This Technical Note covers the insurance sector of Italy supervised by the Institution for the Supervision of Insurance in Italy. Notwithstanding the high level of compliance with the International Association of Insurance Supervisors principles, critical principles remain to be taken on. Twenty...

This paper discusses key findings of the Financial System Stability Assessment for Italy. The assessment reveals that Italy’s financial system is sound, and no major vulnerabilities that could cause systemic risks are identified. The deep restructuring of the banking sector in the 1990s...

This 2007 Article IV Consultation highlights that the Republic of Korea is enjoying its longest uninterrupted period of economic expansion since the Asian crisis. Growth reached 5 percent in 2006, buoyed by strong exports, and is only expected to slow marginally to 4¾ percent this year. The...

This Technical Note analyzes impaired loans in Poland. Asset quality has moved up the Polish supervisor’s agenda to address persistent impaired loans and cyclical deterioration in credit quality. Although the deterioration has been mainly observed in the quality of consumer loan...

Afghanistan is one of the poorest countries in the world and, after decades of ongoing conflicts and strife, it is still at an early stage of developing its legal and institutional framework. Measures have been taken to fight crime, including financial crime. Smuggling and fraud are other major...

This paper presents a factual update of the Insurance Core Principles including insurance sector market and regulatory developments for Switzerland. Regulatory reforms since 2003 have updated Switzerland’s regulatory and supervisory regime for the insurance industry to bring it in line...

A detailed assessment report on Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism for Mauritius is discussed. Mauritius is well placed to capitalize on its national strategy to diversify its economy into global financial services by taking advantage of its linkages with both African...

This paper discusses key findings of the Detailed Assessment of Observance of the Basel Core Principles for Denmark. The assessment reveals that the basic legal framework is contained in the Financial Business Act (FBA), and in executive orders and explanatory guidelines issued pursuant to the...

Greek real GDP has declined by 2 percent in 2009, and indicators suggest that activity will weaken further in 2010. With the deteriorating fiscal results came downgrades of government bonds by rating agencies, and investors started backing out of Greek bonds, driving up their yields. Impaired...

Luxembourg hosts a large international financial center that plays a pivotal role in its economy and in European financial markets. The crisis exposed significant vulnerabilities in Luxembourg’s financial system, owing to large cross-border exposures to foreign parent banks. The...