Swiss Re: Stock Slump Squeezes World Life Premiums

The stock market downturn slowed demand for variable life insurance and other equity-based life and annuity products, and that decline was only partly offset by a higher demand for life insurance policies with guaranteed returns and pension provisions, the researchers observe.

Emerging nations showed strong premium growth, but the researchers note that their growth rates were mostly below levels of previous years.

For 2002, the study’s authors expect to record increased premium volume, although not at the same levels seen during the 1990s.

“The stock market losses experienced since the middle of 2000 have dampened not only premium growth but also the profitability and capital bases of some life insurers,” the Swiss Re researchers write. “European companies in particular have seen the value of their investments plummet, as a result of the large equity component of their investment portfolios. On top of this, interest rates have persisted at historically low levels, and poor economic conditions have prompted write-downs on defaulting credit and corporate bonds. In combination, these factors have led to significant equity losses and weakened life insurers’ balance sheets.”