The Peruvian insurance market as a whole returned to profitability in 2018, following losses and anaemic expansion over the course of 2016 and 2017. Underwriters enjoyed the most robust returns in the life segment, particularly in personal income annuities, which have come into high demand among new retirees as reinvestment vehicles for pension withdrawals. Furthermore, overall claims fell significantly…
While the economy has increased three-fold since the turn of the century, capital markets have not proved able to emulate this growth. With trading volumes falling again in 2018, it is clear that markets need to see more dynamic growth in terms of size and liquidity. Efforts to increase penetration should see the high market concentration give way to more diverse participation from individuals and…
The banking crises of the 1980s and 1990s have left Peru with a highly concentrated, conservative banking system that is on one of the region’s most solid foundations, boasting strong capital and liquidity. The sector has retained a positive outlook from global credit ratings agency Moody’s since November 2017, which last reaffirmed this view in October 2018, predicting a recovery in loan growth,…
Despite a challenging external environment, Peru’s annual average GDP growth has exceeded 5% over the last decade. However, the economy suffered in 2017 as a result of further damage inflicted by El Niño, and inflation averages approximately 3.25% per year. Economic growth began to recover in 2018, with GDP expanding by 4.1%, though this is expected to moderate to 3.7% in 2019 and 2020. While P
Following project delays caused by a high-profile corruption scandal at Brazil’s construction giant Odebrecht, which rippled across Latin America, the construction sector is at last refinding its financial footing. After nine consecutive months in negative territory, credit to the sector posted 0.56% year-on-year growth in March 2018, to PEN4.94bn ($1.5bn), according to the Peruvian Association of…
Like many other emerging economies, financial inclusion is one of the greatest challenges facing Peru. Findings of the World Bank’s 2017 Global Findex, which measures the progress of financial inclusion in 140 countries, highlighted a number of areas that need to be improved if the country’s banking sector is to be successful in penetrating a larger proportion of the population. Although the percentage…
The development of sustainable infrastructure works, projects to combat climate change or simply upgrading facilities to be more energy efficient are trends that are gaining momentum around the world, with Peru being no exception. Thus, a specialised financing environment is being created to support such projects through the help of multilateral organisations and new legal templates. CAF Issue The…
Despite the deceleration of the Peruvian economy in 2017, driven in large part by the simultaneous impacts of the El Niño climate cycle and the corruption scandal at Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht, the banking sector has remained stable. According to international credit ratings agency Moody’s, at the close of 2017 the sector was exhibiting sustained profitability, diverse earning sources…
Once reserved for ambitious start-ups and industry-leading tech operators, financial technology (fintech) has more recently caught the attention of major private sector firms and government planners alike, becoming a regular feature in budget speeches and strategic development plans. As fintech progressively plays a larger part in the lives of consumers, investors have quickly come to recognise its…
Despite being one of the smaller exchanges in South America, the Lima Stock Exchange (Bolsa de Valores de Lima, BVL) has a long history stretching back to 1860. The Tribunal del Consulado, the highest body regulating commerce in the country’s early history, established the Bolsa de Comercio de Lima in 1861. However, the exchange did not trade any type of stock for nearly 30 years until it re-emerged…
