Life insurance industry to be hardest hit by Brexit as investments thrown into flux
What do the insurers that have been hit hardest post-Brexit all have in common? A new report by JPMorgan Cazenove has the answer.
As reported on at the News Markets website, it is insurers heavily involved in the life insurance industry that have been most badly affected since the shock vote – while the UK non-life insurance industry looks set to hold up comparatively well.
This is because the income that insurers get from underwriters’ income is uncorrelated to the markets – and for many of these insurers the bulk of their income comes from underwriting rather than from investment income as in the life insurance industry.
With that in mind, shares in the likes of Hiscox, Beazley, Novae and Lancashire have held up comparatively well – down by 6%, 10%, 4% and nearly 9% respectively since June 24. By comparison, big name insurers with more exposed to investment income losses are feeling the heat in stronger terms – Legal and General is down close to 30%, while Avivahas slumped by 21% and Prudential by 18%.
Speaking to the publication, analyst Edward Norris commented that as much of Lloyds of London’s income comes from US dollars there could even be a direct benefit from the weaker pound and that investment results could potentially be “enhanced as fixed income gains offset equity losses”.
The one concern he does have, however, is that over time talent may choose to leave London for other markets.
