News from March 2024


Data residency in the AI era: New capabilities to manage your data

In January, we updated our Microsoft Copilot product line-up to expand Copilot for Microsoft 365 to more businesses and announced no seat minimum for commercial plans.

Nationwide and Annexus Celebrate 10-Year Partnership with NYSE Bell Ringing

Nationwide and Annexus marked a significant milestone in their collaboration by ringing the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange on March 7. The event celebrated a decade-long partnership that has brought innovative solutions to the financial services marketplace, benefiting American retirement savers.Mike Morrone, vice president of Nationwide Annuity business development, highlighted the impact of the partnership, stating, "Our partnership with Annexus has enabled us to take our product innovation to the next level." This collaboration allowed Nationwide to enter...

Pump It Up – Gas Prices Rise Ahead of Daylight Saving Time

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 7, 2024)—Pump prices have maintained a steady march higher, rising eight cents since last week to $3.39. More expensive oil is a likely culprit, as crude accounts for nearly 60% of pump prices. The cost for a barrel of oil is edging closer to $80, about $10 more per barrel than a few months ago."Spring is nearly here, with longer days, better weather, and more opportunities to hit the road," said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson. "And we are seeing this reflected in rising gasoline demand. But remember, we see this trend every year."For the...

Apple has been fined $2 billion by European Union for antitrust policy

The European Union (EU) has imposed a $2 billion fine on Apple for breaching antitrust policies. The EU alleges that Apple prohibited app developers from fully informing iOS users about more affordable music subscription services.

State Farm® Collaborates with SiriusXM for Listen Next Initiative

SiriusXM has unveiled a new initiative called Listen Next, aimed at nurturing diverse audio talent and fostering inclusivity in podcasting. The program will be supported by State Farm as its first launch sponsor and is set to work with leading, diverse-led production companies to assist up-and-coming creators in establishing successful podcasting careers. The inaugural season of Listen Next will kick off with the show "Stars and Stars with Isa," a collaboration between SiriusXM and Futuro Studios, scheduled to debut on March 19.State Farm's Marketing Director, Brent Malik...

Root CEO eyes nationwide presence after best-ever quarter

Root Inc., an insurance technology company, is planning to expand into new markets with the goal of establishing a nationwide presence for its car, home, and renters lines of business. The company recently reported its best-ever quarter, with CEO Alex Timm expressing confidence in their path to profitability.In an interview with S&P Global Market Intelligence, Timm discussed the company's expansion plans and the key role of technology in enhancing underwriting results and improving unit economics. He mentioned, "We're in 34 markets today and we don't see a reason Root...

The Quiet Killer Stalking Our Roads – Drowsy Driving

A new study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has shed light on the dangers of drowsy driving, revealing that the impact of this behavior is greatly underestimated. The research points to sleep loss as a significant factor in drowsy driving crashes, with the upcoming Daylight Saving Time potentially exacerbating the issue.According to the AAA Foundation's study, drowsy driving is responsible for far more traffic fatalities than official government statistics indicate. The study, based on crash investigations and national fatal crash data, estimates that drowsy...

North American Insurer M&A Sees Value Increase Despite Overall Decline

The aggregate value of insurance underwriter M&A in North America increased in 2023, marking a positive trend amidst a wider decline in overall dealmaking. According to an analysis by S&P Global Market Intelligence, while the level of deal activity in the insurance sector decreased by 2% with 96 transactions in 2023 compared to 98 in 2022, the aggregate transaction value saw a significant uptick to $16.23 billion, a 16.8% increase from the previous year's $13.89 billion.The largest deal of the past year involved Brookfield Reinsurance Ltd.'s planned acquisition of...

Google Cloud is utilizing Artificial Intelligence to create better cyber defense systems

Google Cloud is enhancing its cyber defense systems by incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into their infrastructure. The company announced the AI Cyber Defense Initiative at the Munich Security Conference, which took place from February 16 to February 18, 2024.

Dell Technologies released fourth-quarter earnings for 2023

Dell Technologies has reported its fourth-quarter earnings for 2023, surpassing expectations with a revenue of $22.32 billion against the projected $22.16 billion. This positive outcome led to a more than 15% increase in the stock price of Dell shares.

Lemonade Stock Plummets After Earnings Release

Lemonade's stock took a significant hit this week following the release of its earnings report. "What's transpiring here is they still were losing a lot of money," said Kaenan Hertz, Managing Partner at Insurtech Advisors, expressing investor disappointment with the results.In response to the market reaction, Lemonade CFO Tim Bixby stated, "In the company's view, its fourth-quarter 2023 results were arguably one of the best quarters we've had since going public three years ago." Bixby also highlighted that revenue, gross profit, and in-force premium were up year over...