In 2004 Actuarial Results and Investment Earnings Soared for all Insurance Lines

After a year of muted growth in 2003, insurers more than doubled their premium revenues in 2004. For 2005, WIFO surveys find a similarly optimistic outlook. The upswing was fuelled by life and property-liability insurance, resulting in a new record penetration rate. With echo effects abating, claims payments in life insurance were cut by almost a quarter, and in the property-liability line payments rose at a moderate pace only. For all lines, the excellent investment results enabled insurers to increase their allocations to actuarial reserves and still report excellent results from their ordinary activities. The additional funds thus obtained help insurers to meet the more stringent equity requirements (solvability I) applicable since the start of 2004.