LIFE INSURANCE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9763, 26 June 1897, Page 7

LIFE INSURANCE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

The year 1896-6 was a prosperous one for the British life assurance offices. Contrasting 1895-6 with 18-4-5, the increase in the premiums was upwards of £1,000,000, while annuity considerations brought an extra £600,000, interest nearly an additional £200,000, and there was a net gain upon investments of over £150,000. Altogether tbe year brought an increase sof upwards of £2,000,000 to the income, while the expenses, including claims, increased le*s than -31,500,000. The addition to the funds was £8,260,000, and those funds now exceed £204,000,000, while including capitals the British offices held £ 236,310,000. The average interest ia still falling, and is now only about 3f per cent., or upwards of £ per cent, less than it was five years previously. Amongst the assets, Mortgages on the year show a decrease of

£1,600,000, while investments on the Stock Exchange have increased as much as £9,350,000. Commenting on this, the Kconomist remarks:—" Up till last year the amount invested by the offices on. mortgages showed a continuous increase. True, mortgages in land in the United Kingdom had long been out of favour with them, and that for obvious reasons. For some yoara, however, they did favour mortgages iv the colonies; but these, too, have latterly proved less satisfactory investments than was expected, and the Companies are now inclined ratber to diminish than to increase their commitments in that class of security. It is understood that the debentures of Brewery Companies have been taken up to a considerable extent by Insurance Companies. A good deal of money h_. also, it is believed, been -placed by the Companies in railway stocks."