Articles by Louie Woodall
Insurers eye longevity risk trades with Canadian and Dutch pension schemes
Influx of new swap intermediaries and improved risk modelling to spur expansion
Insurers explore exchange-traded funds to boost yield
Exchange-traded future
Regulatory uncertainty 'a barrier' to issuance of contingent capital by European insurers
Lack of clarity on Solvency II dampening investor interest, while Swiss insurers reap benefits of stable regime
Designation of systemically important insurers hit by delay
Publication of list pushed back from April
European financial regulators challenge Eiopa on harmonised response to low interest rates
Regulatory solutions 'must account for local conditions', they say
Insurers struggle with ‘ambiguous’ technical specifications for long-term guarantees exercise
Difficulty interpreting rules threatens usefulness of results to policy-makers
Matching adjustment ring-fencing provisions ‘a threat’ to mutual insurers
Provisions would prevent common funds structures and reduce diversification benefits, say insurers
Insurers urged to explore positive basis trades
Arbitrage opportunities on government bonds could bring yield boost
Swedish Solvency II discount rate move 'must address sensitivity concerns'
Extrapolation methodology must be robust and allow insurers to manage solvency positions, says Insurance Sweden
Insurers ramp up commercial loan portfolios in response to Solvency II delays
Firms seek short-term opportunities before directive implemented
CRO 3.0: how the risk function is evolving
Louie Woodall talks to four chief risk officers about how the risk function is responding to the economic and regulatory challenges facing the insurance industry
Banks hunt for asset-backed securities as liquidity swap market stagnates
Lloyds Bank one of a number sourcing assets from smaller institutions to meet demand from insurers
Chilean insurers grapple with risk-based capital assessment
New framework will challenge domestic insurers, experts warn
Insurers should stop using liquidity swaps - FSA
Companies should invest directly in long-term assets, says senior official
Solvency II transitional measures come under fire
Concerns about costs and suitability of phase-in of capital charges
Solvency II capital tests not part of augmented Icas regime, FSA confirms
Insurers welcome Icas+, although uncertainty remains over future requirements
Concerns over restrictions in matching adjustment assessment
Long-term guarantees impact assessment begins, but 'disappointment' over narrow eligible assets for matching adjustment
New risk-free rate calculation for long-term guarantees test
Higher credit risk adjustment to reflect current market conditions
Insurers to target export finance loans as banks withdraw
Sovereign-guaranteed loans provide yield boost for insurers
Sidecar capacity set to grow as capital market investment increases
Third-party solutions increasingly sought by firms seeking reinsurance and retrocession
Lawyers question Eiopa’s powers to soft-launch Solvency II
Authority promises guidelines on early implementation of risk governance and Orsa rules, but some doubt remains
Long-term guarantees test specifications to be published on test launch day
Fears that delay in releasing specifications will lead to inaccurate results
Insurers welcome FSA concessions on mutual capital
But questions remain over cost and complexity of regulator's proposals