Insurers’ investment strategies are focussing firmly on capital efficiency as the industry beds down for the long haul through the Covid crisis.

European insurers are keeping up the pressure on European Commission (EC) to use the review of Solvency II to ensure they can continue to offer long-term life and pension products with guarantees and also contribute towards financing of the economy, a key expectation emerging from governments as they set out their national Covid-19 recovery plans.

Trade finance is weathering the economic storms of the coronavirus pandemic and still offers insurers an attractive investment opportunity.

UK insurers hopes that the Prudential Regulation Authority could ease some Solvency II regulations after Brexit have been boosted by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak.

Influential climate change campaigners are growing in ambition when it comes to demanding action from the finance sector. Initially they focussed on coal – pressing insurers to walk away from underwriting and investing in coal – but they have now added oil and gas to their targets.

Insurers will be focussing hard on protecting investment portfolios against the potential downsides as the Covid-19 crisis continues to reverberate around the world.