-
The opportunities and obstacles of multi-asset portfolios
14 September 2016Irrational pessimism and excessive caution is inhibiting insurance investors, while regulatory ignorance is blocking an escape from low yields through multi-asset portfolios, says Hani Redha.
-
Hedge fund reinsurers feel the heat
07 September 2016Poor investment performance and tight reinsurance markets have squeezed returns for hedge fund reinsurers. With some already exiting the market, what for the future? Sarfraz Thind reports.
-
Quasi-government loans: an elusive illiquid
17 August 2016Supply of much-wanted government-backed loans is short, but the UK's referendum may change that to the benefit of life insurers. Asa Gibson reports.
-
Upholding a duty to ESG investing
10 August 2016NN's chief investment officer Jelle van der Giessen on investing responsibly in tough economic times. Asa Gibson reports.
-
Bank of England to put the squeeze on UK insurers
03 August 2016Monetary easing may include fresh round of asset purchases. Hugo Coelho reports
-
Leveraged loans an asset in waiting
27 July 2016Leveraged loans are often perceived as riskier than equivalent high-yield bonds, but market participants believe this is unfair and the asset is due a revaluation. Sarfraz Thind reports
-
The case against hedge fund divestment
20 July 2016The poor performance of hedge funds has led some insurers to slash their allocation, but the asset class has the potential to produce yield in difficult markets, as Asa Gibson reports
-
Catching the last wave of the credit cycle
13 July 2016Confronted with the prospect of an increase in default rates, insurers are hunting for yield in a more selective but expansive way, BlackRock's Zach Buchwald tells Hugo Coelho
-
Nordea falling out of love with illiquid assets
06 July 2016Nordea Life & Pensions was one of the earliest to invest in illiquid assets, which has helped steel it against the low interest rate environment since 2008. But with risks like Brexit threatening European stability, the insurer has turned away from the asset class. Sarfraz Thind talks to CIO Jesper Norgaard
-
Can covered bonds stage a comeback?
29 June 2016Covered bonds have traditionally been a favourite asset for insurers and are treated sympathetically under Solvency II, but they have fallen from grace as low yields bite into the asset class. Sarfraz Thind reports on prospects for a revival
- Comment: Insurers at the centre of pension de-risking's capital market shift
- 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
- Swiss Life sells petrol station property in north of England
- Japan insurance trade body responds to IAIS paper on funded re and alternative investing
- 'Rise of the East and decline of the West' heralds "new era" for China's insurance AM
- Royal London completes largest BPA deal to date
- US life insurers offshored $800bn of reserves since 2018, Moody's says