This report analyzes the functioning of the legal and regulatory framework for the securities market in Japan. The Financial Services Agency (FSA) enjoyed specific powers with respect to the various security laws and regulations laid down by the International Organization of Securities...

The paper assesses the degree of banking competition and efficiency in Italy?over time as well as compared to that in other countries, such as France, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The paper finds competition in the Italian banking sector has intensified in loan and...

This paper discusses implementation of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) objectives and principles of securities regulation in Indonesia. The Capital Markets and Financial Institutions Supervisory Agency (BAPEPAM-LK) has taken impressive steps to increase the...

This report is an overview of the performance of the European Banking Authority (EBA) against its mandates, given economic conditions prevailing in the banking sector in the European Union (EU). Banks remain a key contributor to the EU financial and professional services industry. Outlook for...

In the case of Bermuda, application of risk-based approaches seems particularly relevant not only to the insurance sector, but also to other types of financial and nonfinancial activities. The legal framework for investigation and prosecution of money laundering (ML) is well developed, and law...

This paper discusses key findings of the Detailed Assessment Report on Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) for the Republic of Belarus. The assessment reveals that compliance supervision in Belarus is detailed with a strong culture of onsite examination. Two...

This paper assesses implementation of the International Organization of Securities Commissions' (IOSCO) objectives and principles of securities regulation in Spain. Spain exhibits a high level of implementation of principles. The legal framework is robust and provides the Comisión Nacional de...

The Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) countries financial system has increasingly come under stress particularly through weakly supervised nonbank and offshore financial sectors with knock-on effects to domestic banks. The staff report focuses on ECCU’s 2009 discussion on common...

This 2008 Article IV Consultation highlights that spillovers from the global slowdown and lingering turbulence in international financial markets have been propagated to Singapore mostly through the trade channel. Inflation has risen significantly on the back of international and home-grown cost...