Insurance premium growth steady Figure 8 •ie real remium growth 201 No data < –10.0% –10.0% to –5.0% –5.0% to –2.5% –2.5% to 0.0% 0.0% to 2.5% 2.5% to 5.0% 5.0% to 10.0% > 10.0% Source: Swiss Re Economic Research & Consulting. Life insurers’ profitability and capital position –roitailit in the lie sector remains Gloal lie inustr roitailit remaine uner ressure in 201 with return on uner ressure. ”owe‰er the inustr e­uit €R‚Eƒ at aout 12„ €see …igure †ƒ. R‚E is e‡ecte to remain elow reˆ is well caitalise. crisis le‰els in the nearˆ an meium term. ‚ngoing heawins are the moerate remium growth in man marŠets an rolonge low interest rates. ‹n some countries on iels are e‰en negati‰e. ‹nsurers rom Canaa an Œestern Euroe in articular contriute to the weaŠ earˆonˆear €oƒ R‚E outcome in the ourth ­uarter o 201. Žmong ‘S insurers most o the imro‰ement in a‰erage R‚E was ecause o an increase in the net income o one coman ue to ositi‰e ore‡ e‰eloments. …rom an accounting ersecti‰e the lie sector reorte stronger caitali’ation at the en o 201 than in 201“ relecting soli results in China. ”owe‰er the imro‰ement was also artl ri‰en  ecreasing interest rates leaing to a higher marŠˆtoˆmarŠet ‰alue o i‡eˆincome an eri‰ati‰e in‰estments. 10 Swiss Re sigma No 3/2016