EIOPA publishes research paper on insurers’ contrarian investments in mutual funds
This study examines how European insurance companies influence mutual fund stability, particularly during periods of significant net outflows. Utilizing Solvency II and Lipper/Eikon data, the study reveals that insurers exhibit contrarian trading behavior, purchasing fund shares when other investors divest, especially in fixed-income funds. This behavior is more pronounced for affiliated funds. The paper also finds that insurers' financial health, indicated by solvency ratios, impacts their ability to act as contrarian traders; lower solvency ratios correlate with fewer purchases during outflows. Funds with insurer investments demonstrate enhanced resilience, exhibiting lower flow-to-performance sensitivity and reduced flow volatility. The findings suggest insurers can mitigate investor runs, but their stabilizing influence may lessen under systemic stress affecting their own financial health.