Analysis

  • IAR Americas: Round the world of credit

    28 September 2020

    Insurers examine the impact of COVID-19 on different asset classes in the credit and structured bond universe and how they feel about future performance, during a panel discussion at Insurance Asset Risk Americas. Compiled by Stephanie Harris

  • Q&A with Boulder County commissioner Elise Jones

    25 September 2020

    Boulder County, one of the 64 counties of the USA state of Colorado, issued a proclamation calling on insurers to stop underwriting and investing in activities perpetuating fossil fuel extraction. County commissioner, Elise Jones, talks about what the jurisdiction is trying to achieve and the lack of political leadership on climate at the USA federal level. Interview by Vincent Huck

  • The art of liquidity stress testing

    23 September 2020

    Panellists at the Insurance Asset Risk 2020 Americas event discuss the ins and outs of liquidity stress testing, from the design of the test to the use of the results. Compiled by Stephanie Harris

  • CIOs turn from managing investments to managing expectations

    22 September 2020

    A panel of chief investment officers told the audience of Insurance Asset Risk's 2020 Americas event that their job coming out of the COVID-19 crisis will be as much about managing expectations of how much their investment portfolios can actually deliver, as it is about managing the investments themselves. Compiled by Stephanie Harris

  • Sustainability - the external asset managers' view

    16 September 2020

    Research by Insurance Asset Risk, sponsored by JP Morgan Asset Management, has revealed the sometimes-challenging relationships between insurers and their external asset managers, as well as were both players complement each other. JPMAM's Mark Oldcorn and Jennifer Wu comment on some of the findings. Interview by Vincent Huck

  • Stress-tested: How COVID-19 put insurers' investments under pressure

    14 September 2020

    The impact of the pandemic on insurers' claims remains unknown, and estimates vary widely. However, market turbulence in H1 has clearly impacted the asset side of insurers' balance sheets. Already, though, underwriters are looking ahead and rethinking investment decisions and ensuring resilience. Vincent Huck surveys the damage done and the plans afoot

  • Lower-for-longer interest rates opens up EMD opportunities

    09 September 2020

    Emerging market sovereign debt is starting to find a place in insurers portfolios as they scratch around for return in the low rate environment. While still in its early days, insurance investors feel the asset class could become a shining light for insurance asset allocation. Stephanie Harris reports

  • USA insurers search for the golden age of credit

    07 September 2020

    For the harried insurer, dealing with a projected lifetime of low interest rates, is there any value left in the corporate bond market? Some believe there is, and particularly so in that much-derided BBB segment. Sarfraz Thind reports

  • Sustainable investing: how to implement what still needs to be defined?

    02 September 2020

    Lack of data and commonly agreed definitions are the main challenges for insurers in implementing their sustainable investment policies, chief investments officers tell Vincent Huck.

  • It was all 'keep calm and carry on' for insurers in H1, GSAM's Comon says

    01 September 2020

    If insurers were ever characterised as slow to move and tardy to change, Goldman Sachs Asset Management head of insurance for EMEA Etienne Comon has another perspective. He talks to David Walker about the challenges insurers faced in H1 2020 and how their speedy reaction has aided resilience.