Definition of "Insurance futures"

Futures contracts (legally binding contract that stipulates that delivery of an asset will be taken or delivery of an asset will be made at a future time at an agreed upon price at the current moment) on insurance lines to include catastrophic insurance futures, automobile insurance futures, homeowners insurance futures, and so forth, traded on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT). Traditionally, precious metals such as gold and silver; agriculture commodities such as cattle, corn, and soy beans; and United States Treasury issues such as bonds and bills, have all been traded on the CBOT. The aim of the transaction with these futures is to cancel the contract with a gain before the delivery of the commodity. (Who would want cattle delivered to their house?) On the other hand, the insurance futures contract concerns itself with the dollar value the market attaches to an index. In turn, this index is an expectation of how much of the premium income generated by a particular line of insurance will have to be allocated to pay off incurred losses. For example, if the automobile insurance line generates an income of $5,000,000 and the market has an expectation that 90% of that income will have to be allocated to paying off incurred losses, the market will value that futures contract at a price somewhat less than $450,000. This is because of such factors that have to be accounted for as incurred but not reported losses (IBNR).

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Insurance Terms

Premium required by an insurance company for plans subject to premium adjustment. The initial provisional premium is paid to put a commercial property or liability insurance policy into ...

Money set aside to pay for losses. Rather than buy insurance coverage for all potential losses, some businesses and individuals choose this form of self insurance to cover all or a portion ...

Based on historical loss experience, from which future loss experience is predicted. ...

One used to determine the life expectancy of annuitants. Annuity buyers are not representative of the population as a whole, or of life insurance buyers. Because annuities pay an income for ...

Coverage for a group of individuals under one policy. Usually, members belong to a particular company, union, or trade association. In a contributory plan a lump sum premium is paid by the ...

Circumstance in which there is a probability loss to personal property or real property resulting from property damage, destruction, or disappearance. ...

Proportion of losses incurred to premiums earned. This ratio indicates the amount of a premium dollar that is being consumed by losses. ...

Arbitrator who settles disputes over the amount of loss when an insurer and an insured do not agree. ...

Estate under the legal and administrative guidance of both the surety and the fiduciary. Any actions on the part of the estate requires the signatures of both in order to reduce the chances ...

Popular Insurance Questions