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  • Investment Analysis

    ILS: How to choose your trigger

    2009-06-11T00:00:00Z

    Dr Luzi Hitz takes a look under the hood of cat bonds. These bonds employ different trigger mechanisms: rules which determine a pay-out to sponsors.

  • Investment Analysis

    ILS: The benefit of experience

    2009-04-14T00:00:00Z

    Last year was a slow but productive year in the cat bond market. Repeat issuers will continue to dominate, writes David Priebe.

  • Investment Analysis

    Cats are back

    2009-03-12T00:00:00Z

    The cat bond new issues market may have disappointed last year. But don’t give up on cats yet, writes David Sandham

  • Investment Analysis

    ILS is here to stay

    2008-12-18T00:00:00Z

    Martin Davies analyses the state of ILS investment, how different players make price comparisons, and the impact on the reinsurance markets.

  • Investment Analysis

    Rethinking cat bonds

    2008-12-18T00:00:00Z

    David Sandham reports on how the cat bond market is currently on hold while key participants sort out how to provide greater transparency and stronger rules for underlying assets.

  • Investment Analysis

    World bank buys weather derivatives

    2008-11-19T00:00:00Z

    Swiss Re has entered into a weather derivative contract with the International Development Association (IDA), an arm of the World Bank.Under the terms of the contract, Swiss Re will pay out up to $5m in the event that Malawi’s farmers suffer from a drought-related shortfall in maize production. With this ...

  • Investment Analysis

    Cat asset rules to change

    2008-11-19T00:00:00Z

    Lehman Brothers’ filing for Chapter 11 protection has had a direct effect on the cat bond sector, and will change the rules governing the assets underlying cat bonds, writes David Sandham.

  • Investment Analysis

    Safe cat in a storm

    2008-10-28T00:00:00Z

    As turmoil convulses the world’s financial markets, the uncorrelated nature of catastrophe bonds makes them stand out from the crowd, writes David Sandham.

  • Investment Analysis

    $5bn new cat bonds for 2008?

    2008-09-06T00:00:00Z

    The cat bond market had a record year in 2007. What are prospects for the current year? David Sandham spoke to some of the leading players.

  • Investment Analysis

    Betting on the weather

    2008-07-18T00:00:00Z

    Weather derivatives have shed their post-Enron reputation as risky and exotic instruments. Lindsey Rogerson charts their impressive growth and asks if the attraction for investors is sustainable.

  • Investment Analysis

    When a hedge fund sneezes

    2008-06-09T00:00:00Z

    Will reinsurers catch a cold? Hedge funds experienced their first negative quarter on record in Q1. That could have dire consequences for the insurance companies and products they invest in, explains Lindsey Rogerson.

  • Investment Analysis

    Investment: Spreading nasty rumours

    2008-05-14T00:00:00Z

    Using negative market sentiment for positive gain has become an increasingly prevalent fact of life. As the downturn in the global financial markets gathers pace, the vultures are circling, discovers Lindsey Rogerson.

  • Investment Analysis

    Once bitten, twice shy

    2008-04-10T00:00:00Z

    Only one catastrophe bond has ever been triggered and the market has tripled since 2005. Could losses in 2008 put off investors who are not accustomed to paying out? asks Lindsey Rogerson.

  • Investment Analysis

    Banging the drum for Bermuda

    2008-03-07T00:00:00Z

    The absence of major catastrophe losses has meant another fantastic year for most Bermuda players. Investors should remain bullish despite softening reinsurance rates, argues Lindsey Rogerson.

  • Investment Analysis

    Keeping the faith

    2008-02-08T00:00:00Z

    With rates now falling, what can reinsurers do to keep investors interested after they have banked their share of this year’s profits? Lindsey Rogerson finds out.

  • Investment Analysis

    Investing in the future

    2007-11-14T00:00:00Z

    The rapid growth of emerging insurance markets suggests future profits lie in distant shores. Lindsey Rogerson turns her gaze to China, India and the Middle East.

  • Investment Analysis

    Predicting the fallout

    2007-10-09T00:00:00Z

    As the credit crunch widens its grip on the global debt markets, Lindsey Rogerson asks if the insurance and reinsurance industry should be concerned

  • Investment Analysis

    Activist investors

    2007-09-07T00:00:00Z

    Are hedge funds friend or foe? Some reinsurers have got the jitters despite an exemplary track record. Lindsey Rogerson asks why.

  • Investment Analysis

    Investment cat bond craze

    2007-07-14T00:00:00Z

    Softening rates and ample capacity have done nothing to stem the unstoppable pupularity of catastrophe bonds, discovers Lindsey Rogerson

  • Investment Analysis

    Investment: Is run-off now sexy?

    2007-06-08T00:00:00Z

    National Indemnity’s deal with Equitas has breathed life into the run-off industry and roused interest from a whole new generation of investors. Lindsey Rogerson takes stock.