Risk & Insurance

Venezuela | Milestones
Venezuela, home to the world’s largest oil reserves at 298 billion barrels, is having a tough time getting the stuff out of the ground.

Middle East | Emerging Markets Regional Review
The drop in oil prices is likely to affect public spending in the rentier states of the Persian Gulf, and pressure is mounting on governments to reduce economic dependency on hydrocarbons.
 

The market in over-the-counter derivatives is shrinking, while exchange-listed futures and interest rate swaps traded on new swap execution facilities (SEFs) are setting records. New regulations and capital requirements are squeezing bank trading desks and forcing more derivatives trading onto exchanges and centralized clearing.

Global Finance sat down with Brian Loughman, Fraud Investigation & Dispute Services (FIDS) Leader, EY Americas (formerly Ernst & Young), to discuss how greater regulation and increased efforts by countries to fight fraud are leading to greater demand for services by corporations around the world.

Events in Ukraine have changed the outlook for Russia. Now the country faces choices about its global role that could affect the rest of the world for decades. Which path will it take?

MANAGEMENT | PENSIONS
As people live longer, many companies are discovering that they have to pay pension benefits to retirees for longer than they had expected. Insurance companies are stepping in with new products that can help take this “longevity risk” out of corporate defined-benefit pension plans.

Although there have been no attacks or payouts in the 12 years since its original passage, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act in the US is set for renewal again, despite the fact that it was only intended as a temporary measure to protect the commercial insurance market and its customers following the attack on the Twin Towers.

THAILAND
When Thailand’s general Prayuth Chan-ocha seized power in a military coup in late May, he didn’t rely on the element of surprise

UNITED STATES
After steering American International Group (AIG) during the financial crisis and putting it back on a sounder footing, president and chief executive officer Robert Benmosche is handing the baton over to Peter Hancock.

We sat down with Fergus McCormick, head of sovereign ratings at DBRS, to discuss the rating agency’s outlook for global markets, sovereign ratings and how the firm differs from its competitors.
 

RISK MANAGEMENT: ENVIRONMENTAL INSURANCE
The threat of corporate environmental liability incidents is increasing as new regulations—and new risks—take hold.

Insuring Against Extreme Weather: Farmers and their families in five African countries will gain some financial protection against drought this growing season through a catastrophe insurance pool launched in May by African Risk Capacity (ARC).

This year has already proven to be a wild one when it comes to emerging markets risks. Preparing for what is to come in volatile and disparate markets is ever more central to the treasury and risk management functions.

Leila Heckman, head of international equities at Lebenthal Asset Management, joined us for our monthly Salon to discuss the increased acceptance of global diversification among portfolio managers and the reasons behind her approach to investing.

Weird weather presents major problems for supply chains, and 77% of companies believe climate change has the potential to significantly affect their revenue.

Multinational corporations lobbied hard for preferential agreements under proposed Asian and European trade pacts. But the result may be more than they bargained for.

RISK MANAGEMENT   By Paula Green   Premiums for most insurable company risks have come down in price, but organizations will need to ensure that they have sufficient coverage and limits to deal with an increasing range of issues—including changes ...

CYBER SAVOIR FAIRE By Paula L. Green Regulation is still struggling to keep up with rapidly evolving cyberrisks but is already driving uptake of cyberrisk insurance in some markets. Companies are taking note of the changing landscape. Spooked by the ...

A CONVERSATION STARTER   By Paula L. Green   Trade credit insurance is making it easier for companies to interact with their suppliers around the world, and usage is soaring as global corporations recognize the risk-mitigating benefits.   For L’Oreal ...

NEWSMAKERS By Gilly Wright One of the world’s oldest insurance markets, Lloyd’s of London, has appointed the first female CEO in its 325-year history. But as the London market confronts one of the most challenging periods in its development, new ...