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Business and Economics > Banks and Banking

You are looking at 1 - 10 of 36 items for :

  • Type: Journal Issue x
  • Azerbaijan, Republic of x
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Cover Technical Assistance Reports
Republic of Azerbaijan: Technical Assistance Report-Modernizing Central Bank Communication
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
This report presents an analysis of the Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan's (CBA) communication framework and offers recommendations for enhancement. The technical assistance mission, led by the IMF Monetary and Capital Markets Department, aimed to modernize the CBA's communication strategies to align with international best practices. The findings indicate that while the CBA has made significant progress in external communications, there are areas for improvement, particularly in formalizing communication processes and enhancing message clarity. Recommendations include strengthening the role of the Communications Division, adopting a proactive communication policy, and improving the monetary policy communication cycle. These changes are expected to elevate the CBA's communication to a policy tool that supports its objectives of price and financial stability.
Keywords:
Central Bank; Communication; Monetary Policy; Transparency; Inflation Targeting; Stakeholders; Capacity Building; Policy Framework; Institutional Strategy; Communication Division; Azerbaijan.; CBA monetary policy press release; C. communications management; monetary policy department; B. Communication cycle; communication framework; CBA flagship policy publication; Monetary policy communication; Social networks; Financial sector stability; Central bank policy rate; Monetary policy frameworks; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Republic of Azerbaijan: 2023 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; and Staff Report
International Monetary Fund. Middle East and Central Asia Dept.
The 2023 Article IV Consultation with the Republic of Azerbaijan discusses that growth is moderating following a strong post-pandemic rebound, and inflation is easing. The near-term challenge is to resume fiscal consolidation following a temporary easing and to ensure that inflation—, which has recently returned to the target band—does not reignite amid external risks and domestic pressures. In the medium to long term, Azerbaijan’s biggest challenge is to reduce dependence on the hydrocarbon sector and advance private sector-led economic diversification. The paper recommends pursuing fiscal adjustment. Following the fiscal easing in 2023, fiscal consolidation should resume. The report also highlights that it is important to strengthen financial supervision. Financial soundness indicators point to a sound banking sector, but vigilance is needed. Diversification will entail reforms to strengthen governance, limit the role of the state-owned enterprises (SOEs), and de-carbonize the economy. Progress on increasing fiscal transparency and judicial independence, as well as ongoing efforts to increase private sector participation in SOEs and improve their financial position, will help improve the business environment, increase private investment, and enhance productivity.
Keywords:
inflation risk; monetary policy stance; banking sector interest rate; reserve assets adequacy; GDP estimate; summary data page; Inflation; Oil prices; Oil sector; Global; Central Asia and the Caucasus; Europe; Asia and Pacific
Cover IMF Working Papers
Monetary Policy Frameworks and Communication in the Caucasus and Central Asia
Omer Faruk Akbal
,
Klakow Akepanidtaworn
,
Ezequiel Cabezon
,
Mariarosaria Comunale
,
Mrs. Marina Conesa Martinez
, and
Ms. Filiz D Unsal
Central banks in Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA) have been enhancing their monetary policy frameworks in the last decade, and are at different stages of the transition to a type of inflation targeting regimes. This paper documents their progress and the current state of their monetary policy framework, utilizing the IAPOC index developed by Unsal and others (2022) covering Independence and Accountability, Policy and Operational Strategy, and Communications, as well as drawing from central banks’ laws and websites. Additionally, an analysis of press releases from CCA central banks is conducted to evaluate their features, content, and tones. The findings highlight the need for further improvements in the areas of Independence and Accountability, as well as Communications, despite some recent advancements in the latter.
Keywords:
Caucasus and Central Asia; Monetary Policy Frameworks; Communication.; CCA inflation; central banks in Caucasus and Central Asia; IMF working paper No. 2023/251; IAPOC Index; CCA country; Monetary policy communication; Inflation targeting; Inflation; Market interest rates; Central Asia and the Caucasus
Cover Departmental Papers
Macroprudential Policies to Enhance Financial Stability in the Caucasus and Central Asia
Padamja Khandelwal
,
Ezequiel Cabezon
,
Mr. Sanan Mirzayev
, and
Rayah Al-Farah
Limited economic diversification has made the economies of the Caucasus and Central Asia particularly vulnerable to external shocks. The economies in the region are heavily reliant on oil and mining exports as well as remittances. In some countries, tourism and capital flows also play a prominent role in aggregate economic activity.
Keywords:
Financial risks; financial supervision and regulation; macroprudential policy; credit cycles; CCA country; CCA economy; CCA contribution; economies of the Caucasus and Central Asia; credit downturn; banking sector crisis; credit cycle analysis methodology; Macroprudential policy; Credit; Credit gaps; Countercyclical capital buffers; Macroprudential policy instruments; Central Asia and the Caucasus
Cover Departmental Papers
Managing Financial Sector Risks from the COVID-19 Crisis in the Caucasus and Central Asia
Iulia Ruxandra Teodoru
and
Klakow Akepanidtaworn
The COVID-19 crisis raises the risk of renewed financial sector pressures in the Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA) region in the period ahead. Bank distress and its economic and fiscal fallout have been recurring features of many CCA countries, as seen after the global financial crisis and the 2014–15 oil price shock. Strong policy responses have delayed the full impact of the COVID crisis so far, but financial sector risks will increase once public support is phased out. If these risks are not preemptively addressed, banks’ ability to lend during the recovery phase could be impaired and there may be a need for costly public interventions, as in the past.
