AI300: Risky business behind Chinese insurers’ rapid asset growth

Chinese insurance firms were Asia's fastest growing asset owners last year, according to AsianInvestor’s AI300 list of the region's biggest investors. This was driven by stellar growth among small and medium-sized life insurers on the back of fast-rising policy premiums. But these firms could be storing up trouble, as they are increasingly relying on long-term, illiquid investments to achieve the returns they need to meet what are much shorter-term liabilities. Mainland insuranc…