NEAM Insights

In late July the head of the U.K.'s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) noted in a speech that, although there has been substantial improvement in the governance of LIBOR since the bid rigging scandal during the financial crisis of 2008–2009, the market for the underlying loans that are used in the construction of LIBOR is no longer sufficiently active. Hence, he proposed that LIBOR itself should be phased out. Market participants had already been working on a replacement for LIBOR, but this announcement was abrupt, leading investors to consider the ramifications for all asset classes that reference LIBOR as a benchmark. Read More

Bond yields remain challenged in the major currencies and investors continue to face low yields across sectors in the investment grade universe. Few markets are impacted as severely as the European bond market where short-term underlying rates remain negative, slowly eroding earnings and almost guaranteeing a negative return. With this in mind the search for higher yielding (and positive) paper remains strong with many euro-denominated insurers considering non-traditional sectors such as high yield debt and others content to take exposure in a foreign currency. Read More

UK Prime Minister David Cameron announced that the UK will hold a referendum on continued EU membership on June 23, 2016. Voters will be asked a straightforward question – Should the UK remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union? It may be a straightforward question but the implications of the vote for the UK, Europe and the rest of the world are enormous – economically and politically. The prospect for Brexit – British exit from the EU – is an issue all investors and corporations need to be aware of this year. The UK currency, the British Pound, has recently weakened against the US Dollar and the Euro. UK credit has underperformed and foreign demand for UK Government bonds has been weaker. This weaker pricing of UK assets is likely to continue until the referendum takes place. Read More

Interest rates are low, equity markets are volatile and both are likely to remain so. Purveyors offering favorable, even “superior,” returns from alternative investments are energized. However, their motivations may not align with the best interests of their customers. Read More

The treatment of securitisations in Europe has gained some publicity recently with updates coming from the EC and EIOPA on Solvency II. In this Quick Takes we review the changes and provide additional comments on our interpretation of the regulatory requirements of holding such assets on the balance sheet of an insurance firm. Read More

Change is on the way for UK GAAP reporters with FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard Applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” being adopted by the UK Financial Reporting Council (FRC) with effect from 2015. Read More