Analysis

• 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

• Nordea falling out of love with illiquid assets

  06 July 2016

  Nordea 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 2016

  Covered 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

• Brexit leaves insurers facing an uncertain investment future

  27 June 2016

  Most UK insurers hedged against risks, which should reduce impact

• Creativity is the key for Ageas's Vermeir

  22 June 2016

  Ageas's CIO Wim Vermeir tells Sarfraz Thind how, with negative yields biting, he has been steering the insurer towards a more dynamic portfolio

• European insurers eye sticky private credit market

  15 June 2016

  European Insurers have been building up their investment in the private credit market these past three years. Although there is room for growth in this asset class, there are currently some serious caveats which need to be borne in mind. Sarfraz Thind reports

• The steady rise of factor-based investing

  08 June 2016

  In expectation of lower future returns, many insurers are embracing the factor-based approach either as an investment philosophy or a tool in the investment process. Benedicte Gravrand reports

• "Solvency II is the missing piece in the securitisation package"

  01 June 2016

  Paul Tang, rapporteur for the regulation on securitisations, urges the European Commission to ease the charges for insurers investing in simple, transparent and standardised (STS) securitisations, and rules out the introduction of compulsory third-party certification for such products demanded by the industry. He speaks to Hugo Coelho

• Emerging market debt a logical extension for insurers

  26 May 2016

  The key driver for investing in emerging markets is the search for additional yield, and the hard-currency version seems a better fit for insurers' portfolio. But beware of the sovereign risks associated to some countries. Benedicte Gravrand reports

• Stay sharp on infrastructure

  17 May 2016

  Infrastructure debt has superior credit fundamentals to the corporate bond sector, says Clara Yan, insurance asset liability management director at UK-based asset manager Schroders