Basis of Presentation and Accounting Policies (policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Accounting Policies disclosure

Accounting Policies, Basis of Presentation [Policy Text Block]

Basis of Presentation

The interim consolidated financial statements include the accounts of The Travelers Companies, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, the Company). These financial statements are prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and are unaudited.  In the opinion of the Company’s management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation have been reflected.  Certain financial information that is normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP, but that is not required for interim reporting purposes, has been omitted.  All material intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.  The accompanying interim consolidated financial statements and related notes should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related notes included in the Company’s 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The preparation of the interim consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the interim consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and claims and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Accounting Policies, Adoption of Accounting Standards Update [Policy Text Block]

Adoption of Accounting Standards Updates

Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued updated guidance to improve the reporting of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income. The guidance requires an entity to present, either on the face of the statement of income or in the notes, separately for each component of comprehensive income, the current period reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income by the respective line items of net income affected by the reclassification.

The updated guidance is effective prospectively for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012. The Company adopted the updated guidance effective March 31, 2013, and such adoption did not have any effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or liquidity.

Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment

In July 2012, the FASB issued updated guidance regarding the impairment test applicable to indefinite-lived intangible assets that is similar to the impairment guidance applicable to goodwill.  Under the updated guidance, an entity may assess qualitative factors (such as changes in management, key personnel, strategy, key technology or customers) that may impact the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset and lead to the determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the asset is less than its carrying value.  If an entity determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the intangible asset is less than its carrying value, an impairment test must be performed.  The impairment test requires an entity to calculate the estimated fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset.  If the carrying value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset exceeds its estimated fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to the excess.

The updated guidance was effective for the quarter ended March 31, 2013, but early adoption was permitted.  The Company adopted the updated guidance effective December 31, 2012, and such adoption did not have any effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or liquidity.