Definition of "Catastrophe futures"

Deb Fisbeck real estate agent

Written by

Deb Fisbeckelite badge icon

Keller Williams Lincoln

Financial instrument traded on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT). By purchasing this future, the insurance company can hedge its risk exposure against possible future catastrophic losses. The CBOT releases a report each quarter showing on a state-by-state basis the premium amount and the line of insurance that has a catastrophic exposure. Each future contract has a stated value of $25,000 multiplied by the catastrophe ratio for that particular quarter. This multiplied result forms the basis for beginning to trade the quarterly catastrophic futures contract on the CBOT. If there is a high level of catastrophes such that the actual catastrophic loss ratio is greater than the expected catastrophic loss ratio, the futures contract increases in value and the insurance company purchaser gains the difference between the initial purchase price and the quarterly ending value of the contract. Conversely, if there is a low level of catastrophes such that the actual catastrophic loss ratio is less than the expected catastrophic loss ratio, the futures contract decreases in value and the insurance company purchaser loses the difference between the initial purchase price and the quarterly ending value of the contract.

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Insurance Terms

Costs associated with renewal commissions as a percentage of the renewal premiums, and the servicing charges for previously issued insurance policies. ...

one in which the amount and frequency of payment may fluctuate. ...

Clause found in an annuity contract that enables the owner of that contract to withdraw his or her money without surrender penalties, if the annual interest rate is lowered below a certain ...

Payments made to the insured by the insurance company before the settlement date. For example, a claim is scheduled to be settled on June 1, 2000, but the insurance company pays the ...

Diagram used in property insurance to locate the geographical area in which risks reside. Maps are also used to reveal areas of high concentration of insured risks and their potential ...

1945 federal legislation in which the Congress declared that the states may continue to regulate the insurance industry. Nevertheless, in recent years Congress has expanded the federal ...

Same as term Administrative Services Only: services provided in an employee benefit plan such as a pension plan. An employer provides the clerical staff to operate the plan, in effect ...

Association of insurance companies formed to reduce deaths, injuries, and the loss of property resulting from all types of natural hazards in the United States. This institute concentrates ...

Unincorporated association with each insured insuring the other insureds within the association. (Thus, each participant in this pool is both an insurer and an insured.) An attorney-in-fact ...

Popular Insurance Questions