Limits to be relaxed soon for insurers

BEIJING - The China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC) will loosen the limits on investments by insurance companies in stocks and bonds, but may be cautious on permitting property investments, a CIRC official said on Wednesday.

"We are in discussions to allow major insurers to invest 20 percent of their assets into stocks and equity funds, and increase their investments in unsecured bonds to 20 percent from 15 percent," Sun Jianyong, head of the capital management department of CIRC told China Daily.

Currently, insurers are allowed to invest 20 percent of their assets into stocks, equity funds and debt funds.