Country Reports
2017
November 13, 2017
Spain: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note-Interconnectedness and Spillover Analysis in Spain’s Financial System
Description: This Technical Note discusses the findings of the Financial Sector Assessment Program about interconnectedness and spillover in Spain’s financial system. Financial intermediaries in Spain are interconnected through conglomerate ownership, common exposures, and inter-sectoral claims. The main source of cross-sectoral connectedness appears to be insurance companies’ exposures to banks, while exposures of banks to insurers or to mutual funds appear limited at present. Empirical analysis using both exposure and market data suggest strong cross-border interconnectedness. Contagion within the domestic interbank market appears to be limited at present. There are also strong cross-sectoral linkages between banks and other parts of the financial system in Spain, but systemic risks from those linkages appear to be limited.
November 13, 2017
Spain: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note-Supervision of Spanish Banks
Description: This Technical Note discusses the findings and recommendations in the Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) for Spain in the area of banking supervision. Banking regulation and supervision of Spanish banks have improved considerably since the 2012 FSAP. Swift and determined action addressed the major weaknesses that led to the accumulation of imbalances in the banking system in the period leading to the crisis. Further reforms are needed because the transformation of the banking supervision function is far from complete. Actions to address misclassification and underprovisioning of assets have shown very good progress, but oversight must continue.
November 13, 2017
Spain: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note-Systemic Risk Oversight Framework and Macroprudential Policy
Description: This Technical Note discusses the findings and recommendations in the Financial Sector Assessment Program for Spain in the areas of systemic risk oversight framework and macroprudential policy. Macroprudential oversight for banking is a shared responsibility between Banco de España (BdE) and the European Central Bank. The macroprudential policy stance appears broadly appropriate. BdE has put in place a framework for calibrating capital buffers. The countercyclical capital buffer is currently at zero given that a new financial cycle upturn has not started and a still-negative credit gap and weakly recovering housing prices. The existing macroprudential toolkit would benefit from expansion, particularly to include more effective tools to deal with risks associated with real estate exposures.
November 13, 2017
Spain: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note-Institutional Arrangements for Financial Sector Oversight
Description: This Technical Note discusses the findings and recommendations in the Financial Sector Assessment Program for Spain regarding institutional arrangements for financial sector oversight. The macroprudential policy framework for banking is now in place, although the national macroprudential authority has not been established. Banco de España is the national designated authority for exercising certain macroprudential powers and, under the Banking Union, shares macroprudential oversight with the European Central Bank, which possesses “top-up” powers. It is recommended that the macroprudential toolkit be expanded, particularly to include more effective tools to deal with risks associated with real estate exposures. Monitoring of system-wide trends also needs to be conducted with a greater focus on risks and macro-financial perspectives.
November 13, 2017
Spain: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note-Insurance Sector Supervision and Regulation
Description: This Technical Note discusses the findings and recommendations in the Financial Sector Assessment Program for Spain in the areas of insurance sector supervision and regulation. The Spanish insurance market is complex owing to the presence of large numbers of insurance groups. The supervisory culture in the Directorate General of Insurance and Pension Funds (DGSFP) appears to be reactive or compliance focused. The supervisory focus should shift toward qualitative as well as quantitative review of the insurer’s key methods and assumptions, including the proportionate verification of technical provisions and capital requirements. The DGSFP should also develop areas that are now relevant in the Solvency II framework, such as governance and risk management.
November 13, 2017
Spain: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note-Determinants of Bank Profitability
Description: This Technical Note discusses the recommendations in the Financial Sector Assessment Program for Spain regarding determinants of bank profitability. Profitability remains higher for Spanish banks than for European peers, especially supported by relatively high net interest margins; however, some Spanish banks still have higher nonperforming loans (NPLs) and provision-to-asset ratios. Panel regression analysis suggests that Spanish banks’ profitability is influenced by a combination of structural and cyclical factors, similar to those influencing other European banks and global systemically important banks. The IMF mission recommends further steps to reduce NPLs and legacy assets, continued cost-cutting measures to enhance the profitability of Spanish banks, and stronger communication between supervisors and banks on business models.
November 13, 2017
Spain: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note-Insolvency and Creditor Rights
Description: This Technical Note discusses the findings and recommendations in the Financial Sector Assessment Program for Spain in the areas of insolvency and creditor rights. The regime for creditor and debtor rights largely conforms to international best practices. With respect to creditor and debtor rights, the registration of real estate mortgages is efficient, reliable, and cost-effective. Owing to nonperforming loans, real estate foreclosure has been extensively used in Spain. Real estate collateral plays a critical role in Spain owing to the fact that a very large percentage of loans are collateralized with real estate. The institutional framework supporting insolvency and creditor rights has been strengthened but requires further reinforcement and more resources.
November 13, 2017
Spain: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note-Bank Resolution and Crisis Management Frameworks
Description: This Technical Note discusses the findings and recommendations in the Financial Sector Assessment Program for Spain in the areas of bank resolution and crisis management frameworks. The institutional framework in Spain has been strengthened and is more appropriate for managing the resolution process. At the Banking Union level, the Single Supervisory Mechanism is responsible for supervising all significant entities. The Single Resolution Board is the resolution authority for such entities, as well as for cross-border groups. Although the framework for bank resolution is well designed, the system could be enhanced. Recovery planning for Spanish banks is progressing, but further progress is warranted.
November 13, 2017
Spain: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note-Stress Testing Banking System Resilience
Description: This Technical Note discusses the results of the stress testing of banking system resilience in Spain. The results indicate that some banks may have difficulty enduring additional pressures on their profitability. In addition, some banks are vulnerable to market losses arising from a rapid increase in interest rates, given their significant exposures to fixed income securities. Near-term funding and liquidity risks seem limited, but funding challenges are likely to grow. Several banks are heavily reliant on central bank funding. Based on these findings, the authorities are encouraged to continue to monitor closely interest rate and government bond market risks in their stress testing exercises.
November 10, 2017
Armenia: Technical Assistance Report-Upgrading Fiscal Rules
Description: This Technical Assistance Report discusses the technical advice and recommendations given by the IMF mission to the authorities of Armenia regarding design of fiscal rules and associated fiscal and institutional frameworks. Armenia has made significant strides in enhancing macroeconomic stability over the past two decades. Although Armenia’s public debt remains sustainable, a prolonged adjustment is needed to restore sizable fiscal buffers, warranting an upgrade of the fiscal rule framework. The existing debt-rule-based framework provides insufficient operating guidance to fiscal policy and is not flexible enough to deal with severe economic shocks. Mechanisms to deal with a potential breach of the 60 percent debt ceiling and the 50 percent debt brake are excessively restrictive and need to be overhauled.