Analysis

  • Insurers get defensive in the face of Brexit fears

    29 August 2019

    In the three years since the UK voted to leave the European Union, the emotional pendulum has swung from hope to despair – regardless of where one stands on the issue – making fertile ground for comments. But what do the numbers say when looking at insurers' asset allocation in the years since the referendum? Vincent Huck reports.

  • EM debt - worth a look in the latter stages of the credit cycle?

    22 August 2019

    A market downturn is deemed to have more impact on emerging markets (EM) than on developed economies. It poses the question whether EM debt is a smart investment at this stage of the credit cycle. Ian Coulman, chief investment officer at Pool Re, speaks with Vincent Huck on the topic.

  • Investing in venture debt: pros and cons

    20 August 2019

    David Turner looks at why venture debt might be an attractive investment for insurers, bearing in mind the constraints around size of the deals and the regulatory treatment incurred.

  • IAR EMEA conference: questions from the audience

    13 August 2019

    The audience for the chief investment officer panel at Insurance Asset Risk’s European conference asked a lot of questions that couldn’t be answered in the time available. Vincent Huck caught up with Massimo Di Tria, CIO at Cattolica Assicurazioni, to get his responses.

  • Build-to-rent: An opportunity for institutional investors to bridge the housing deficit?

    08 August 2019

    Miria Whittle, manager at EY, looks at how insurers can enter the build-to-rent market, what are the risk they should consider, the returns they should expect and most importantly why it is in an asset class that won’t go unnoticed for long.

  • Prudential planning

    06 August 2019

    Ken Tanji assumed the role of CFO at Prudential in December. He gives a wide-ranging interview covering all aspects of the insurer’s business from the much derided Sifi designation, to investment risk and impact investing. Interview by Sarfraz Thind

  • Brexit - worse than Greece but better than Trump, insurers say

    30 July 2019

    The UK is inching closer to the possibility of a no-deal divorce from the EU as Brexiteer Boris Johnson became Prime Minister. How do Europe’s insurers view the possibility of ‘no deal’? David Walker investigates.

  • IAR’s European conference: CIOs' outlook

    23 July 2019

    At Insurance Asset Risk EMEA 2019 conference, three CIOs of European insurers gave their outlook on the current environment. In the third of a three-part series, they discuss considerations in the late stage of the cycle. Compiled by Vincent Huck

  • Singaporean life insurers exposed to risk of falling asset prices

    19 July 2019

    Despite strong buffers over and above their minimum capital requirements, two of the four largest Singaporean insurers by assets breach minimum capital requirements in the International Monetary Fund's stress test. Vincent Huck reports

  • IAR’s European conference: the CIO’s take on MA and capital models

    16 July 2019

    At Insurance Asset Risk EMEA 2019 conference, three chief investment officers (CIOs) of European insurance companies gave their outlook on the current environment. In the second of a three-part series, they discuss the matching adjustment rules and their take on capital modelling. Compiled by Vincent Huck