BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES	Basis of Presentation These interim consolidated financial statements include the accounts of AXIS Capital Holdings Limited (“AXIS Capital”) and its subsidiaries (herein referred to as “we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company”). The consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2015 and the consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, shareholders' equity and cash flows for the periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 have not been audited. The balance sheet at December 31, 2014 is derived from our audited financial statements. These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the Securities and Exchange Commission's (“SEC”) instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, these financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation of our financial position and results of operations for the periods presented. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results for a full year. All inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The following information should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. Tabular dollar and share amounts are in thousands, except per share amounts. All amounts are reported in U.S. dollars. Significant Accounting Policies There were no notable changes in our significant accounting policies subsequent to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, with the exception of the addition to our accounting policy for mortgage loans held-for-investment noted below. Mortgage Loans Held-For-Investment Mortgage loans held-for-investment are stated at amortized cost calculated as the unpaid principal balance, adjusted for any unamortized premium or discount, deferred fees or expenses, and are net of valuation allowances. Interest income and prepayment fees are recognized when earned. Interest income is recognized using an effective yield method giving effect to the amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts. New Accounting Standards Adopted in 2015 Consolidation During the second quarter of 2015, the Company early adopted the Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2015-02, “Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis” issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”). The adoption of this amended accounting guidance resulted in the Company concluding that it no longer had a variable interest in AXIS Ventures Reinsurance Limited (“Ventures Re”) and therefore it was no longer required to consolidate the results of operations and the financial position of Ventures Re in its Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company adopted this revised accounting guidance using the modified retrospective approach and ceased to consolidate Ventures Re effective as of January 1, 2015. There was no impact from the adoption of ASU 2015-02 on the Company’s cumulative retained earnings. Refer to Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements "Noncontrolling Interests" for more information. The new consolidation guidance did not have an impact on any other investments currently held by the Company. Recently Issued Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted Disclosures About Short-Duration Contracts In May 2015, the FASB issued new guidance making targeted improvements to existing disclosure requirements for short-duration contracts. The guidance requires insurance entities to disclose additional information about the liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The guidance will be applied retrospectively. As the new guidance is disclosure-related only, the adoption of this guidance is not expected to impact our results of operations, financial condition or liquidity. Investments Measured Using The Net Asset Value Per Share ("NAV") Practical Expedient In May 2015, the FASB issued new guidance eliminating the requirement to categorize investments measured using the NAV practical expedient in the fair value hierarchy table. This guidance is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. The guidance will be applied retrospectively. As the new guidance is disclosure-related only, the adoption of this guidance is not expected to impact our results of operations, financial condition or liquidity.

Basis of Presentation

These interim consolidated financial statements include the accounts of AXIS Capital Holdings Limited (“AXIS Capital”) and its subsidiaries (herein referred to as “we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company”).

The consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2015 and the consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, shareholders' equity and cash flows for the periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 have not been audited. The balance sheet at December 31, 2014 is derived from our audited financial statements.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the Securities and Exchange Commission's (“SEC”) instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, these financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation of our financial position and results of operations for the periods presented. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results for a full year. All inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

The following information should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. Tabular dollar and share amounts are in thousands, except per share amounts. All amounts are reported in U.S. dollars.

Significant Accounting Policies

There were no notable changes in our significant accounting policies subsequent to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, with the exception of the addition to our accounting policy for mortgage loans held-for-investment noted below.

Mortgage Loans Held-For-Investment

Mortgage loans held-for-investment are stated at amortized cost calculated as the unpaid principal balance, adjusted for any unamortized premium or discount, deferred fees or expenses, and are net of valuation allowances. Interest income and prepayment fees are recognized when earned. Interest income is recognized using an effective yield method giving effect to the amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts.

New Accounting Standards Adopted in 2015

Consolidation

During the second quarter of 2015, the Company early adopted the Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2015-02, “Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis” issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”). The adoption of this amended accounting guidance resulted in the Company concluding that it no longer had a variable interest in AXIS Ventures Reinsurance Limited (“Ventures Re”) and therefore it was no longer required to consolidate the results of operations and the financial position of Ventures Re in its Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company adopted this revised accounting guidance using the modified retrospective approach and ceased to consolidate Ventures Re effective as of January 1, 2015. There was no impact from the adoption of ASU 2015-02 on the Company’s cumulative retained earnings. Refer to Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements "Noncontrolling Interests" for more information.

The new consolidation guidance did not have an impact on any other investments currently held by the Company.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

Disclosures About Short-Duration Contracts

In May 2015, the FASB issued new guidance making targeted improvements to existing disclosure requirements for short-duration contracts. The guidance requires insurance entities to disclose additional information about the liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The guidance will be applied retrospectively. As the new guidance is disclosure-related only, the adoption of this guidance is not expected to impact our results of operations, financial condition or liquidity.

Investments Measured Using The Net Asset Value Per Share ("NAV") Practical Expedient

In May 2015, the FASB issued new guidance eliminating the requirement to categorize investments measured using the NAV practical expedient in the fair value hierarchy table. This guidance is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. The guidance will be applied retrospectively. As the new guidance is disclosure-related only, the adoption of this guidance is not expected to impact our results of operations, financial condition or liquidity.