PineBridge Investments: Uncharted Territory
September 5 2016
While insurers around the world face a considerable challenge in a negative rate environment, there are potential solutions. Learning from industry experience in Asia markets with prolonged low interest rates will help insurers formulate appropriate investment strategies in their respective markets.
A prolonged period of low interest rates has beset insurance companies for more than a decade. Now, the adoption of negative interest rates by
a number of central banks in Europe as well as Japan is steering the industry into uncharted territory.
Traditionally, local government bonds are one of the major asset classes life insurers use for asset-liability management. But the new era of negative rates means that traditional approaches will struggle to help insurers meet their return requirements. This, plus the relatively small size of the local corporate bond markets, leaves insurance companies with limited options.
While insurers are facing a considerable challenge, they are not empty handed. The continual fall in yields has given them an incentive to take offshore credit risk for yield enhancement as well as diversification. But it’s important to realize that there is no one perfect solution; each insurer needs to determine the best asset allocation strategy to address the “negative world order.”
-
QBE’s Hammond on transformation and growth
- July 2
The Asia chief executive discusses Covid-19, going digital and restructuring.
-
Swiss Re: Nat cats and man-made disasters in 2018
- April 10
Climate change, increased urbanisation and a growing concentration of assets were on the risk agenda for 2018.
-
Willis Towers Watson: 2019 Asia Market Report
- March 19
Economic uncertainty, more complex risks and tighter underwriting are all influencing Asia's markets.
-
Peak Re: Emerging Asia’s life and health opportunity
- March 11
Life and health premium growth is expected to outpace GDP gains in eight Asian markets.
-
Peak Re | From climate modelling to market opportunity: Forging a new clarity on Southeast Asia’s climate risk
Southeast Asia's protection gap: a crisis of clarity, not just capital
-
BHSI WICare+ | Accelerating Payments, Empowering Recovery
Launched in cooperation with Steadfast’s Singapore network, WICare+ fills the gaps found in traditional coverage and keeps businesses and their workforce secure by covering up to SG$350,000 in medical expenses per claim.
-
BHSI | Managing non-Asian exposure in long-tail lines
While US-exposed business can look attractive to Asian carriers, managing the volatility around the long-term results and the ability to model those losses are crucial, say BHSI’s Marc Breuil and Marcus Portbury.
-
Allianz General | Allianz General combines innovative protection solutions while powering social good to lead Malaysian market
The insurer proactively addresses emerging risks and evolving customer protection needs while giving back to the community.
