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Hong Kong’s insurers gearing up for risk-based capital
31 May 2019In Hong Kong, local stakeholders tell Vincent Huck how they are getting ready for a risk-based capital regime which will require them to put in place ALM strategies and define their investment risk appetite.
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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
- M&G JV with Asian pension fund to invest £1bn in UK housing
- Insurance sector the "natural home" of productive assets, L&G says
- Barings acquires Sydney office building for AU $360m
- BoE zeroes in on private market risks to insurers and UK financial system
- Meiji Yasuda expands backing of regional revitalisation startup
- Chart of the Week - The rise and rise of (small) insurers investing in private assets
- Insurance Development Forum reaches first close on Infrastructure Resilience Development Fund
- Aviva Investors finances £175m loan for acquisition of central London property
- Private credit: the feel-good factor?
- Private credit: are headline news and underlying performance one and the same?