Keywords:
Financial risks; stress tests; financial supervision and regulation; CCA country; CCA banking systems; FX risk; CCA bank's capital adequacy ratios; FX-induced credit risk; Financial sector risk; Commercial banks; Credit risk; Nonperforming loans; Central Asia and the Caucasus
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Republic of Azerbaijan: 2021 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; and Staff Report
International Monetary Fund. Middle East and Central Asia Dept.
Azerbaijan faced unprecedented challenges in 2020. The combined COVID-19 and oil price shocks pushed the economy into recession. A sizeable relief package helped cushion the economic impact from this shock, and the economy has started to recover. Yet the medium-term outlook remains subdued. The long-term fiscal position is unsustainable as oil resources are expected to run out by mid-century. The authorities have laid out strategic goals of accelerated yet sustainable socio-economic development over the next decade and are developing policy plans to that end.
Keywords:
CPI data ROSC; fund Dept; safeguards assessment policy; fund surveillance; transparency policy; International Monetary Fund Washington; d.c; Oil prices; Oil; External sector statistics; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Republic of Azerbaijan: 2019 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Republic of Azerbaijan
International Monetary Fund. Middle East and Central Asia Dept.
This 2019 Article IV Consultation with the Republic of Azerbaijan highlights that the economy is continuing to recover from a banking crisis and recession. Looking ahead, economic growth is expected to reach 2.7 percent in 2019 on strong hydrocarbon production and robust domestic demand, benefitting from new spending measures. Gradual and growth-friendly fiscal consolidation is needed to strengthen intergenerational and precautionary buffers while mitigating the adverse impact on the economy. Consolidation could rely on prioritizing and improving the efficiency of spending, rationalizing tax policy, and improving revenue administration. Reducing administrative burden for businesses, encouraging competition, and strengthening governance and transparency would reduce the cost of doing business, foster entrepreneurship, and attract foreign capital. Prioritizing investment for healthcare and education, improving its efficiency, and better targeting of social protection would help nurture human capital and improve productivity. Addressing governance weaknesses is essential to reduce vulnerabilities to corruption. More integrated policies, along with better data availability, would support decision making and credibility, and attract investment.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; government; food price inflation; price; broad money; Azerbaijani authorities; authorities' agenda; floating exchange rate regime; inflation expectation; External sector statistics; Fiscal rules; Global
Cover Departmental Papers
Building Resilient Banking Sectors in the Caucasus and Central Asia
Miss Mercedes Vera Martin
,
Mr. Tarak Jardak
,
Mr. Robert Tchaidze
,
Mr. Juan P Trevino
, and
Mrs. Helen W Wagner
External shocks since 2014—lower oil prices and slower growth in key trading partners—have put financial sectors, mainly banks, in the eight Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA) countries under increased stress.  Even before the shocks, CCA banking sectors were not at full strength. Asset quality was generally weak, due in part to shortcomings in regulation, supervision, and governance. The economies were highly dollarized. Business practices were affected by lack of competition and, in most countries, connected lending, which undermined banking sector health. Shortcomings in financial regulation and supervision allowed the unsound banking practices to remain unaddressed. The external shocks exacerbated in these underlying vulnerabilities. Strains in CCA banking sectors intensified as liquidity tightened, asset quality deteriorated, and banks became undercapitalized. These challenges have required public intervention in some cases.
Keywords:
DPPP; DP; bank; banking sector; central bank; nonperforming loan; bank management; CCA country; nonviable bank; diversification strategy; bank nationalization; problem bank; public funds; bank corporate governance; Nonperforming loans; Bank resolution framework; Credit; Commercial banks; Loans; Global; Central Asia and the Caucasus
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Republic of Azerbaijan: 2016 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Informational Annex
International Monetary Fund. Middle East and Central Asia Dept.
This 2016 Article IV Consultation highlights that the economic performance in Azerbaijan has been impaired by a number of negative shocks. Lower oil prices, weak regional growth, currency devaluations in its main trading partners, and a contraction in hydrocarbon production rapidly erased the large current account surplus the country enjoyed during the oil boom years. Near-term economic prospects remain weak. Under current policies, growth is expected to contract in 2016 and remain sluggish in the next few years, while inflation is expected to gradually decrease. The current account balance should improve as the devaluations work to limit imports and support nontraditional exports.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; center; IMF staff estimate; regime; managed float; devaluations work; handling ADB affair; policy buffer; capital expenditure project; data dissemination practice; exchange rate framework; exchange rate; manat base money; External sector statistics; Oil prices; Credit; Oil; Global; Central Asia; Southern Europe; Asia and Pacific; Caribbean
Cover IMF Working Papers
Determinants of Bank Interest Margins in the Caucasus and Central Asia
Raja Almarzoqi
and
Samy Ben Naceur
In this paper, we use a bank-level panel dataset to investigate the determinants of bank interest margins in the Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA) over the period 1998–2013. We apply the dealership model of Ho and Saunders (1981) and its extensions to assess the extent to which high spreads of banks in the CCA can be related to bank-specific variables, to competition, and to macroeconomic factors. We find that interest spreads are affected by operating cost, credit risk, liquidity risk, bank size, bank diversification, banking sector competition, and macroeconomic policies; but the impact depends on the country.
Keywords:
WP; interest margin; interest; bank