

Covid recession makes US insurers’ junk bond piles riskier
About $227.5 billion of firms’ debt holdings are BB+ rated or lower
The severe recession sparked by the coronavirus pandemic has caused the creditworthiness of US insurers’ high-yield bond portfolios to deteriorate, which may pump up their risk-based capital requirements.
As of end-2019, insurers held $227.5 billion of junk-rated debt, data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) shows. Of this, about 59% was designated NAIC 3, which covers bonds with an S&P credit rating of BB+ to BB-.
The shutdown of the US economy following the
Only users who have a paid subscription or are part of a corporate subscription are able to print or copy content.
To access these options, along with all other subscription benefits, please contact info@risk.net or view our subscription options here: http://subscriptions.risk.net/subscribe
You are currently unable to print this content. Please contact info@risk.net to find out more.
You are currently unable to copy this content. Please contact info@risk.net to find out more.
Copyright Infopro Digital Limited. All rights reserved.
As outlined in our terms and conditions, https://www.infopro-digital.com/terms-and-conditions/subscriptions/ (point 2.4), printing is limited to a single copy.
If you would like to purchase additional rights please email info@risk.net
Copyright Infopro Digital Limited. All rights reserved.
You may share this content using our article tools. As outlined in our terms and conditions, https://www.infopro-digital.com/terms-and-conditions/subscriptions/ (clause 2.4), an Authorised User may only make one copy of the materials for their own personal use. You must also comply with the restrictions in clause 2.5.
If you would like to purchase additional rights please email info@risk.net
More on Risk Quantum
Capital One, UBS Americas drive SVAR window adjustments in 2024
Bank duo responsible for over half of all lookback period changes across US banks
Norinchukin’s repo retreat brings SFT exposures to four-year low
Japanese bank slashes gross SFT assets 54% in Q4, accelerating pullback from repo market to bolster capital
US dealers tally most VAR breaches since mid-2023
Market turmoil in Q4 blindsides models at systemic and regional banks alike
Japan Post Bank’s liquid deposits reach largest ever share
A decade since its privatisation, the bank has seen a shift in its deposit structure
HSBC’s SVAR hits highest in six years on interest rate sensitivity
Lofty readings in the last quarter of 2024 push associated RWAs to $13 billion
US banks’ unrealised losses surge by $33bn in Q4
Led by JPM, Wells Fargo and Capital One, every major bank reported higher losses in AOCI, in reversal of previous quarter’s recovery
French banks’ equity VAR surges to multi-year highs
Volatility pushes fourth quarter readings at BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole and SocGen to levels unseen in recent years
Clients’ share of IRS clearing margin hit record high
Data from CME, Eurex and LCH shows clearing members’ house IM fell in January, pushing client proportion to 67.7%