Analysis

  • Why bond market liquidity is back on the worry list

    28 September 2016

    JP Morgan Asset Management's Prashant Sharma and Bryan Wallace on why insurance investors must accept structurally lower liquidity in bond markets, and how they can navigate the new asset landscape.

  • Getting the measure of credit downgrade risk

    21 September 2016

    Investors are questioning the impact of credit downgrades on insurers' Solvency II balance sheets. Hugo Coelho investigates how firms are gauging this risk and why they resist putting a figure on it.

  • The opportunities and obstacles of multi-asset portfolios

    14 September 2016

    Irrational 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 2016

    Poor 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 2016

    Supply 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 2016

    NN'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 2016

    Monetary easing may include fresh round of asset purchases. Hugo Coelho reports

  • Leveraged loans an asset in waiting

    27 July 2016

    Leveraged 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 2016

    The 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 2016

    Confronted 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

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