** HDFC Life Insurance HDFL.NS , SBI Life Insurance
SBIL.NS and ICICI Prudential Life Insurance ICIR.NS slide
3.5%, 2.5% and 1.7%, respectively, while state-owned Life
Insurance Corp of India LIFI.NS rises ~1%
** Decline in most life insurers drags high weightage
financials .NIFTYFIN 0.5% lower
** HSBC estimates industry's annualised premium equivalent
(APE) growth moderated to 10.5% YoY in Aug from 16.3% in July,
while number of policies sold dropped by 1%
** CLSA says total APE for Max Life Insurance, unit of Max
Financial Services MAXI.NS , and ICIR rose 17-20% in Aug.; grew
8% for HDFL and fell 2% for SBIL
** SBIL and HDFL are Nuvama's top sectoral picks as
brokerage remains cautious of impact from new surrender value
regulations, competitive intensity and margins
** YTD, ICIR up ~40% and SBIL up ~30%, while HDFL and LIC
are up ~10% and ~24%, respectively
(Reporting by Dimpal Gulwani in Bengaluru)
((dimpal.gulwani@thomsonreuters.com))