US yield curve inversion - run for the hills?

Like a bad tarot card, an inverted US yield curve normally means economic doom. March’s inversion has now morphed into the most inverted yield curve since 2007. It is likely to have insurers gazing into their charts to see how to tackle their investments. Sarfraz Thind reports

UK infrastructure funding gap due to investors’ failure to convert demand into investable opportunities

L&G’s Bucks says insurers have the ability to close the gap by proactively finding the right deals

What are the forces shaping the world economy and financial markets?

Over the next 3-5 years we see five potential disruptors; China, populism, demographics, technology, and market vulnerability.

Returns are low - and going to get lower

Panellists at Insurance Asset Risk EMEA warn of continued pressure on investment income, the outcome of US and China trade talks, and the end of the credit cycle

Q&A: Introducing risk-based capital in Hong Kong

David Alexander, head of P&C reinsurance Hong Kong & Taiwan at Swiss Re, and chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of Insurers taskforce on RBC has been directly involved in liaison with the Insurance Authority on the introduction of the new regulation. Interview by Vincent Huck.

IBOR Transition Sparks Search for Deep, Liquid, and Transparent Benchmarks

There is a dark cloud hanging over IBOR, the interest rate benchmark that will soon meet its demise. Insurers will need to start preparing now for doing business in an IBOR-free marketplace.

Steering investments at Hong Kong's flagship insurer

Mark Konyn, chief investment officer at AIA Group, meets with Insurance Asset Risk in Hong Kong and explains how the insurer centralised its group-wide investment function and the potential impact regulatory changes that are sweeping through the region might have on its asset allocation. Interview by Vincent Huck

Hong Kong flexes its regulatory muscles to compete internationally

The pearl of the Orient has been implementing the International Monetary Fund’s recommendations for stronger regulation at a fast pace. In the first part of this two-part series, Vincent Huck looks at the progress made and what remains to be achieved.

Asset risk: biggest risk for Asian insurers

With a lack of domestic long dated assets to match their long-term liabilities and some restrictions on overseas investments, Asian insurers’ biggest risk exposure comes from their investments. In Hong Kong, Vincent Huck meets with regional and local stakeholders to understand how they are coping and their expectations for the upcoming changes in regulations.

Japanese and German financial regulators agree to enhance cooperation

What could derail Britain's infrastructure investing boom?

The UK has for many years been heralded as a treasure trove of investable infrastructure assets. However, as the industry faces potential disruption from renationalisation, regulatory reforms and Brexit, we discuss the risks and rewards of investing in UK infrastructure.

Commercial mortgages close up

Strong returns, stable performance, low risk—the market for commercial mortgage loans has run on tailwinds in the last 10 years with more insurers bringing the asset onto their portfolio than ever before. But, with a looming economic downturn, is the love affair with CMLs about to run out? Sarfraz Thind reports

China’s Belt & Road: where are the insurers’ investments?

As China celebrates the sixth year of its initiative this week, insurers remain reluctant to invest in its projects. Vincent Huck asks why

Barings buys Italian office block