European insurers could withstand a deflation

According to a study of the rating agency Fitch, insurers have the necessary means to adapt to a possible deflation.

Analysts believe that the biggest insurers would be "proactive in the responses brought to [a] deflation and [an] assest degradation, unlike the smallest that can see their ratings downgraded.

The first cause of concern for the agency is about life insurance contracts at minimum guaranteed rate. However, the long-term nature of contracts and the relative inertia of their return protect the sector from difficulties in the short-term.