March 18, 2016
Assicurazioni Generali SpA’s fourth-quarter profit rose less than some analysts expected on a writedown of its stake in BTG Pactual Group and lower income at its life business. The shares had their biggest decline in more than a month. The …
March 17, 2016
German reinsurer Munich Re is boosting its cash reserves in the face of the punishing negative interest rates from the European Central Bank, it said on Wednesday. The world’s largest reinsurer is far from alone in seeking alternative investment strategies …
March 16, 2016
Munich Re, the world’s second-biggest reinsurer, expects profit to decline this year as falling prices for its products and low interest rates weigh on investment earnings. The company plans to repurchase 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) of stock before its …
March 10, 2016
German reinsurer Hannover Re will focus on boosting earnings rather than premiums this year and may pay out more special dividends to shareholders, Chief Executive Ulrich Wallin said on Thursday. The world’s third largest reinsurer posted record 2015 net profit …
March 3, 2016
Traditionally conservative European insurers and pension funds are turning increasingly to risky property bets on everything from new homes in provincial Britain to car parks at Brussels airport, as they feel the pinch from rock-bottom interest rates. While much is …
February 24, 2016
Europe’s largest insurer Allianz has put its South Korean life insurance business on the block as part of a global overhaul in a tough low-interest rate environment, sources with direct knowledge of the matter said. The South Korean asset is …
February 18, 2016
Reinsurers are running out of claims reserves that they can release to boost profits as pricing continues to fall, according to the head of Allianz SE’s reinsurance unit. “I don’t think there are too many loss reserves left and the …
February 11, 2016
The insurance industry is becoming the latest casualty of the oil price slump, with postponements and cancellations of energy projects forcing down premium rates and income in a market that was already crowded. Insurers forecast income could dive by 20 …
December 22, 2015
The return of banks into the European infrastructure market is denting insurers’ ability to enhance their investment returns by funding the roads, bridges and wind farms of tomorrow. European politicians have encouraged insurers to channel more of their €10 trillion …
December 21, 2015
A.M. Best announced that it is holding to “its 2016 outlook for the global reinsurance sector at negative, citing the significant ongoing market challenges that will hinder the potential for positive rating actions over time and may eventually translate into …