Orient Securities' insurance report says long-dated bonds remain the core of insurers' asset portfolios as allocation shifts from pure duration extension to structural optimization. Persistently low rates are compressing coupon and reinvestment retur

2026-07-13

Orient Securities' insurance report says long-dated bonds remain the core of insurers' asset portfolios as allocation shifts from pure duration extension to structural optimization. Persistently low rates are compressing coupon and reinvestment returns; lengthening duration only delays a downward shift in the yield center. The report expects most listed insurers' net investment yields to decline YoY in 2025 as high-coupon stock matures and new allocations earn lower interest. Static estimates show long-duration holdings cut annual reallocation needs but cannot fully offset low-rate pressure. Currently 30-year government and local-government bond yields remain above insurers' marginal new liability funding costs, leaving long-duration assets with coupon coverage and duration-matching value; the 30Y-10Y spread has widened markedly from 2025 lows. Insurers' allocation logic is moving to duration matching + term-premium capture + timing-driven positioning.