News/comment

Mercer hires van Zyl

25 June 2010

Will advise on pension risk management

Published in: Investment risk

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Expect changes to product and investment strategies

16 June 2010

Fitch expands on rating impact of Solvency II

Published in: Corporate strategy, Capital - models, Investment risk, Regulation - supervision

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US pension plans' funded status hit

07 June 2010

Falling interest rates and equity values take their toll

Published in: Investment risk, Longevity - mortality

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New policies may worry UK life industry

13 May 2010

Coalition government’s potential cut in pension tax relief is a concern

Published in: Investment risk, Accounting - tax

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“UK life companies less troubled by Greek crisis”

11 May 2010

Aviva most exposed to European government debt

Published in: Investment risk, Market risks

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Solvency II rules may hamper offshore SPVs

31 March 2010

By Reuters News

Published in: Investment risk, Cat risk - ILS

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Buffett raises Munich Re stake to nearly 8%

26 March 2010

By Reuters News

Published in: Corporate strategy, Investment risk

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Berkshire bonds safer than US government’s

22 March 2010

Yields lower than Washington’s

Published in: Investment risk

Analysis

How Solvency II will change insurers’ ALM and investment strategies

12 July 2010

The QIS5 discounting rules should encourage greater derivatives usage while the proposed capital charges for credit will encourage a focus on shorter-duration higher quality bonds, argues Peter McGloughlin.

Published in: Investment risk, ALM, Regulation - supervision

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Inefficient inputs lead to outmoded outputs

17 June 2010

Misleading assumptions often lead to inaccurate actuarial valuations of DB pension liabilities. Result: inefficient hedging strategies and an inappropriate contribution rate, says James Mushin

Published in: Investment risk, ALM, Longevity - mortality

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Do insurers pose a systemic risk?

18 February 2010

The case against the banks is pretty damning, given the financial crisis. But insurers? As regulators fret over who and what causes systemic risk, the insurance industry is on the defensive. Jessica Baylis sifts through the arguments over its systemic relevance.

Published in: Investment risk, Market risks, Regulation - supervision

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Why the valuation of RMBS holdings needed changing

12 January 2010

The NAIC found many flaws in the way that mortgage securities held by US insurers have been rated in the past and decided on a different approach, as Michael A Cohen explains

Published in: Investment risk

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2010 will bring many challenges, warn risk experts

05 January 2010

Among them: increasing regulatory burdens, a talent shortage, investment dilemmas and looming inflation. Our panel of industry soothsayers spell out their concerns.

Published in: Corporate strategy, Capital - models, Risk governance, Insurance risk, Investment risk, Market risks, Cat risk - ILS, Software, Regulation - supervision

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How ERM evolved over the past year

22 December 2009

Fourteen experts pick the key lessons learned for risk professionals in 2009. Their views on what to expect in 2010 will be posted after the holidays.

Published in: Capital - models, Risk governance, Insurance risk, Investment risk, ALM, Market risks