CIRC loosens investment rules for insurers

The China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC), China’s insurance regulator, has adjusted its rules around how insurers in the country can invest in a move designed to help companies boost their returns.

The regulator responsible for world’s fourth-biggest insurance market has scrapped ceilings on fixed-income holdings and simplifying the rules around other investment products.

Previously, the CIRC capped investments in equities and real estate each at 30 percent of total assets and limited “other financial assets,” to 25 percent.

The regulator has made a number of moves in recent years to help its insurers boost returns and manage their risks better. These latest changes have been welcomed by the market.

The changes were made in a statement on the CIRC’s website.