The highest rollers in the insurance market -- those global
re-insurers who underwrite the companies who underwrite your home and
therefore are responsible for most of the price hikes in Florida -- are
holding their annual Rendevous this week in Monte Carlo. There is a
sailing regatta and fine dining. But mostly, in the cool salons of swank
hotels, the talk is about standing firm against falling prices, which
peaked last summer.

Gov. Charlie Crist, who two months ago accused the industry of
collusion to keep rates high, will want to note this: among those
advising reinsurers to resist downward pressure (price cuts) is a major
bond rating firm.

"Globally, reinsurers have to withstand pressure from primary
insurers [to cut prices] when there is no clear rationale to do so,"
said Michael Zboron, analyst at AM Best, is quoted by Reactions, a
financial trade publication covering the Monte Carlo conference.