A New Way to Bet on Disasters (Fortune, 1997)

Insurers have begun to stake billions of dollars on computer forecasts of disaster losses. But what if Mother Nature knows something the computers don't?

Editor's note: Every week, Fortune.com publishes a story from our magazine archives. This week, we turn to a 1997 article about changes in the U.S. insurance industry following Hurricane Andrew, one of the costliest disasters in American history. Earlier this week, Superstorm Sandy ripped through the nation's East Coast, MORE

The San Francisco tech scene, fictionalized

Robin Sloan's buzzy novel Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore is set in an old-school bookstore, sure, but it is packed with startup name-dropping and exciting technology.

By Daniel Roberts, reporter

FORTUNE -- What happens when a startup veteran decides to write a novel? You get something like Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, a hip sort of paean to San Francisco and its brainy, fast-paced technology scene.

Robin Sloan wrote the book while working as a media manager at MORE

The real winner in the China-Japan row

Many automakers are reeling from the two countries' fight over a few small islands. Except for one.

By Doron Levin, contributor

FORTUNE -- The dispute between China and Japan over a few small islands in the East China Sea is wreaking havoc on Japanese automakers selling vehicles in China. The row has provided an unexpected dividend to non-Japanese competitors, notably Hyundai, South Korea's largest automaker.

Toyota (TM), Honda (HMC) and Nissan (NSANY) have MORE

The copyright case that brought Costco and MoMA together

The Supreme Court is hearing a case about gray-market textbook sales with ramifications far beyond publishing.

By Roger Parloff, senior editor

FORTUNE -- On Monday the U.S. Supreme Court will hear a copyright case that is attracting great interest not just from the usual suspects -- publishers, movie studios, digital rights groups, and free culture advocates -- but also from merchants like Costco and eBay, luxury purveyors such as Omega, thrift-shop Goodwill MORE

P&G CEO opens up about shareholder fight

Exclusive: P&G chief Bob McDonald talks about the company's latest initiatives to spur growth, the growing shareholder dissatisfaction, and the importance of succession planning.

By Jennifer Reingold

FORTUNE -- Procter & Gamble CEO and Chairman Robert McDonald has had a challenging year. The CEO of the $83.6 billion company has had to lower guidance three times this year, worrying analysts and depressing the stock price. On October 25th, the company beat MORE