News in brief

Amy Tiernan

LEADING figures in the insurance industry are among those participating in the World Economic Forum, whichhas been held in Davos, Switzerland. Among the 2,000 business leaders and politicians present at what has been a rather more gloomy affair this year are the chairman of Lloyd’s, Lord Levene, Munich Re’s chief executive, Nikolaus von Bomhard, and a number of senior figures from Swiss Re, including its chief executive, Jacques Aigrain, chief risk officer, Raj Singh, and Michel Lies, head of client markets. Not surprisingly, the US and the dollar are top of the agenda. President Barack Obama’s $825bn economic recovery plan has also been in focus, with Igor Yurgens, a senior adviser to the Russian president, describing the stimulus packlage as “selfish” and philosophically akin to protectionism.