Operational risk

The View on Flu

Should life companies worry about bird flu? Swiss Re says yes, but Munich Re and a host of primary insurers claim the risks can be overstated. Richard Irving reports

Prospectus prospects

The European Union's Prospectus Directive is meant to provide a single regulatory framework for structured products across Europe. Some dealers believe it is already having a positive effect on the Italian market. Others remain cynical. By John Ferry

A pillar of solvency

Paul Sharma, head of policy for banking, insurance and securities at the UK's Financial Services Authority, talks about life at the sharp end of insurance reform. Nicholas Dunbar reports

New Swiss rules reveal hidden capital

Statutory or book reserve capital requirements, a mainstay of continental European insurance regulation, may come under pressure as practitioners digest the results of a field test of new solvency rules conducted by Switzerland's insurance regulator.

Coping with complexity

The demand for risk-based technology has never been higher due to changing business practices, growing regulatory burdens and burgeoning demand for cross-asset class products. But new entrants can still gain market share in niche areas.

Clash of the regulators

As the pace of the Solvency II process to reform European insurance supervision quickens, British and French regulators have clashed over the use of market-consistent solvency requirements, to the alarm of proponents of risk-based supervision.

Making progress

The recovery in Japan’s banking sector means that country’s banks are closer to meeting the minimum capital adequacy requirements of Basel II than was anticipated even 12 months ago. However, challenges remain, particularly with regards to data. By John…

To build or not to build

Europe needs more power. But a lack of clear pricing signals and the unknown impact of new environmental legislation is making risk forecasting difficult, and could hinder new plant construction

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