Insurance

Pension funds invest in A-shares

China’s national pension fund has invested over Rmb10bn ($1.6bn, £1.0bn, €1.2bn) into the domestic stock market, state media announced. Dai Xianglong, the head of National Social Security Council, a government entity that manages national pension fund, also encouraged local authority pension funds to invest in equities to preserve and increase their value. He added that 90% of around Rmb1,500bn in pension funds managed by the local government were deposited in banks for an average annual return of 2% in the past decade. In addition, pension funds’ deficits in 14 provinces nearly doubled to Rmb67.9bn in 2010, according to official data. Investing pension funds into stocks has sparked a debate among domestic commentators.

Dawn of financial conglomerates raises prospects and risk

For years regulators stood firmly against the emergence of financial conglomerates but now it seems all banks want to run their own insurance, trust, brokerage and fund arms. The attractions are clear but so are the risks.

Rural finance taking off

The spread of increasingly sophisticated, innovative and differentiated financial services to the countryside is propelling the economic emergence of rural China.

Ping An - not so tranquil

Sacrificing profit margins to expand market share has hurt 1H performance.

China Life - in the balance

The insurance behemoth looks to be opting for short-term revenue declines to achieve longer-term stability.

Insurance - a structural play

After a steady performance in 1H, a number of factors augur well for 2H and further into the future.

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09 Feb 2012

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