Low global interest rates will continue to put pressure on companies ' profitability and solvency , according to investor services firm Moody 's . A BENCHMARK AS This is despite a rise in rates since the third quarter of 2016 . Although the impact on life insurers ' profits will be minimal , the investment income of the global life insurance industry will decline by $ 20bn to $ 40bn this year and is something that will be felt by policy holders , predicted Benjamin Smith , vice - president and senior credit officer at Moody 's . He added that global non - life companies ' investment income is also likely to decline in 2017 by about $ 5bn to $ 15bn .
Low global interest rates will continue to put pressure on companies ' profitability and solvency , according to investor services firm Moody 's . This is despite a rise in rates since the third quarter of 2016 . Although the impact on life insurers ' profits will be minimal , the investment income of the global life insurance industry will decline by $ 20bn to $ 40bn this year and is something that will be felt by policy holders , predicted Benjamin Smith , vice - president and senior credit officer at Moody 's . He added that global non - life companies ' investment income is also likely to decline in 2017 by about $ 5bn to $ 15bn .