Analysis

  • IAR outlook survey: sustainability for the next ten years

    08 February 2021

    Insurance Asset Risk's outlook survey discovered that sustainability is the overarching theme that will influence insurance investor behavior—not just this year but for the next decade and probably beyond. Yet, some are more prepared than others. Sarfraz Thind reports

  • Hong Kong's modern-day CIO is investment 'match-maker'

    03 February 2021

    Hong Kong's life insurers face the ongoing challenge of unearthing long-dated assets to match long-dated liabilities - a task set to get harder under the planned risk-based capital rules. David Walker discusses the options with investment professionals at insurers confronting the challenge head-on

  • IAR's global outlook survey 2021: a foggy crystal ball

    01 February 2021

    Respondents to Insurance Asset Risk's outlook survey seem more at the mercy of the financial gods than ever before. Most agree that while the pandemic rages, 2021 will be a damn hard year to predict. Sarfraz Thind reports

  • Businesses and environmental activists - a growing alignment of goals

    27 January 2021

    While activism used to go against businesses, there is a lot more collaboration these days, and understanding between protagonists, as David Walker finds out

  • Comment: Solvency II 2020 review, what's next?

    25 January 2021

    Carlos Montalvo Rebuelta analyses EIOPA's advice to the European Commission on the Solvency II 2020 review, highlighting the points of contention between regulators and policy makers

  • A testing climate for munis

    20 January 2021

    US municipal bonds have been a staple asset for insurers. But as underwriters brace for the effects of climate change, some insurers are questioning if lending to states hit with increasingly frequent and more severe hurricanes and wild fires is a sensible use of their general accounts. David Walker and Sarfraz Thind report

  • Bitcoin: blowing bubbles or truly sticky?

    18 January 2021

    Bitcoin is steaming into the stratosphere—and many want in. But is this speculative bubble going to appeal to insurers? Sarfraz Thind finds out.

  • Asia - how to keep calm in a storm

    13 January 2021

    Asian insurers were the first to suffer from COVID-19, including in their general account investments, but industry practitioners and analysts see a robust industry navigating seemingly endless low rates. David Walker reports

  • Value investing: worst run, but best opportunity in two centuries?

    12 January 2021

    The value factor is suffering its worst run in at least two centuries, according to research. But some believe it is in times like these that investors should keep their value holdings, as they will outperform. David Turner reports.

  • US insurers warmly welcome outsourced managers for climate change investing

    06 January 2021

    US insurers are buying ever more services from asset managers, data vendors and research houses to help understand climate change and inform their investment decisions, David Walker discovers.