Insurance

Automobile Association of Singapore rolls out first of its kind insurance for rental cars overseas

An annual plan, it will cover additional charges beyond the basic rental car protection coverage such as window or tyre damage and towing fees

The proceeds from special government bonds sale will be injected into state-controlled firms including China Life Insurance Group.

China plans 200 billion yuan capital injection into biggest insurers: sources

It would be the first time Beijing has used special bonds to inject capital into insurers

The year 2025 ended with three tropical cyclones, unleashing a wave of destruction from Sri Lanka (above) to Indonesia, which caused at least US$20 billion in losses.

Flood losses set to soar 1,000% in South-east Asia: insurance firm study

Scientists and analysts warn that deforestation, weak flood defences and lack of funding for disaster resilience heighten damages

Insurance underwrites risks that unfold over decades, often across a policyholder’s working life and into retirement.
THE BROAD VIEW

Singapore’s insurance sector needs strategic consolidation, not perpetual flux

Potential sale of HSBC Life in the Republic highlights challenges posed by a fragmented market to both insurers and consumers

Asia-Pacific’s underinsurance problem means those with the least financial capacity are bearing the greatest share of economic losses from climate-driven extreme weather events.
ESG INSIGHTS

Issue 178: Asia’s perennial problem of underinsurance

This week in ESG: Only 12.3 per cent of the region’s natural disaster losses were insured

The latest offer by Zurich Insurance Group values Beazley at about US$10.28 billion.

Zurich Insurance offers US$10 billion to buy UK insurer Beazley

[LONDON] Swiss insurance company Zurich Insurance Group has raised its offer to buy rival speciality insurer Beazley to 1,280 pence (S$22.016) per share in cash, it said on Monday (Jan 19), sending th...

The review will cover only HSBC Life Singapore, and consider all options for the insurance manufacturing business. No decision has been made.

HSBC weighs future of Singapore life insurance business as analysts assess impact on wealth strategy

The bank says this comes under the group’s global ‘ongoing simplification’ drive

As customers pay e-commerce platforms, and the platforms take a commission, the onus of service should also extend to the platforms.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR

E-commerce platforms selling insurance products should also hold a duty of care

Insurance products are not as simple as everyday gadgets

MSIG is supportive of MAS’ efforts to strengthen governance over digital advertising, says the writer.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR

MSIG implements rigorous internal controls aligned with MAS’ regulatory expectations

WE REFER to a recent article published by The Business Times (E-commerce platforms such as Shopee expand into insurance amid tighter regulatory scrutiny, Jan 12, 2026).

Carlton Crabbe, chief executive of Capital for Life, says the firm's survey of demand for indexed universal life plans finds a significant gap in advice, which is a "clear opportunity".

Rising appetite for high-net-worth insurance, even among the mass affluent

While this expands the traditional audience for HNW insurance, it also underscores the need for needs-based and suitability advice