The first Insurance Investment Exchange seminar of 2019, held at Salters’ Hall in the City of London, dipped its toes into the chilly currents of economic uncertainty swirling around the global economy. Volatility and uncertainty might be all around them but the chief investment officers in the audience were certain about one thing.

The first Insurance Investment Exchange seminar of 2019 set out to capture the mood of uncertainty sweeping across the economies of the developed world and analyse its impact on the assets insurers have relied on to ensure they meet their obligations and contribute to the success of their businesses.

Turbulent economic and financial times are often marked by a flight to quality, especially among institutional investors as they strive to protect themselves against unpredictable downsides.

Trade finance strategies offer compelling risk-return profiles with low correlation to bonds and equities and with the added bonus of favourable Solvency II treatment, but also need significant investment to implement.

This week, the London Market Group unveiled its revised mission and announced two new workstreams at its Market Forum.

Normalisation of monetary policy a decade on from the financial crisis could be an illusion. When is normalisation going to arrive – or is this it?