Mainland life insurers are seeking training in areas such as asset allocation, asset-and-liability management and liability-driven investment, heralding a major shift in approach.
Many Asian life firms missed Japan’s stock rally, but are mulling boosting exposure now with embedded downside protection, and fund houses are also eyeing capital protection, says Société Générale.
The firm's regional head of sales, Charmian Wan, says Asian institutions are looking at less traditional fixed-income plays such as convertible bonds for the first time.
The bank is to become the second foreign custodian to enter the market from next month, with insurers tipped to be allowed to lend out their equity holdings around the same time.
Singaporean insurers are not finding the current low-yield environment as much of an issue as their peers in the region, but seem to be diversifying into alternatives.
The firm is striving to get its funds on more bank platforms in Hong Kong, and Myles Morin is leaving the territory to head a similar effort in Canada.
With Chinese insurers now free to buy property for investment purposes, Deutsche Bank's property investment arm expects them to become dominant real estate players.
China's insurers will have until December 31 to tweak their asset portfolios to meet new ratios. Foreign-affliated insurers are expected to file reports separately.