Asahi Life Raises Japan Government Bond Holdings on Rates Lure

Asahi Mutual Life Insurance Co. has diverted some of its 2025 investment outlay to domestic notes from foreign bonds as Japan’s interest rates rise to attractive levels.

The insurer has raised its exposure to Japanese domestic bonds by ¥50 billion ($339 million) in the current fiscal year, Nobuaki Uchimura, head of asset allocation and planning department, said in an interview on Aug. 20. It originally intendedto reduce yen bond holdings by ¥45 billion.

“Yen bond yields are at a level that offers some appeal, including for ultra-long-term bonds, and there is a possibility of further increases due to ...