降低负债端成本 万能险结算利率下调

Core Viewpoint - The overall trend of universal insurance settlement rates is declining, with most products showing rates between 2.5% and 3% as of September 26, 2023, which is a significant drop compared to previous years [1][2][4]. Group 1: Current Settlement Rates - As of September 26, over 1200 universal insurance products have disclosed their August settlement rates, with the highest being 3.5% and the lowest at 0.36% [1]. - Nearly 100 products have settlement rates exceeding 3%, with over 85% of products falling within the 2.5%-3% range [2]. - In comparison, during the same period in 2024, most products had rates not lower than 3%, and in 2023, hundreds of products had rates above 4% [2]. Group 2: Factors Influencing Rate Changes - The decline in settlement rates is attributed to lower investment returns from fixed-income assets and the volatility of equity assets, impacting insurance companies' overall investment income [2][5]. - Regulatory measures are also in place to mitigate interest rate risk, leading to a reduction in the upper limit of settlement rates to align with actual investment returns [2][4]. Group 3: Future Outlook - Industry experts predict that universal insurance settlement rates may continue to decline, influenced by the downward trend in market interest rates, including 10-year government bond rates and deposit rates [5]. - The premium scale for universal insurance has decreased, with a reported 1% decline in new premium income for the first seven months of the year, totaling 419.3 billion [5]. - To enhance the attractiveness of universal insurance, companies are encouraged to focus on the product's core insurance benefits and improve its long-term protection features [5][6].