Smart beta has been getting smarter. Paul Forshaw looks at the evolution of smart beta approaches and consider the relevance for insurance company balance sheet investors looking for investment efficiencies.
See which individuals, companies and teams took the honours in our annual awards recognising the best in insurance asset management
Today’s technology environment is changing at lightning speed. At the centre of this revolution is information backed by tools like cloud, AI and machine learning. So how best to harness the technology?
Solvency II has been refined and reformed since it was introduced two years ago. Gareth Haslip from JP Morgan Asset Management describes the past, present and future amendments to Solvency II that will affect how insurers decide to invest their assets
Last year’s US tax law is destroying insurer demand for municipal bonds, once considered the most attractive surplus cash investment for the country’s property and casualty insurers. Sarfraz Thind reports
Draft rules suggest the capital charges of securitisations could be significantly cut this year as the European Commission takes steps to bring Solvency II in line with the STS framework. So will this spur future securitisation investment? Aggelos Andreou reports.
Scottish Widows’ decision to dump asset manager Aberdeen marked a rare public announcement by an insurer to change third-party managers. Gavin Stewart, director of asset allocation at Scottish Widows, shares insights on its next asset manager selection process with Sarfraz Thind
Johanna Köb, head of responsible investment at Zurich, talks to Cintia Cheong on the importance of adequate pricing of greenhouse gases and how investors can make a profit while doing good to the society and environment.
From the diesel emissions scandal to the perceived exploitation of zero-hour contracts, there have been many examples in recent years of how failures in the way companies are run can have a harmful impact on the environment, society and investor returns.
A growing body of evidence suggests that ESG investing fosters better investment decisions, performance and risk management. While insurers lag other institutional investors in embracing ESG investing, momentum is building and things look set to change.
Asset prices do not seem to be adequately reflecting the long-term systemic risk from global climate change. Wellington Management’s Alan Hsu explains why insurers are likely to lead the repricing of climate risk – and how multi-decade public-equity approaches might help.
Insurers are looking more closely than ever at the current trend of green bond investment. But is this just a fashion? And what should investors be aware of when putting money into this still nascent sector? David Turner reports
M&G Investments has launched a fund focusing on private and illiquid debt that will deliver a positive social or environmental impact.
MetLife Investment Management, the asset management arm of US insurer MetLife, has purchased €100m ($123m) of green bonds from WDP, a real estate investment company based in Belgium.