South Africa: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note on Insurance Sector - Regulation and Supervision

South Africa: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note on Insurance Sector - Regulation and Supervision
Author: International Monetary
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 34
Release: 2022-06-17
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN:

The South African insurance sector is large, complex, internationally active, and competitive. Supported by high penetration and density of insurance products, the insurance sector has grown to account for 18 percent of the financial sector in South Africa. The industry hosts an unusually diverse range of business models, including traditional participation focused models, bank-led conglomerates, asset management focused groups, and technology driven new entrants. Even among large insurers, risk profiles vary significantly, which is unique relative to other major insurance markets. Most large insurance groups are actively expanding their business both regionally and globally.

Insurance and Issues in Financial Soundness

Insurance and Issues in Financial Soundness
Author: Nigel Davies
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 45
Release: 2003-07-01
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1451856008

This paper explores insurance as a source of financial system vulnerability. It provides a brief overview of the insurance industry and reviews the risks it faces, as well as several recent failures of insurance companies that had systemic implications. Assimilation of banking-type activities by life insurers appears to be the key systemic vulnerability. Building on this experience and the experience gained under the FSAP, the paper proposes key indicators that should be compiled and used for surveillance of financial soundness of insurance companies and the insurance sector as a whole.

South Africa: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note on Banking Regulation and Supervision

South Africa: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note on Banking Regulation and Supervision
Author: International Monetary
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 49
Release: 2022-06-17
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN:

The implementation of a twin peaks model represents a significant change to the South African financial supervisory architecture. The Prudential Authority (PA), operating within the administration of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), is responsible for promoting and enhancing the safety and soundness of financial institutions that provide financial products and securities services. A separate authority, the Financial Sector Conduct Authority2 (FSCA), is responsible for market conduct regulation and supervision. The introduction of the twin peaks architecture was motivated by a need to increase the robustness of the financial sector regulatory and supervisory system, reinforce financial stability, improve protection of customers, and enhance cooperation among the regulators.

Macroprudential Solvency Stress Testing of the Insurance Sector

Macroprudential Solvency Stress Testing of the Insurance Sector
Author: Mr.Andreas A. Jobst
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 84
Release: 2014-07-22
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 149832455X

Over the last decade, stress testing has become a central aspect of the Fund’s bilateral and multilateral surveillance work. Recently, more emphasis has also been placed on the role of insurance for financial stability analysis. This paper reviews the current state of system-wide solvency stress tests for insurance based on a comparative review of national practices and the experiences from Fund’s FSAP program with the aim of providing practical guidelines for the coherent and consistent implementation of such exercises. The paper also offers recommendations on improving the current insurance stress testing approaches and presentation of results.

South Africa: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note on Cybersecurity Risk Supervision and Oversight

South Africa: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note on Cybersecurity Risk Supervision and Oversight
Author: International Monetary
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 32
Release: 2022-06-17
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN:

Cybersecurity risk continues to grow both in complexity and severity and is a function of an increasingly open and interconnected cyber and financial ecosystem. The South African financial system has a long history of incorporating technology and as for many financial systems across the globe, digitalization has become a strategic priority. For risk management to keep pace with the dynamic nature of cyber threats and threat agents, systemically important financial institutions (SIFIs) have made substantial investments in cyber resilience programs (e.g., establishing cyber strategies, frameworks, and governance structures). Consistent with many jurisdictions, and partly a result of widespread remote working arrangements implemented in response to the global pandemic, cybersecurity threats to financial stability increased. However, high standards of risk management meant threats did not materialize into significant losses and/or disruptions.

Stress Testing at the IMF

Stress Testing at the IMF
Author: Mr.Tobias Adrian
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 73
Release: 2020-02-05
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1513520741

This paper explains specifics of stress testing at the IMF. After a brief section on the evolution of stress tests at the IMF, the paper presents the key steps of an IMF staff stress test. They are followed by a discussion on how IMF staff uses stress tests results for policy advice. The paper concludes by identifying remaining challenges to make stress tests more useful for the monitoring of financial stability and an overview of IMF staff work program in that direction. Stress tests help assess the resilience of financial systems in IMF member countries and underpin policy advice to preserve or restore financial stability. This assessment and advice are mainly provided through the Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP). IMF staff also provide technical assistance in stress testing to many its member countries. An IMF macroprudential stress test is a methodology to assess financial vulnerabilities that can trigger systemic risk and the need of systemwide mitigating measures. The definition of systemic risk as used by the IMF is relevant to understanding the role of its stress tests as tools for financial surveillance and the IMF’s current work program. IMF stress tests primarily apply to depository intermediaries, and, systemically important banks.

Financial Regulation, Climate Change, and the Transition to a Low-Carbon Economy: A Survey of the Issues

Financial Regulation, Climate Change, and the Transition to a Low-Carbon Economy: A Survey of the Issues
Author: Mr. Dimitri G Demekas
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 45
Release: 2021-12-17
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1616356529

There are demands on central banks and financial regulators to take on new responsibilities for supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy. Regulators can indeed facilitate the reorientation of financial flows necessary for the transition. But their powers should not be overestimated. Their diagnostic and policy toolkits are still in their infancy. They cannot (and should not) expand their mandate unilaterally. Taking on these new responsibilities can also have potential pitfalls and unintended consequences. Ultimately, financial regulators cannot deliver a low-carbon economy by themselves and should not risk being caught again in the role of ‘the only game in town.’

South Africa: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note on Financial Safety Net and Crisis Management

South Africa: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note on Financial Safety Net and Crisis Management
Author: International Monetary
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 47
Release: 2022-06-17
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN:

This Technical Note sets out the findings and recommendations of the Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) for South Africa on financial safety net and crisis-management arrangements. It primarily focuses on the arrangements for early intervention, recovery, resolution, and financial safety nets for banks in South Africa. To a lesser extent, the note also addresses issues relating to recovery and resolution applicable to insurers and Financial Market Infrastructure (FMI).

Indonesia

Indonesia
Author: International Monetary Fund
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 111
Release: 2010-09-16
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1455209678

Indonesia recovered quickly after being hit hard by contagion from the global financial crisis. Banking fundamentals have improved, with most Indonesian banks reporting high capital, comfortable levels of liquidity, and solid profitability. Banks exhibit rising credit exposures to retail and SMEs. The Crisis Management Protocol functioned well during the crisis, but it has lapsed. A viable capital market will diversify the sources of funding and provide long-term investment opportunities. The small insurance industry should be restructured and gradually expanded to broaden the institutional investor base.

The Federal Reserve System Purposes and Functions

The Federal Reserve System Purposes and Functions
Author: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2002
Genre: Banks and Banking
ISBN: 9780894991967

Provides an in-depth overview of the Federal Reserve System, including information about monetary policy and the economy, the Federal Reserve in the international sphere, supervision and regulation, consumer and community affairs and services offered by Reserve Banks. Contains several appendixes, including a brief explanation of Federal Reserve regulations, a glossary of terms, and a list of additional publications.