A detailed assessment of Israel’s compliance with the Basel Core Principles for effective banking supervision is presented. The Bachar reform that has been started in mid-2005 forced banks to divest most noncommercial banking activities, such as mutual funds, insurance, pension, and...

Iceland’s gross external debt rose above 600 percent of GDP, while households and corporations accumulated heavy debt burdens with large exposures to foreign exchange and inflation risk. The global banking crisis exposed Iceland’s vulnerabilities, triggering a balance-of-payments...

This Technical Note presents a targeted review and a follow-up on the implementation of the recommendations of the 2002 assessment of Lithuania’s compliance with the Basel Core Principles for Effective Banking Supervision. It was found that banking supervision arrangements in Lithuania...

Switzerland showed impressive growth performance owing to its strong macroeconomic policies and structural reform efforts. Executive Directors emphasized the need to maintain financial stability. They welcomed the well-timed injections of liquidity into the banking system. Directors also...

This report analyzes the Israeli economy and its financial system in detail. A strong macroprudential framework is believed to be an effective tool in identifying in advance and extenuating threats that arise within the financial domain. It is also stated that the present fragile global economic...

Lithuania’s catch-up toward the European average has been impressive. This success has been coupled with the emergence of macroeconomic imbalances. The dominance of foreign-owned banks in the banking system constitutes both a source of strength and risk. Although stress tests indicate...

This paper discusses key findings of the Detailed Assessment of Compliance of the Basel Core Principles for Effective Banking Supervision for Tunisia. The findings reveal that the Central Bank of Tunisia (Banque Centrale de Tunisi/BCT) monitors closely the supervised institutions. Its monitoring...

Banking supervision in South Africa has been effective in reducing the impact of the global financial crisis. The banks have remained profitable, and capital adequacy ratios have been maintained well above the regulatory minimum. The supervisory and regulatory framework has been strengthened...

This paper presents Barbados’s Financial System Stability Assessment Update as part of the Financial Sector Assessment Program Update. The domestic banking sector appears sound and profitable and continues to dominate the financial system. The financial system has benefited from the...

The overall fiscal position improved and the reduction in domestic arrears was triple the program target. The direct impact of the global financial crisis on Djibouti has been limited. The financial system has not been affected by the global crisis, and capital adequacy has improved slightly...