寿险风暴只是开始，亚洲要面对”美元错配“与”资本回流“

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights a significant shift in capital flows from Asia to the U.S., driven by systemic risks exposed by the Asian insurance sector's losses, leading to a $7.5 trillion "great retreat" from U.S. assets as Asian capital seeks local alternatives [1][6]. Group 1: Systemic Risks in Asian Insurance - The Asian insurance crisis has revealed systemic risks associated with dollar asset maturity mismatches, particularly highlighted by the recent surge in the Taiwanese dollar [3][4]. - The Taiwanese insurance sector, heavily invested in U.S. dollar-denominated assets, faced substantial unrealized losses due to currency fluctuations, with estimates suggesting a potential loss of $18 billion from a 10% appreciation of the Taiwanese dollar [4]. - Japanese insurance companies also reported significant losses, with Meiji Yasuda Life's bond losses skyrocketing over eightfold to approximately ¥1.386 trillion [4][5]. Group 2: Shift in Investment Strategies - Historically, Asian economies have followed a model of selling goods to the U.S. and reinvesting the proceeds in U.S. assets, accumulating $7.5 trillion in investments since the 1997 Asian financial crisis [6]. - This trend has reversed, with capital inflows to the U.S. dropping to $68 billion by 2024, only 11% of the trade surplus with the U.S. [6]. - Major Japanese insurers are now seeking alternatives to U.S. bonds, indicating a strategic pivot in investment approaches [7]. Group 3: Future Prospects and Opportunities - Analysts predict a "triple benefit scenario" where underperforming Asian currencies appreciate, attracting foreign investment, lowering real interest rates, and boosting local asset prices [1][10]. - The strong current account surplus of over $900 billion among Asia's largest economies provides a solid foundation for this capital reallocation [2][11]. - Foreign investors have shown renewed interest in Japanese bonds and stocks, with net purchases reaching a record ¥8.2 trillion ($570 billion) in April [9].