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Pensions Consider Insurance Securitization Finance Because You Refuse to Die

The odds that you'll have a long, healthy life are better than ever ... and that creates a pretty hefty problem for pension funds. They need to find new ways to meet their obligations in a turbulent market, and the risk that you'll hang on forever is approaching every day. So, unless we're able to pass legislation encouraging mass suicide among the Baby Boomers (it's a joke, people, read Christopher Buckley's Boomsday to see how it shakes out), pension fund managers have a hefty dose of risk to offload -- fast. They're looking at the insurance-linked securities market as a way to handle the problem.

All joking aside, pension funds and insurers are translating to total pension liabilities of $19 trillion in the U.S. and $3 trillion in the UK, according to a Reuters report using data from International Financial Services London. And, an increase in longevity by one year could translate into a 3% jump in liabilities. Put simply, the IFSL's data means another $600 billion in the U.S. and $90 billion in the UK. Basically, everything we do to stick around longer (not that I'm discouraging it) leads to a higher and higher price tag.

Continue reading Pensions Consider Insurance Securitization Finance Because You Refuse to Die

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ARUN, MOS, POT, AGU, EGLE, DO, MON, SWCEY, TDC and ABC

Analyst upgrades:
  • Jefferies upgraded Aruba Networks (NASDAQ: ARUN) to Buy from Hold following the company's Q3 results to reflect improved visibility. The firm raised its target price to $6.50 from $3.
  • Citigroup upgraded Mosaic (NYSE: MOS) and Potash (NYSE: POT) to Buy from Hold and Agrium (NYSE: AGU) to Hold from Sell as it believes stronger grain fundamentals more than offset China contract risk. The firm raised its target on Mosaic to $72 from $48, on Potash to $145 from $83 and on Agrium to $55 from $36.
  • Fulton Financial (NASDAQ: FULT) Was upgraded to Market Perform from Underperform at Keefe Bruyette.
  • Rio Tinto (NYSE: RTP) was raised to Neutral from Sell at Goldman.
  • Noble Corp. (NYSE: NE) was upgraded at Deutsche Bank to Buy from Hold.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ARUN, MOS, POT, AGU, EGLE, DO, MON, SWCEY, TDC and ABC

Swiss Reinsurance quarterly profit plunges 87% on deep write-downs

It is shaping up to be another tough day for the market as traders continue to express concerns over a possible recession, disappointing earnings numbers, surging crude oil prices and persistent weakness for the U.S. dollar. However, not all the companies are joining the general market anxiety, and Swiss Re made strong gains, trading up 4.9% in the Zurich exchange, despite a plunge of 87% in its fourth-quarter net profit as investors were encouraged by its positive earnings outlook.

The world's largest reinsurer announced that its quarterly profit had dropped to 170 million Swiss francs ($161.7 million), dragged down by higher write-downs related to bad loans. Its profit numbers were down from 1.3 billion reported in the same period a year ago.

Continue reading Swiss Reinsurance quarterly profit plunges 87% on deep write-downs

Symbol Lookup
IndexesChangePrice
DJIA-89.2312,801.23
NASDAQ-23.352,903.88
S&P 500-9.311,342.64

Last updated: February 12, 2012: 02:13 AM

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