EU insurers most exposed to French sovereign risk

European insurers are exposed to French sovereign risk the most of any country, data released by the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (Eiopa) shows.

At end-2017, 23% of all government bonds held by European insurers were issued by the French government. Italian sovereign debt made up 18% of holdings, UK gilts 10%, and German bunds 10%. 

Exposures to peripheral eurozone countries – Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece, and Spain – made up 29% of all government holdings. 

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