Analysis

We gnarled observers of the global (re)insurance market are baffled.

Shares of the publicly listed carriers in our Insider 30 composite underperformed the FTSE100 last week, with their stocks rising just 1.44 percent on average.

The year-end investment results of The Insurance Insider's composites clearly showed the challenging year the industry's CIOs faced in 2014.

With 2014 now behind us, The Insurance Insider takes a look at the possible outcomes in the upcoming first quarter results season...

Amid limited growth opportunities (re)insurers handed back more capital in 2014 in a bid to create shareholder value and boost returns, as the wheels of M&A were finally set in motion.

Global (re)insurers once again led the way on investment yields in full-year 2014, although returns remained subdued.

(Re)insurers in our listed P&C universe generally delivered lower returns in 2014 as thinning underwriting margins and anaemic investment returns hit profitability.

Although (re)insurers gained some respite from the lack of major cat losses last year, there was evidence of weakening underwriting performance as carriers faced a variety of other headwinds such as rising expenses and expanding accident year, ex-cat loss ratios.

The rate of premium growth decelerated for most of the companies in our P&C universe in 2014 as carriers faced fierce competition, softening reinsurance pricing and stagnant demand for risk transfer, forcing them to revise their growth strategies.

Risk carriers faced a challenging 2014 as they adapted to a new market paradigm, with the effects starting to become apparent in their results.

Are specialty (re)insurers looking for a quick score or a meaningful long-term relationship? Adam McNestrie checks out some likely matches

Chinese investment powerhouse Fosun and Ironshore have announced the closure of a deal that gives Fosun 20 percent ownership of the international specialist carrier