Market Value

“The twilight zone is much larger than market optimists like to admit”

Professor Antoon Pelsser shares his opinion on Solvency II

In 2009, the European Council and the European Parliament adopted the Second Directive aimed at improving supervision on European insurance companies: Solvency II. The ‘total balance sheet’ approach, at which assets and liabilities are reported at fair market value, should provide… read more

Hedging the unhedgeable longevity risk

Unexpected increases in longevity

Considering the illiquid nature of these swaps, along with the imbalance between the buyers and the sellers, these are still early days for this market

Unexpected increases in longevity raise the costs for life insurance companies. Longevity risk occurs when people… read more

Reform in the OTC derivatives market

How to value a cross-currency swap

Since the first transaction in 1981 between the World Bank and IBM, the market of cross-currency swaps has grown rapidly. It represents, according to the Bank of International Settlements, an outstanding notional amount of USD 16,347 billion as per June 2010.… read more

Benefit from inflation

with bonds, swaps, caps and floors

The problem of inflation is nearly as old as currency itself, and inflation-linked products have been around for centuries as well. In this article, consultant Rogier Galesloot discusses the history of inflation-linked products and shows how inflation-linked bonds, swaps, and caps/floors… read more

Illiquid instruments

How to price illiquid or OTC instruments at market value

It’s hard to put a value on some things (think a loyal friend or a sunny day) but financial instruments shouldn’t fall into that category.

This article takes a look at calculating pricing for illiquid or OTC instruments not quoted… read more