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Corporate Hedging in the Insurance Industry

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  • J. David Cummins
  • Richard Phillips
  • Stephen Smith

Abstract

In this paper we investigate the extent to which insurance companies utilize financial derivatives contracts in the management of risks The data set we employ allows us to observe the universe of individual insurer transactions for a class of contracts, namely, those normally thought of as off-balance-sheet (OBS) We provide information on the number of insurers using various types of derivatives contracts and the volume of transactions in terms of notional amounts and the number of counterparties. Life insurers are most active in interest rate and foreign exchange derivatives, while property/casualty insurers tend to be active in trading equity option and foreign exchange contracts Using a multivariate probtt analysis, we explore the factors that potentially influence the existence of OBS activities. We also investigate questions relating to whether certain subsets of OBS transactions (for example, exchange traded) are related to such things as interest rate risk measures, organizational form and other characteristics that may discriminate between desired risk/return profiles across a cross-section of insurers. We find evidence consistent with the use of derivatives by insurers to hedge risks posed by guaranteed investment contracts (GICs), coilater-alized mortgage obligations (CMOs), and other sources of financial risk

Suggested Citation

  • J. David Cummins & Richard Phillips & Stephen Smith, 1997. "Corporate Hedging in the Insurance Industry," North American Actuarial Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 1(1), pages 13-40.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:uaajxx:v:1:y:1997:i:1:p:13-40
    DOI: 10.1080/10920277.1997.10595582
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    Cited by:

    1. Georges Dionne & Denise Desjardins, 2022. "A re‐examination of the US insurance market's capacity to pay catastrophe losses," Risk Management and Insurance Review, American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 25(4), pages 515-549, December.
    2. Shuji Yao & Zhongwei Han & Dan Luo, 2010. "Performance of the Chinese Insurance Industry under Economic Reforms," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 12788.
    3. Shiu, Yung-Ming, 2020. "How does reinsurance and derivatives usage affect financial performance? Evidence from the UK non-life insurance industry," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 376-385.
    4. Jiyeon Yun & James M. Carson & David L. Eckles, 2023. "Executive compensation and corporate risk management," Journal of Risk & Insurance, The American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 90(2), pages 521-557, June.
    5. J. Cummins & Georges Dionne & Robert Gagné & A. Nouira, 2009. "Efficiency of insurance firms with endogenous risk management and financial intermediation activities," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 32(2), pages 145-159, October.
    6. Michael K. McShane & Larry A. Cox, 2009. "Issuance Decisions and Strategic Focus: The Case of Long‐Term Care Insurance," Journal of Risk & Insurance, The American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 76(1), pages 87-108, March.
    7. Muhammed Altuntas & James Garven & Jannes Rauch, 2018. "On the Corporate Demand for Insurance: Evidence From the Global Reinsurance Market," Risk Management and Insurance Review, American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 21(2), pages 211-242, September.
    8. Andy Fodor & James S. Doran & James M. Carson & David P. Kirch, 2013. "On the Demand for Portfolio Insurance," Risk Management and Insurance Review, American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 16(2), pages 167-193, September.
    9. J. David Cummins & Richard D. Phillips & Stephen D. Smith, 1997. "Derivatives and corporate risk management: participation and volume decisions in the insurance industry," FRB Atlanta Working Paper 97-12, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.
    10. Lantara I Wayan Nuka & Takao Atsushi, 2013. "The Determinants of the Use of Derivatives in the Japanese Insurance Companies," Asia-Pacific Journal of Risk and Insurance, De Gruyter, vol. 8(1), pages 57-81, July.
    11. Liu, Hui-Hsuan & Chang, Ariana & Shiu, Yung-Ming, 2020. "Interest rate derivatives and risk exposure: Evidence from the life insurance industry," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    12. Atsushi Takao & I Wayan Nuka Lantara, 2009. "The Determinants Of The Use Of Derivatives In Japanese Insurance Companies," Discussion Papers 2009-38, Kobe University, Graduate School of Business Administration.
    13. Park Kwang Hee & Woon Kyung Song, 2017. "Factors Affecting Derivatives Use for Life Insurance Companies," International Journal of Economics and Finance, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 9(12), pages 168-174, December.

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