This paper studies the long-run evolution of bank risk and its links to the macroeconomy. Using data for 17 advanced economies, we show that the riskiness of bank assets declined materially between 1870 and 2016. But even though bank assets have become safer, the losses on these assets are...

New indices are provided for ten emerging markets. Using data from companies listed in London and New York in the 1800s and 1900s, new stock market indices are produced and discussed providing information on companies in Turkey, Egypt, Cuba, China, Singapore, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil,...

New indices for stocks, bonds and bills are generated for both Europe and for individual countries. The indices begin in 1601 for equities, 1700 for bonds and 1694 for bills. New indices are provided for Great Britain, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Russia, Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia...

This paper studies the long-run evolution of bank risk and its links to the macroeconomy. Using data for 17 advanced economies, we show that the riskiness of bank assets declined materially between 1870 and 2016. But even though bank assets have become safer, the losses on these assets are...

When is the best time to invest in the stock market? The paper analyzes the best and worst investment periods for each of the twelve months as well as 41 countries and 3 global regions. The paper provides an international perspective to Yale Hirsch's analysis of the United States' stock market....

The objective of this article is to highlight some of the key changes because of the transition from IFRS 4 to IFRS 17 and how the financial information presented by the insurance companies will transform from 1 January 2023

This paper seeks to add to the current debate about financial development and growth in the emerging world by looking at how different financial systems evolve: how and why financial structures change during various stages of development, how best to measure them, and seeing what practical...

The recent global financial crisis has caused massive upheavals worldwide. The papers in this volume analyze whether financial principles seem to have shifted in recent years, and what that may mean for international financial markets and regulation. What ¡°broke¡± in the current crisis? Is...

This report reviews recent as well as planned changes to accounting and solvency regulations affecting insurers and pension funds and how they may impact long-term investing by these institutions. The review of existing evidence focuses mainly on the impact of risk-based solvency requirements,...

Switzerland has a systemically important financial sector. This paper analyzes the financial soundness and risk dynamics of Swiss banks and insurance companies for the past five years. The cross-country comparisons show that despite the recovery in profitability and capital for banks and...