FWD Group Holdings' (FWDGHL) bottom line, underpinned by sustained growth through both onshore and offshore channels in Hong Kong and a solid business presence in Thailand, is expected to continue to improve in 2025 according to Fitch Ratings. The group's growth is also expected to benefit from its established bancassurance channel.
Mr Reynaldo A Regalado, Insurance Commissioner of the Philippines, has been elected as the chairman of Asian Reinsurance Corporation (Asian Re).
United Risk has completed the acquisition of Sydney based Pinnacle Underwriting and thus expanding and strengthening its operations in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions in major lines of business.
These are the highlights for all events and updates across the industry this week.
The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, the country's insurance regulator, has issued a consultation paper proposing measures to promote shariah-compliant intermediaries in the capital market.
China's reduction in capital charges for equity investments by insurers is likely to drive them to increase their equity holdings, Fitch Ratings said. However, equity investments expose insurers' earnings to the swings in the stock market, which could put pressure on some insurers' capital positions.
The Taiwan dollar's sharp rally against the US dollar in the first week of May has heightened foreign exchange risk exposure for Taiwanese life insurers who have been allocating a large portion of their invested assets in foreign investments, mainly USD-denominated fixed income securities.
Investment solutions company Amundi has appointed Mr Jian Xiong as insurance specialist for Asia. In his new role, he will strengthen the development of investing offerings and bespoke solutions for insurance clients across Asia.
Income Insurance, a composite insurer in Singapore, has selected JP Morgan as the custodian bank for its assets.
China's insurance sector has made a significant move into gold investments. Recently, China Life became the first domestic insurer to complete a gold transaction on the Shanghai Gold Exchange, signaling the official rollout of insurers' gold investment strategies.