Moody's lowers outlook on U.S. life insurers

Moody's Investors Service lowered its outlook on U.S. life insurers to negative from stable, saying it expects interest rates to remain in the low single digits for the next few years, depressing companies' earnings                               
"We believe that low rates, along with below-trend economic growth and prolonged volatility in the equity markets, will continue to erode insurers' earnings and revenues, gradually weakening their financial flexibility," Moody's Vice President Laura Bazer said                               
Spread compression is expected to continue to depress profits from spread business, like fixed annuities and universal life, and from long-tailed products, such as long-term care and long-term disability income, Ms. Bazer said                               
Moody's added that high unemployment, weak consumer confidence and fiscal tightening will constrain life insurers' top and bottom line growth