May 2009/1

Secondary market pricing on two Ike-exposed cat bonds - Allianz’s $120mn Blue Coast and Glacier Re’s Nelson Re Class G notes - fell by an average 12 percent in the first quarter of 2009,

Insurance-linked derivatives provide the best security of a range of traditional and alternative risk transfer products, according to Michael Jedraszak, underwriter at Bermuda-headquartered (re)insur

ILS investors were warned last week that they need to be more realistic on yields if they wish to see more cat bonds emerge from (re)insurers. Although catastrophe reinsurance rates are continuing to

Despite cat reinsurance rates continuing to harden, several proposed sidecar vehicles looking to cash in on attractive underwriting conditions and potential capacity shortages are stalling as the key

Credit Suisse Asset Management (CSAM) is set to launch a $65mn dedicated life insurance linked securities (ILS) fund, demonstrating the resurgent popularity of life risk trading. The fund – cal

Trading Risk has partnered with Swiss Re to publish its proprietary cat bond index on a regular basis. Look out for regular data and commentary on ILS performance in our newsletters and on our websit

S&P has lowered its senior debt rating on Scottish Re’s life transaction Orkney Re II’s series A-2 notes to CC from CCC, citing declining mark-to-market asset values and doubts over the v

ILS investors are so keen to diversify their holdings with non-catastrophe exposures that they may be willing to trade yield for greater choice. Speaking at the S&P European ILS conference on the 13

Munich Re and Tokio Marine Nichido Fire’s private cat swap based on Risk Management Solutions’ (RMS) Paradex-Europe Windstorm (PEW) index takes the total notional amount of risk transferr

Leading ILS investor Nephila Capital and a subsidiary of Allianz Risk Transfer (ART) have tapped two investors for an extra $200mn to deploy during the 2009 US wind season. The two ILS-specialist fir

US military mutual insurer and ILS stalwart USAA has increased the size of its thirteenth consecutive cat bond, Residential Re 2009, by $90mn - to $240mn - Trading Risk can reveal. Goldman Sachs, whi

Despite mutterings of discontent in some corners of the investor community on loss-stricken liability cat bond Avalon Re, secondary market pricing still reflects only an anticipated partial loss on t