Catastrophe (cat) bonds have attracted investor interest as one of the few asset classes not correlated to the global financial markets. Cat bonds were first issued in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew and the Northridge Earthquake in the mid-1990s and the market has grown robustly since. They are the best-known example of a broader class of insurance-linked securities (ILS). Cat bonds are the most suitable ILS instrument for novice investors because they are 1) rated and 2) freely tradable by qualified investors. They are also an effective way to enhance the risk-return profile of an investment portfolio. In the current low interest rate.
