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The high yields and low defaults of taxable muni bonds
05 October 2016With a long record of above average returns and strong credit quality, the US's little-known taxable municipal bond market offers non-US insurers a safe route to yield, says Eaton Vance's Michael Sullivan.
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Why bond market liquidity is back on the worry list
28 September 2016JP 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.
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Getting the measure of credit downgrade risk
21 September 2016Investors 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Bank of England to put the squeeze on UK insurers
03 August 2016Monetary easing may include fresh round of asset purchases. Hugo Coelho reports
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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
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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
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