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Financial and macro

Interest rates, inflation and claims inflation, recession, private credit and asset risk at insurers, capital and solvency shocks, rating and liquidity contagion, currency and sovereign debt.

ARGUS’S READING Rising · Moody's reports US life insurers' AI-linked holdings grew 24% in six months, with total exposure potentially understated.

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Markets & Results

WTW: specialty insurers and reinsurers have given back about 65% of hard-market rate gains, net of trend

WTW's latest Specialty Insurance Marketplace Survey finds that about 65% of the net-of-trend rate gains made between 2017 and the 2023 peak had been eroded by July 2026, Reinsurance News reported. All 15 material insurance and reinsurance classes recorded net rate decreases in the first half, with property down 17% net of trend at 1 July.

  1. Insurance AsiaWhole industry

    1–3 yrsCapital

    US and UK authorities are proposing tougher capital treatment for certain arrangements. ↗

    Tougher US and UK capital treatment for certain arrangements would raise insurers' capital requirements and balance-sheet pressure.

  2. Insurance AsiaWhole industry

    1–3 yrsCapital

    A separate solvency framework scheduled for 2027 could further reduce financial buffers. ↗

    A 2027 solvency framework could cut insurers' financial buffers, adding capital pressure on balance sheets.

  3. Insurance EdgeWhole industry

    1–3 yrsCapital

    New Report From Blackrock Looks at Insurance Sector ↗

    Insurers' shift toward private-markets assets raises exposure to illiquid and credit-sensitive holdings.

  4. California Department of InsuranceWhole industry

    1–3 yrsCapital

    California sets global standard for insurance resilience as Commissioner Lara finalizes landmark long-term solvency regulation ↗

    New long-term solvency rules in California change capital demands on insurers.

  5. Middle East Insurance ReviewWhole industry

    1–3 yrsCapital

    Private debt leads the charge as insurers ramp up investment in private markets, reveals new Blackrock survey ↗

    Insurers' rising private debt allocations add asset and liquidity risk to balance sheets.

  6. ft.comWhole industry

    1–3 yrsCapital

    US insurance regulators back down on credit ratings scrutiny ↗

    Less regulatory scrutiny of credit ratings may change how insurers' investment and capital risk is assessed.

  7. ArtemisWhole industry

    NowBusiness model

    Insurers lean on third-party capital, strategic partnerships to manage operating models: BlackRock ↗

    Third-party capital partnerships are becoming central to how insurers manage capital and fund risk.

  8. Insurance Business (UK)Credit, surety and political risk

    NowClaims and pricing

    Insolvency peak passes for UK businesses, but structural pressure remains ↗

    UK insolvency peak has passed, but structural pressure remains for trade credit exposures.

  9. Insurance PostMotor

    NowClaims and pricing

    Pothole claims rise 25% ↗

    Rising pothole claims add repair-cost inflation pressure on motor claims costs.

  10. Our briefLife, annuities and pensions

    NowCapital

    Moody's: US life insurers' AI-linked investments rise 24% in six months to $85.2bn

    AI-linked debt held by US life insurers is growing fast and may be understated, concentrating balance-sheet risk.

  11. Carrier ManagementWhole industry

    NowBusiness model

    Global Commercial Insurance Rates Drop 5% in Q3; Signs of Stabilization ↗

    Ninth straight quarterly fall in commercial rates pressures insurers' pricing margins across the market.

  12. sabstuck.comWhole industry

    1–3 yrsCapital

    $1.5 Trillion of Reinsurance Lives in a Black Box, and the Referee Is the Guy Who Sold You the Box ↗

    Opaque reinsurance arrangements may hide counterparty and capital risk from outside reviewers.

  13. economictimes.indiatimes.comWhole industry

    1–3 yrsCapital

    Insurers nearly double private credit fund investments ↗

    Fast growth in insurers' private credit fund stakes adds asset and liquidity risk to balance sheets.

  14. Insurance Journal (international)Credit, surety and political risk

    1–3 yrsCapital

    EU Officials Propose Guardrails for Insurers Participating in Unfunded SRTs ↗

    EU considering tighter rules on insurers writing unfunded SRTs for banks, affecting credit-risk capital demands.

  15. Insurance EdgeCredit, surety and political risk

    NowClaims and pricing

    Construction Sector is Feeling The Strain, Says Purbeck ↗

    Rising personal guarantee cover demand from construction firms signals credit stress in a cyclical sector.

  16. insuranceNEWS.com.auProperty and catastrophe

    NowClaims and pricing

    Property line a driver as commercial pricing continues to slide ↗

    Six straight double-digit quarterly price falls in Australian commercial property squeeze underwriting margins.

  17. Reinsurance NewsWhole industry

    1–3 yrsCapital

    Moody’s forecasts further growth in German insurers’ private credit investments ↗

    German insurers growing private credit holdings adds valuation and liquidity risk to their balance sheets.

  18. Our briefCredit, surety and political risk

    1–3 yrsCapital

    EU expert opinion proposes extra solvency tests for insurers that back bank risk transfers

    Proposed extra solvency tests for insurers backing bank risk transfers could raise their capital requirements.

  19. actuarialpost.co.ukProperty and catastrophe

    NowClaims and pricing

    Home Insurance premiums fall but claims cost cloud outlook ↗

    Falling premiums meet rising claims costs, squeezing property underwriting margins.

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