Insurance
Growing an institutional footprint in Asia’s ETF market
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) explores the burgeoning impact of institutional investors in Asia’s exchange‑traded funds (ETFs) market – which is demonstrating the potential to establish itself as a global force – with a focus on the rapid…
Driverless insurance: regulating Prudential without the Fed
Scrutiny on largest US insurer should not be laxer than on second-tier US banks, experts warn
Prudential Financial growth at odds with Sifi repeal
US insurer has increased derivatives and repo books; grown total assets
Bank bail-in rules put European insurers at risk
The major buyers of bank debt could suffer a domino effect if the bonds are bailed in
EU may let UK insurers break law to pay clients after Brexit
Member states likely to choose protecting policy-holders over suing firms, if UK leaves with no deal
Is Libor going away?
Amid widespread expectation that Libor will soon be discontinued, questions are being asked around whether the transitioning towards risk-free rates will prove too onerous to achieve. Christopher Dias, principal, advisory, at KPMG, explores whether the…
Pensions and insurers give new impetus to Asia’s ETFs
Cost-conscious institutional investors are embracing exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to lower transaction fees and achieve higher returns. Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) explores the theme of yield‑chasing among insurers in Asia’s expanding ETF…
Formosa swaptions trade under pressure from new Taiwan rules
Limit on investment by insurers is hitting issuance of Formosa bonds and related options
Q&A: EU’s Hübner on Brexit and future of equivalence
Top EU lawmaker discusses improvements to equivalence, contract continuity and clearing relocation
Prudential grows long-term care reserves, draining profits
Annual actuarial updates take net $160 million away from adjusted operating income
Poor governance is top factor in insurer failures – Eiopa
Internal governance and control risks primary cause of 14% of failures
Veteran structurer Paul Fulcher to leave Nomura
Structurer for insurers and pension funds departing at the end of September
New frontiers
Innovative investment opportunities are helping to mitigate risk and satisfy Solvency II capital requirements as insurers face continued economic uncertainty. Frederic Morlaye, managing director, insurance and capital management solutions, Global Markets…
EU insurers embrace infrastructure bonds
Solvency II-compliant infrastructure investments concentrated in handful of firms
EU insurance solvency ratios strengthen in 2017 – Eiopa
Average solvency ratio climbs to 237%
EU insurers shun ABS, real estate
Securitisations make up just 0.5% of portfolios; property 2.7%
Solvency II capital charges concentrated in two key risks
Market risk SCR averages 37% across six large insurers
Eiopa targets cyber risk in stress tests
Forty-two insurers quizzed on IT vulnerabilities
Equity hedges protect Munich Re from vol spike
Net derivative liabilities fall 95% year-on-year
Axa tackles equity risk
Efforts to reduce equity SCR boost Solvency II ratio by eight basis points
Legal woes drain Barclays' capital
A $2 billion fine from the US Department of Justice contributed to a 60bp CET1 capital ratio decline