The challenges of aligning portfolios with ambitions to achieve net zero carbon emission targets are significant but can be faced, Claire Bews, senior credit portfolio manager at Insight Investment, told a recent Insurance Investment Exchange roundtable.

As UK inflation stays stubbornly high, and the government’s pledge to halve the current rate by the end of the year looks increasingly futile, the Bank of England has responded by raising interest rates at pace that has created alarm among consumers, mortgage holders and businesses. It has also led the Bank itself to fire off warnings to insurers.

Threat or tool? Friend or foe? Across the world, in every sector of business and walk of life the seemingly sudden emergence of generative artificial intelligence into the mainstream is prompting discussion that can be framed in those simplistic terms, writes Contributing Editor David Worsfold.

Across Europe insurers are still nervously watching macro-economic trends and market volatility, fearful of more unexpected adverse movements, according to the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA).

We haven't talked about ESG or net zero in a while. This is not to say it's not important, but other matters have crowded in ahead, as markets and sentiment prevaricate over each day's new data points.

A recent survey of chief financial officers at 22 leading European insurers by ratings agency Moody’s put persistent inflation at the top of their list of concerns for the next 12 months.