May 2009/1

The recent outbreak of swine flu poses little immediate threat to the sector’s three extreme mortality cat bonds, despite the global death toll reaching 74. The World Health Organisation (WHO)

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

Swiss Re has confirmed that it will cease carbon trading and close its emissions trading desk, in a move first revealed by Trading Risk. The reinsurance giant is understood to also be moving its natu

S&P has withdrawn its ratings on Arch Reinsurance’s $256mn credit facility Flatiron, Hannover Re’s $200mn sidecar, Kepler Re, and Harbor Point’s $125mn vehicle Bay Point, while Mood

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

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

The renewal of Hannover Re’s hybrid sidecar vehicle - $133mn Globe Re – has been stalled by a “huge gap” between pricing in the traditional and capital markets, Trading Risk c

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

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,

We are enormously proud of both the high calibre and the quantity of entries we received for the inaugural Trading Risk Awards 2009. The level and quality is exceptionally high and choosing the short

A second Lehman Brothers-backed catastrophe bond is in default after issuer Ajax Re failed to repay the principal at the 8 May redemption date, according to AM Best which downgraded and withdrew its