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Smoothing the flow in illiquid assets
09 October 2015Illiquid assets have the potential to boost the yield and diversification of insurers' investments, but they are not a shoo-in to the portfolio, as discussed in part one of this InsuranceERM/Insurance Asset Risk and Standard Life Investments roundtable
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Insurers face up to the asset test of Solvency II
23 September 2015As solvency ratios come under pressure and the introduction of Solvency II with its higher capital charges for some asset classes looms, insurers are taking a hard look at the risk in their asset portfolios, as Sarfraz Thind explains
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Pimco advances on the European front
12 August 2015Despite its well-documented problems during the past year or so, Pimco remains one of the biggest managers of insurance assets in the world. And Matthieu Louanges, head of the European financial institutions group (FIG), believes that insurance is the most promising sector for future growth. Sarfraz Thind reports
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Aviva Investors: flexibility and a broad perspective needed in fixed-income investment
23 July 2015Quantitative easing in Europe, renewed risk from Greece and China and a predicted rate rise in the US are all giving fixed-income investors headaches. Spare a thought, then, for Aviva Investors' Colin Purdie, with £96bn of IG credit to oversee. Sarfraz Thind reports on his strategy
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Vermeir: "It took us one and a half years to prepare for infrastructure investing"
19 June 2015Group head of investments at Ageas, Wim Vermeir, talks to Hugo Coelho about the pluses and minuses of investing in infrastructure loans, including proposals to revise the capital charges under the impending Solvency II regime
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LV= spices up traditional investments with commercial mortgages
11 June 2015The vast bulk of LV='s assets are managed externally and produce solid returns but, as it looks for extra yield, the UK's largest friendly society is building up its commercial mortgage investments. Mike Leonard, investment solutions manager, talks to IAR
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Allianz CIO prepares for post-QE volatility
14 May 2015Andreas Gruber, CIO of Allianz, handles one of the biggest insurance investment portfolios in the world. Here he talks to Sarfraz Thind about the structure used to support multiple regions and assets, the attractions of illiquid assets and being ready for when the bubble bursts at the end of quantitative easing
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Friends Life CIO values his investment banking skills
13 April 2015At Friends Life Robert Groves has brought an innovative approach to the role of CIO from his previous career in banking. Right now his biggest challenges are ensuring Friends Life's assets are eligible for the matching adjustment and sourcing higher-yielding investments, as Sarfraz Thind explains
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Cutting down the hedge: how Emir is hitting insurers
06 January 2015Insurers are grappling with new EU rules which could discourage the use of derivatives at a time when they need them more than ever. Safraz Thind reports.
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Insurance Asset Risk's top stories of 2014
29 December 2014The events of 2014 confirmed that low interest rates and regulatory change remain the top concerns for insurers, says Christopher Cundy