-
The RBC changes: a slow-moving Titanic
20 July 2021It is a slow change, even by the notoriously slow standards of the insurance industry. However, the soon-to-be instigated changes to the NAIC's risk-based capital charges on fixed income assets could have significant ramifications for the US insurance investment portfolio. And many don't like it. Sarfraz Thind reports
-
Inflation - the rising concern among CIOs
13 July 2021Once the elephant in the room for most insurance investors, inflation or the threat of it, is creeping up the ladder of chief investment officers' risks. Stephanie Harris reports
-
Comment: The Cold War over non-financial disclosures
30 June 2021The fragmented landscape of non-financial disclosures is consolidating, and it is geopolitical considerations that are driving the emergence of winners, and the downfall of the rest. Vincent Huck surveys the battlefield and predicts who will emerge victorious.
-
What is driving real asset investment decisions?
23 June 2021In an increasingly complex environment where returns can be scarce one could have expected CIOs to give answers based on fundamentals, but instead, their investment decisions seem to be driven by a greater cause - purpose, as Vincent Huck finds out
-
When actuarial science gets political
10 June 2021German insurers warn EU policy makers not to try and fix what is not broken in Solvency II, they also advise against politicising the rules which would lead to a skewed version of risk. David Walker reports
-
Royal London's journey into commercial real estate loans for MA portfolio
26 May 2021UK insurer has a "constructive dialogue" with the PRA regarding its MA application, and hopes commercial real estate loans will form part of its MA portfolio, Insurance Asset Risk has learnt. Vincent Huck reports
-
CIO interview: Balancing internal and external clients at an insurer's affiliate
20 April 2021SCOR decided to fully centralise the investment process at group level in 2008, and open asset management services to third-party clients in 2011. Francois De Varenne, in charge of today's €20bn investment portfolio, explains the rational around the decision, how it went about building the current structure. Interview by Vincent Huck
-
Insurers warn of accounting mismatches in implementing IFRS 17 & IFRS 9
30 March 2021But the insurance sector's criticisms lie more with the issue of financial reporting than with the standards themselves, a former standard setter tells Insurance Asset Risk. Vincent Huck reports
-
Nine lessons from general account investing in 2021
01 March 20212020 bruised many chief investment officers who had to fight to maintain their general accounts. But insurers' full-year results are revealing that the year wasn't a losing battle for many. David Walker reports
-
Hong Kong's modern-day CIO is investment 'match-maker'
03 February 2021Hong Kong's life insurers face the ongoing challenge of unearthing long-dated assets to match long-dated liabilities - a task set to get harder under the planned risk-based capital rules. David Walker discusses the options with investment professionals at insurers confronting the challenge head-on