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FCA dices with actuaries in annuity profits probe
14 February 2014The UK's Financial Conduct Authority wants to make the annuity markets more competitive, but tackling excess profitability and price differentiation may be a bigger challenge than it thinks. Christopher Cundy reports
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Solvency reform a priority for US regulators
20 December 2013US insurance supervision is inefficient and inconsistent, according to the Federal Insurance Office, which has made its long-awaited recommendations for reform. Among its prime targets are solvency regulation, reserving and treatment of captives. Christopher Cundy reports
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Will RMS(one) be the one?
01 November 2013The one system to manage all cat exposures and risks, that is. Early testers are enthusiastic, but RMS's claims for its new platform will take some time to assess, and the cost of using it could be a hindrance. Christopher Cundy reports
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Understand, don't blend, cat models
11 October 2013The changes afoot in insurance markets make an "own view of risk" essential to the future of today's firms – and the best approach is not through blending of catastrophe models, argues Mike Duffy
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Reinsurers and brokers steeled for "post-convergence" markets
10 September 2013The rise of alternative capital has been the talking point at this year's reinsurance Rendez-vous in Monte Carlo. The $45bn currently in play could double in next three years, but what will be the effect on pricing and how reinsurers and brokers operate? Christopher Cundy reports
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New capital muscles into the reinsurance business
12 July 2013Hedge funds, pension funds and wealth managers are among the newer investors reshaping the way that reinsurance operates and prices risk. These non-traditional investors like the returns available and the lack of correlation with other capital markets. But do they fully appreciate the risks? Sarfraz Thind reports
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US has more reservations about Solvency II than a year ago
21 June 2013The federal threat to the US system of state-based insurance supervision is waning, according to Jim Donelon and Ben Nelson, the president and CEO of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, but international pressure for reform is an ever-present danger. In a Q&A with InsuranceERM, the new officials also discuss progress on reinsurance collateral, the ORSA and principles-based reserving
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Australia beats Europe on regulatory overhaul
21 December 2012Australia has succeeded where Europe has seemingly failed by implementing new solvency capital regulations for insurers in three years – with relatively few delays. The standards will be implemented on 1 January 2013 and follow a broadly similar approach to Solvency II. Lorna Davies reports