This paper presents an update on Iceland’s Financial System Stability Assessment. Liquidity ratios, while high, now depend more than before on access to central banks’ liquidity facilities because of the turmoil in global markets, and any reduction in such access would require...

This 2011 Article IV Consultation highlights that Qatar is using its fiscal space, generated from an increase in hydrocarbon production and prices, to implement a large public spending program. Large infrastructure investments are expected to sustain strong growth of 9 percent to 10 percent in...

The Executive Board approved a three-year Extended Fund Facility with Seychelles. This report briefly outlines performance under the program, including compliance with the end-December targets, before addressing the issue of financing assurances. Macroeconomic performance through end-2009...

This paper discusses key findings of the Second Review for Ukraine under the Stand-By Arrangement and request for modification of performance criteria. Policy implementation has been broadly in line with the program. The end-May quantitative performance criteria on base money, net international...

This 2008 Article IV Consultation highlights that Lao People’s Democratic Republic’s (PDR) economy has performed well in recent years, owing to generally stable macroeconomic conditions and a rapidly expanding natural resource sector. Real GDP growth has averaged more than 7...

This technical note on Mexico’s Financial Sector Assessment Program update presents an overview of the risk management practices and stress test results carried out for the Mexican commercial banks and the insurance sector. The stress test results include the reporting of scenario...

This Selected Issues paper and Statistical Appendix describes Palau’s financial sector, its recent performance, and developments in regulatory reform. The paper considers illustrative scenarios of possible outcomes for public spending levels and growth under different assumptions with...