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Navigating the seas of illiquidity
29 May 2019Benjama Serra, senior vice president at Moody’s Investors Services, explains why illiquid investments in insurers’ portfolios are like brackish seawater, and why allocation to them is bound to increase. Interview by Vincent Huck
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Hong Kong flexes its regulatory muscles to compete internationally
23 May 2019The pearl of the Orient has been implementing the International Monetary Fund’s recommendations for stronger regulation at a fast pace. In the first part of this two-part series, Vincent Huck looks at the progress made and what remains to be achieved.
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Allianz Africa CIO: investing in nascent capital markets
21 May 2019In London to speak at the 2019 Africa Financial Services Investment Conference, Allianz chief investment officer for Africa Jens Köke, took the time between two meetings for a quick coffee – double expresso – with Insurance Asset Risk. Interview by Vincent Huck
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Commercial mortgages close up
16 May 2019Strong returns, stable performance, low risk—the market for commercial mortgage loans has run on tailwinds in the last 10 years with more insurers bringing the asset onto their portfolio than ever before. But, with a looming economic downturn, is the love affair with CMLs about to run out? Sarfraz Thind reports
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German life insurers 'happy' about lower investment results
14 May 2019Less onerous requirement to fuel interest rate reserves in 2018 relieved pressure to encash profitable investments, David Walker reports.
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CECL: US insurers getting to grips with accounting standard overhaul
09 May 2019Like IFRS 9, the US's current expected credit losses (CECL) accounting standard was devised to tackle expected credit losses in financial institution portfolios. The rules, however, appear harsh in relation to the insurance industry. By Sarfraz Thind
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Aviva France’s diversification journey
07 May 2019Chief investment officer Philippe Taffin explains the evolution of his firm’s investment portfolio over the last six years, the relationship between the different Aviva subsidiaries and why he believes there should be a Solvency II treatment of ESG risk. Interview by Vincent Huck
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Asset risk: biggest risk for Asian insurers
02 May 2019With a lack of domestic long dated assets to match their long-term liabilities and some restrictions on overseas investments, Asian insurers’ biggest risk exposure comes from their investments. In Hong Kong, Vincent Huck meets with regional and local stakeholders to understand how they are coping and their expectations for the upcoming changes in regulations.
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The 'obscure' Solvency II co-investment rule
30 April 2019Recent changes to co-investing rules under Solvency II have been received with mixed feelings by European insurers. Many players are even unaware there has been a development. Vincent Huck reports
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China’s Belt & Road: where are the insurers’ investments?
25 April 2019As China celebrates the sixth year of its initiative this week, insurers remain reluctant to invest in its projects. Vincent Huck asks why
- Comment: Insurers at the centre of pension de-risking's capital market shift
- Comment - Will Japanese couples stop giving birth to enough insurance CIOs?
- Bringing structured private credit to European insurers
- Munich Re calls for "more pragmatic" regulatory approach to asset classification
- Insurance asset managers eye more risk taking in next 12 months
- Resolution Life seals $1bn block reinsurance deal in Hong Kong
- Japan Post Insurance doubles investments in private property fund since July
- Chart of the Week - DAV considers the best pension system, as Germany's demographic pyramid develops a 'bulging midriff'
- Swiss Life sells petrol station property in north of England
- Royal London completes largest BPA deal to date