General of the OIC, along with Apakorn Panlert, Deputy Secretary-General for Insurance Business Supervision, held a teleconference with Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul at the Lamphun Provincial Government Center to monitor and expedite compensation payments from the incident on 5 October 2026. Lamphun province recorded preliminary damage of about 225 households in Pa Phlu subdistrict, Ban Hong district, while Chiang Mai province saw windstorm damage to 2 households and one death from being swept away by floodwaters, the first victim to qualify for death coverage under the policy's conditions. The incident meets the coverage conditions of the National Catastrophe Insurance policy under the Catastrophe Insurance for the People programme, which began providing coverage to more than 30 million households nationwide on 1 October 2026. The OIC has been instructed to integrate its efforts with the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation and the insurance industry to complete compensation payments within 15 days of receiving complete documentation. Under the coverage terms for catastrophes including floods, windstorms and earthquakes, the maximum coverage for structures is 100,000 baht per household, with flood cases receiving an immediate preliminary payout of 10,000 baht, while windstorm and earthquake cases receive 5,000 baht, and additional damage is assessed and paid according to actual losses up to the net limit. Deaths from catastrophes are covered up to 2 million baht, and total permanent disability up to 200,000 baht. Dr. Somporn Suebthawilkul, President of the Thai General Insurance Association, said the association has set up an ad hoc claims management committee and put in place a reporting system and claims payment process for both preliminary and additional damage. Affected members of the public can report damage via the website www.thaiNATCAT.org, the LINE Official Account @ThaiNATCAT, the customer service centre at 02-012-5555, and reporting points in affected areas, or inquire about rights and coverage through the OIC hotline 1186 and the LINE Official Account @OICCONNECT.

Intact Financial Corporation announced an estimated $660 million in pre-tax catastrophe losses for the third quarter of 2026, net of reinsurance, equal to $2.76 per diluted share after tax. The total breaks down into $615 million in Canada, $38 million in the UK and Ireland, and $7 million in the US, while by line of business it comprises $390 million in Personal property, $173 million in Commercial lines, and $52 million in Personal auto. Chief Executive Officer Charles Brindamour said the severe weather events of recent months brought the company's teams, supply chain and restoration network together to help customers recover, and that at an industry level the events reinforce firm market conditions. Chief Financial Officer Ken Anderson said catastrophe losses over the past 12 months totaled $1.29 billion, modestly above the company's annual guidance of $1.20 billion, while the Intact platform continues to demonstrate resilience and strength. The losses in the most impacted lines, Personal property and Commercial lines in Canada, were driven by severe weather including storms causing flooding, water and wind damage across several regions, as well as wildfires in British Columbia.

Definity Financial Corporation announced that catastrophe losses in the third quarter of 2026 will reduce underwriting income by approximately $190 million net of reinsurance recoveries, or $1.15 per common share net of taxes and reinsurance. The estimate updates and extends the company's September 3, 2026 preliminary estimate of losses from July and August events. Within the $190 million total, personal property accounts for $136 million, commercial insurance for $37 million, and personal auto for $17 million. The losses stem from severe rainstorms and flooding in Ontario and Alberta and wildfires in British Columbia in July and August, plus a large storm system that brought damaging winds, hail and flooding to southern Ontario in early September. President and CEO Rowan Saunders said severe weather-related events continued into September and impacted communities across the country, and that Definity remains focused on supporting customers through its catastrophe response capabilities.