This paper analyzes developments in the hedge fund industry. The significant growth of hedge funds, driven by institutional investors, has heightened the desire by the official sector to better understand hedge funds and their activities. The paper examines how one may achieve a better...

This paper looks at the longer-term challenges pension funds face as population age and key issues to address to enhance their risk management practices and their role as long-term investors. The paper focuses primarily on Japan, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United...

This paper focuses on risk transfer and discusses the insurance sector, particularly life insurers. It expands on issues raised in previous Global Financial Stability Reports by asking whether financial stability has benefited or could benefit from insurers’ broader participation in credit...

Slow economic growth and continuing low interest rate environment is putting pressure on the insurance sector. Delays in the implementation of Solvency II could create vulnerabilities in the insurance sector. The approval of internal models is important for determining adequacy of capital levels...

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 this paper, the structure of Colombia’s financial sector is analyzed and various risks of the financial sector are studied. Supervision of the financial system can be performed by supervisory architecture, banking supervision, various securities, and insurance policies. Systemic liquidity...

This report is a full assessment of Brazil’s compliance with the Insurance Core Principles (ICPs) of the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS) as adopted in October 2011. In the last few years, the Brazilian insurance industry experienced an explosive growth doubling the...

This paper is a detailed assessment of Indonesia’s financial sector—assessment of compliance with the Basel Core Principles for Effective Banking Supervision (BCP) carried out within the framework of the Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP). The Indonesian financial sector comprises...

This Financial System Stability Assessment on France discusses the French financial system and the restructuring of French banks to different business models. The French banking system weathered the 2007–09 global financial crisis well. The large French banks have announced plans to meet Basel...

Armenia’s growing financial system is dominated by banks, and its regulatory and supervisory system is robust. The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has recommended the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) to develop a program to gather information and monitor the hedging...