China Life looking for alternative investments

China Life, one of the largest institutional investors in the capital market, will actively seek alternative investment opportunities this year, the company's top management said on Thursday.

"We will actively look for opportunities in the category of alternative investment this year, through which long-term investment yield will be strengthened," China Life vice-president Zhao Peng said at the company's annual report conference.

Alternative investments usually include private equity, hedge funds, managed futures, real estate, commodities and derivatives contracts.

The country's largest life insurer is also optimistic about the stock market this year.

"Overall, we are optimistic about the capital market this year though uncertainties remain," Zhao said. "We will take a flexible approach toward stock position management this year and try to seize major investment opportunities."

China Life's net profit slumped by 64.7 percent to 11.4 billion yuan last year — mainly dragged down by the sluggish stock market — but its overall premium income rose 4.7 percent to 535.8 billion yuan and its market share rose by 0.7 percentage points to 20.4 percent, according to its annual report.