SAN FRANCISCO-California's State Compensation Insurance Fund filed rates that will reflect an 11% average decrease in premiums for policies incepting July 1.

The filing represents SCIF's eighth consecutive rate reduction since 2003 and cumulative pricing that is 55% below 2004 rate levels, the insurer announced Tuesday.

Competition, supply chain disruption and property-related risks are the three biggest threats facing their companies through 2009, according to financial executives who participated in a study commissioned by Factory Mutual Insurance Co.

"Managing Business Risk Through 2009 and Beyond," released Wednesday, found that 62% of the executives expect competition-related risk to increase through 2009, while only 4% expect it to decrease, according to the Johnston, R.I.-based insurer, which does business as FM Global.

FORT COLLINS, Colo.-The hurricane forecasting team at Colorado State University continues to predict above-average tropical storm activity for the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season, which begins Friday.

In a forecast released Thursday, the team repeated the prediction it had issued on April 3. The prediction calls for the formation of 17 named storms, nine of which will grow into hurricanes. Five of those hurricanes will reach intense status, with winds of at last 111 mph, according to the forecast.

WASHINGTON-The maximum contribution that can be made to a health savings account in 2008 will increase and the maximum out-of-pocket expenses that employees can be required to pay also will rise, the Internal Revenue Service announced Friday.

In 2008, the maximum contribution that can be made for employees with single coverage will be $2,900, up from $2,850 this year, and the maximum contribution for employees with family coverage will rise to $5,800, up from $5,650, the IRS said.

WASHINGTON--It's been at least four years since politicians pledged to enact an antispyware law, but it still hasn't happened. Now they're trying again.

A U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee on Tuesday once again approved a bill that proposes up to five years in prison for malicious spyware-related activities. Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) and Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) reintroduced the measure, known as the Internet Spyware Prevention Act, or I-Spy for short, in mid-March.

Similar versions passed the House by overwhelming margins in the past two congressional sessions but died before a Senate vote occurred.