Country Reports
2016
September 29, 2016
Ireland: Financial Sector Assessment Program: Technical Note-Financial Safety Net, Bank Resolution, and Crisis Management
Description: This Technical Note discusses the findings and recommendations in the Financial Sector Assessment Program for Ireland regarding the financial safety net, bank resolution, and crisis management. The introduction of the “single rulebook” for financial services regulation within the European Union and the establishment of the banking union have transformed the Irish framework for dealing with failing banks. The new regime reflects an EU-wide initiative to strengthen supervision, harmonize prudential rules, and establish a uniform bank resolution regime. The Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive has significantly strengthened the resolution regime in Ireland and the European Union. Significant progress has also been made on the banking union, although key aspects remain to be completed.
September 29, 2016
Ireland: Financial Sector Assessment Program: Technical Note-Insurance Sector and Update on the Assessment of Observance of the Insurance Core Principles
Description: This Technical Note discusses the findings and recommendations made in the Financial Sector Assessment Program for Ireland’s insurance sector. Insurance in Ireland is well developed, diverse, and has a large international business presence. Insurance penetration in Ireland is almost three times the EU average. Many recommendations have been implemented by the central bank, with Solvency II now the solvency regime in Ireland. In total, 51 Supervisory Review Process guidance papers have been prepared setting out the central bank’s internal supervisory processes and procedures under Solvency II with reference to the technical standards and guidelines and the central bank’s prioritization framework. Forty-seven of these were complete as of the end of 2015.
September 29, 2016
Ireland: Financial Sector Assessment Program: Technical Note-Asset Management and Financial Stability
Description: This Technical Note discusses the findings and recommendations made in the Financial Sector Assessment Program for Ireland in the areas of asset management and financial stability. Most of the potential avenues for domestic financial instability from Irish-domiciled money market funds and investment funds appear to be contained. The potential for destabilizing spillovers from Irish-domiciled money market and investment funds to the domestic economy appears limited. The Central Bank of Ireland has made important progress in addressing long-standing data gaps as they pertain to the asset management industry. A number of initiatives could be helpful in further strengthening industry oversight.
September 29, 2016
Ireland: Financial Sector Assessment Program: Technical Note-Banking Supervision and Update on the Assessment of Observance of the Basel Core Principles
Description: This Technical Note discusses the findings and recommendations made in the Financial Sector Assessment Program for Ireland in the areas of banking supervision and observance of the Basel core principles. The effective operational implementation of the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM) is well established in Ireland, and all authorities are actively engaged and committed to the new supervisory framework led by the European Central Bank. The SSM has further strengthened the prudential regulation and supervision of banks since the time of the 2013 assessment. The transition to the operational implementation of the SSM has not resulted in major gaps in banking supervision, but some transitional challenges remain.
September 26, 2016
Philippines: 2016 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for the Philippines
Description: This 2016 Article IV Consultation highlights that the Philippine economy has continued to perform strongly. Real GDP regained strength from a slowdown in mid-2015 to record a robust 5.9 percent growth rate in 2015 and 6.9 percent in the first half of 2016. Both consumption and investment grew rapidly, while net exports were held back by weak external demand. Job creation was also strong: the unemployment rate declined to 6.3 percent in 2015 and 6.0 percent in the first half of 2016. The outlook for the Philippine economy remains favorable despite external headwinds. Real GDP growth is expected at 6.4 percent in 2016 and 6.7 percent in 2017 on continued robust domestic demand and a modest recovery in exports.
September 22, 2016
Portugal: Selected Issues
Description: This Selected Issues paper estimates the fiscal impact of demographic changes in Portugal and the euro area over the period 2015–2100. Under the baseline projections of the United Nations, Portugal is among the countries in the euro area that is expected to be most hurt by demographic developments. During 2015–2100, its population is expected to shrink by about 30 percent while the old-age dependency ratio is expected to more than double, driven mostly by low fertility, higher longevity, and migration outflows. Age-related public spending would increase by about 6 percentage points of GDP under the baseline over the period 2015–50, and the public debt path would become unsustainable in the absence of offsetting policies.
September 22, 2016
Russian Federation: Financial Sector Assessment Program: Technical Note-Bank Resolution and Crisis Management Framework
Description: This Technical Note discusses the findings and recommendations made in the Financial Sector Assessment Program for the Russian Federation in the areas of bank resolution and a crisis management framework. The findings reveal that the experiences of past financial crises have strengthened the Russian bank resolution framework. The resolution framework has been effective in preserving financial stability. Since January 2014, 28 banks have been placed in open bank resolution, and three were resolved by purchase and assumption transactions. The effectiveness of bank resolution could be improved. Introduction of the full range of resolution powers and safeguards recommended by the Financial Stability Board Key Attributes would improve the framework’s effectiveness.
September 22, 2016
Russian Federation: Financial Sector Assessment Program: Technical Note-Macroprudential Policy
Description: This Technical Note discusses the findings and recommendations made in the Financial Sector Assessment Program for the Russian Federation in the area of macroprudential policy. Financial stability oversight responsibilities are currently shared between the Central Bank of Russia (CBR) and the high-level interagency National Council on Ensuring Financial Stability. In recent years, the CBR has used a number of macroprudential tools to deal with risks, mainly those stemming from retail lending. The CBR has tightened provisioning requirements and increased capital risk weights to curb excessive growth of unsecured consumer lending, which has helped banks better handle credit risk that materialized. However, the CBR law should be amended to provide for a more comprehensive set of macroprudential tools.
September 22, 2016
Russian Federation: Financial Sector Assessment Program: Detailed Assessment of Observance Basel Core Principles for Effective Banking Supervision (BCP)
Description: This paper evaluates observance of the Basel Core Principles for Effective Banking Supervision in the Russian Federation. The legal framework currently in place provides the Central Bank of Russia (CBR) with necessary powers and responsibilities. The CBR may authorize banks, conduct ongoing supervision, oversee compliance with laws, and undertake corrective action to address safety and soundness. Major new reforms increase many aspects of the CBR’s duties and powers, although implementation has not yet been tested in all cases. The Russian licensing regime for banks appears exhaustive. However, the legal regime for major acquisitions was found to be weak.
September 22, 2016
Russian Federation: Financial Sector Assessment Program: Technical Note-Stress Testing
Description: This Technical Note discusses the results of the stress testing carried out as part of the 2016 Financial Sector Assessment Program for the Russian Federation. The stress tests focused on banks, reflecting the structure of the Russian financial sector, which is relatively small and bank dominated. The results showed that the banking system is likely to need additional capital. Even in the baseline scenario, certain banks will need new capital owing to low profitability and increasing credit losses. The required resources are higher in the stress scenarios, but remain manageable. If public funds are needed for recapitalization, there is sufficient fiscal space, provided that fiscal policy remains prudent.