Country Reports
2013
May 31, 2013
Uruguay: Financial System Stability Assessment
Description: The buffers built in the aftermath of Uruguay’s 2002 banking crisis have shielded the financial sector from the effects of the global financial turmoil. Growth has been robust and the outlook continues to be favorable. However, inflation persists but capital inflows have improved, and policy measures have been taken in response. Uruguay exhibits no obvious signs of near-term domestic macrofinancial vulnerability. The external risks to the economy and the financial system come from a fragile global environment, and policy measures are recommended to reduce dollarization.
May 31, 2013
Libya: Staff Report For The 2013 Article Iv Consultation
Description: The political and security environment remains uncertain in Libya. Libya faces the challenges of stabilizing the economy and responding to the aspirations of the revolution. The near-term outlook is favorable, but there are significant risks. The overarching policy objective should be to foster inclusive growth. Banks are not intermediating, and resources should be devoted to its effective implementation. Expenditure is skewed toward wages and subsidies. Libya needs to adopt a comprehensive reform strategy. The government agrees with the assessment of the economic outlook and associated risks and policy options as outlined by Executive Directors.
May 31, 2013
Libya: Selected Issues
Description: The cost of energy subsidies is large, and reduces the fiscal space available for public expenditure priorities, including education, health, and infrastructure. Libya’s ample hydrocarbon wealth will allow it to reform subsidies while protecting the poor. A gradual phasing out of subsidies would allow adjustment in consumption and minimize the inflationary impact, thereby allowing the social assistance system to be strengthened. After a transfer mechanism is in place to facilitate fuel and electricity subsidy reform, food subsidy reform should be undertaken.
May 28, 2013
Nigeria: Publication of Financial Sector Assessment Program Documentation––Detailed Assessment of Implementation of IOSCO Objectives and Principles of Securities Regulation
Description: An assessment of the level of implementation of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) Principles in Nigeria was conducted as part of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)-World Bank Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP). The ongoing global financial crisis has reinforced the need for assessors to make a judgment about supervisory practices and to determine whether they are sufficiently effective. The assessment methodology provides a set of assessment criteria to be met in respect of each principle to achieve the designated benchmarks.
May 28, 2013
Nigeria: Publication of Financial Sector Assessment Program Documentation––Detailed Assessment of Observance of Insurance Core Principles
Description: Nigeria undertook a Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP), which included a review of the structure of Nigeria’s insurance market and the supervisory framework. The assessment was benchmarked against the Insurance Core Principles (ICPs) issued by the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAISs). It is advised that the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) of Nigeria can expand the objective to include the creation of a fair, safe, and stable insurance sector for the benefit and protection of policyholders.
May 28, 2013
Nigeria: Publication of Financial Sector Assessment Program Documentation––Detailed Assessment of Compliance of the Basel Core Priciples for Effective Banking Supervision
Description: The assessment of the implementation of the Basel Core Principles (BCP) was conducted for effective banking supervision in Nigeria. The assessment team reviewed the legal framework for banking supervision and held extensive discussions with the staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC). It is assessed that Nigeria has recorded significant improvement in its level of compliance with the BCPs, which is attributed to the enhancement of the supervisory capacity of Nigerian banking system supervisors.
May 28, 2013
Nigeria: Publication of Financial Sector Assessment Program Documentation––Technical Note on Crisis Management and Crisis Preparedness Frameworks
Description: The Nigerian financial system underwent a banking crisis in 2008–09, owing to the global financial crisis and domestic events. The decisive crisis response effectively stabilized the banking system, but the challenge now is to devise a credible exit strategy. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has a broad resolution toolkit, which was put to use during the crisis to resolve the intervened banks. The Nigerian authorities set up the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) to purchase nonperforming loans of banks.
May 28, 2013
Nigeria: Publication of Financial Sector Assessment Program Documentation––Technical Note of Banking Cross-Border Issues
Description: The global financial crisis provided Nigerian banks with opportunities to expand within Sub-Saharan Africa. Nigerian banks have active cross-border liquidity flows, which may complicate the operation of monetary policy. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) should enhance further its work in improving cross-border supervision, including home-host coordination and cooperation. The CBN may also consider taking initiative in establishing a regional coordination group similar to the Vienna Initiative. The CBN should improve data collection and granularity on cross-border transactions and funding flows of Nigerian international banks.
May 28, 2013
Nigeria: Publication of Financial Sector Assessment Program Documentation––Technical Note on Stress Testing
Description: To assess the financial stability in Nigeria, various stress tests and analytic processes were undertaken jointly by the Nigerian authorities and the Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) team. The exercise included macroeconomic scenario analysis and its transmission into a range of single- and multifactor shocks. The tests covered the entire Nigerian banking system and looked at the short-term horizon, in part because of data constraints. Sensitivity stress tests estimated the impact of changes in individual variables on banks’ portfolios.
May 28, 2013
The Gambia: First Review Under the Extended Credit Facility, Request for Nonobservance of Performance Criterion, and Request for Rephasing of Reviews
Description: The Gambian economy is still recovering from the severe drought and crop failure. Depreciation pressure on the Dalasi has largely been driven by weaknesses in the balance of payments and uncertainty about exchange rate policy. Executive Directors have urged the government to curb domestic borrowing and to sustain the fiscal adjustment needed to reduce the high cost and risks of domestic debt. They have also commended the progress achieved toward eliminating fiscal dominance and encourage implementing a restrained monetary policy.