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The Impact of Catastrophes on Insurer Stock Volatility
Author(s) -
Thomann Christian
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of risk and insurance
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1539-6975
pISSN - 0022-4367
DOI - 10.1111/j.1539-6975.2012.01478.x
Subject(s) - volatility (finance) , portfolio insurance , financial economics , economics , stock (firearms) , business , stock market , portfolio , monetary economics , replicating portfolio , mechanical engineering , paleontology , horse , portfolio optimization , engineering , biology
This article investigates the impact of natural catastrophes and the 9‐11 attacks on (1) the volatility of insurance stocks and (2) the correlation of insurance stocks with the market. We find that natural catastrophes increase the volatility of insurance stocks. They also have a tendency to reduce the correlation of insurance stocks and the market. Investors can, consequently, diversify natural catastrophe risk by additionally holdings of a market portfolio. However, this does not hold for 9‐11. The events of 9‐11 led to increases in volatility and, simultaneously, to an increase in correlation. We also find evidence that 9‐11 increased the beta of insurance stocks.