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The risk insurance market grew significantly over the closing months of last year, with new annual premiums increasing by 21 per cent over the 12 months to the end of December to total $2.01 billion, according to the Dexx&r Life Analysis Report.
The majority of the growth is due to an increase in group risk new business of 32.3 per cent to $745.4 million, while in-force group risk business increased 19.23 per cent to $2.61 billion.
Individual lump sum business increased by 16.55 per cent, with new annual premiums totalling $967.4 million.
Four of the Top Ten companies recorded an increase of over 30 per cent in individual disability new business, which as a whole increased by 13.8 per cent to $337.6 million.
As well as analysing the growth in total risk business, Dexx&r also showed the market composition that would exist in the event of NAB/MLC successfully acquiring AXA Asia Pacific.
It said that if this were to happen, NAB/MLC would hold a 28.19 per cent market share in total risk business, placing it well above its competitors.
Large superannuation accounts may need to find funds outside their accounts or take the extreme step of selling non-liquid assets under the proposed $3 million super tax legislation, according to new analysis from ANU.
Economists have been left scrambling to recalibrate after the Reserve Bank wrong-footed markets on Tuesday, holding the cash rate steady despite widespread expectations of a cut.
A new Roy Morgan report has found retail super funds had the largest increase in customer satisfaction in the last year, but its record-high rating still lags other super categories.
In a sharp rebuke to market expectations, the Reserve Bank held the cash rate steady at 3.85 per cent on Tuesday, defying near-unanimous forecasts of a cut and signalling a more cautious approach to further easing.