Analysis

• Prudential's CIO on running the biggest show in town

  07 October 2020

  In the first of a two-part interview, Tim Schmidt, CIO of the biggest insurance portfolio in the USA, talks about steering Prudential Financial through the most devastating crisis of recent times. Despite headwinds, he remains optimistic of the company's ability to withstand challenges ahead - By Sarfraz Thind

  

• Convertible bonds shine in COVID-19 induced volatility

  30 September 2020

  Market turbulences in H1 2020 may have hit hard the asset side of insurers' balance sheet, but some assets thrive in muddy waters. David Turner looks at convertible bonds.

  

• 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