Narrow Your Choices

Refine By Countries

Refine By Series

Refine By Language

Refine By Date

—

Refine By IMF Taxonomy

Refine By JEL Taxonomy

Refine by LOC Taxonomy

Refine By THEMA Taxonomy

  • Print
  • Save

Business and Economics > Insurance

You are looking at 1 - 10 of 32 items for :

  • Type: Journal Issue x
Clear All Modify Search
Cover Technical Assistance Reports
Principality of Andorra: Technical Assistance Report-Report on External Sector Statistics Mission (September 4–15, 2023)
International Monetary Fund. Statistics Dept.
A technical assistance (TA) mission on external sector statistics (ESS) was conducted for the Andorran Statistics Department (ASD) in the Principality of Andorra in September 2023. The mission focused on preparing plans to improve the frequency of producing balance of payments statistics and international investment position (IIP) from annual to quarterly and to enhance the coverage and quality of the balance of payments and IIP data. The mission assisted the ASD in establishing the framework of the quarterly enterprise survey, which will be used as one of the main source data for compiling balance of payments statistics and IIP quarterly.
Keywords:
Principality of Andorra; balance of payments; international investment position.; IMF's Statistics Department; enterprise survey; IIP quarterly; IMF executive directors; ad IIP; International investment position; Balance of payments statistics; Income; Insurance
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
France: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note-Key Attributes of Effective Resolution Regimes for Insurance Companies
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
This technical note explores key attributes of effective resolution regimes (KA) for insurance companies on France. The safety net in the sector is composed by two policyholder protection schemes, which can provide support in liquidation proceedings. The report highlights that there is consensus with the authorities that the new framework reflects many, however, not all elements needed for full compliance with the KAs, and the areas where further progress is needed. Alignment of the framework with KAs in terms of the institutional organization and infrastructure is high. The scope and responsibilities of the Prudential Supervision and Resolution Authority are clearly established in the law, as well as the cases when those are applicable, and its interaction with other relevant policy-making entities. The new framework targets all institutions considered systemic, given their size and other relevant features. Its’ current implementation is guided solely by the threshold in terms of total assets; any holding company, group, mutual, or foreign subsidiary above this level is subject to Recovery and Resolution Planning requirements.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; resolution authority; resolution framework; home authority; home authorities; resolution college; resolution plan; holding company; resolution measure; insurance resolution; Bank resolution framework; Insurance companies; Legal support in revenue administration; Insurance; Bridge bank; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
France: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note-Risk Analysis of Banking and Insurance Sector
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
This technical note presents risk analysis of banking and insurance sector in France. The assessment is based on stress tests, which simulate the health of banks, insurers under severe yet plausible (counterfactual) adverse scenarios. The stress tests reveal that banks and insurers would be resilient against simulated shocks, although some challenges remain. French banks have improved their capitalization and asset quality; however, profitability remains challenged. The report also highlights that profitability is pressured on both the income and expense sides. Banks’ ability to generate higher interest income is constrained by persistently low interest rates, and market businesses including trading activities have contracted in recent years. Growth-at-risk (GaR) analysis shows that the biggest contributing factors to the risk of growth are cost of funding and stock market prices. Financial conditions continue to tighten gradually since mid-2017; though the overall conditions remain accommodative. Risks stemming from loans to households seem to be contained over the short- to medium-term horizon, given relatively strong households’ balance sheets, no evidence of significant misalignment in house prices, social safety nets, and fixed interest rates.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; BNP Paribas; Crédit Agricole; risk tolerance; cash flow; central bank; balance sheet; interest rate; Stress testing; Insurance companies; Liquidity risk; Insurance; Liquidity; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
France: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note-Issues in Insurance Supervision and Regulation
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
This technical note focuses on issues in insurance supervision and regulation on France. France has a very high level of insurance penetration, particularly for life insurance. For each insurance company, a risk assessment is undertaken on at least an annual basis and is recorded in a supervisory review process tool. French insurance companies are significant users of the Volatility Adjustment (VA), with companies representing more than 90 percent of the technical provisions in the French insurance industry using the VA. The report discusses that French authorities should advocate to the relevant EU authorities to introduce a minimum number of independent members of the Administrative Management or Supervisory Boards, at least one-third. Autorité de Contrôle Prudentiel et de Résolution should review the intensity and frequency of on-site supervision and its relationship to off-site supervision. With several other meetings with insurance companies possible, some of these meetings may be close to be called as focused on-site inspections.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; insurer; France; life insurance; insurance premium; life insurance insurance company; insurance market; industry representative; Solvency II; life insurer; parent bank; twenty-five solo insurance companies; SCR Ratios; Insurance companies; Insurance; Solvency; Liquidity risk; Financial conglomerates; Europe
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
France: Financial System Stability Assessment
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
This Financial System Stability Assessment paper on France provides summary of an assessment of the financial system. Dominated by internationally active financial conglomerates, the French financial system has made important progress since the last financial stability assessment program (FSAP). In order to address a build-up of systemic risks, the authorities have proactively used macroprudential measures and public communication. The government is pursuing a strategy to prepare Paris as a key financial hub, including by promoting crypto-assets, fintech, green finance, and market entry. Banking and insurance business lines, and the corporate sector, carry important financial vulnerabilities that need close attention. The FSAP thus has recommended augmenting policy tools to contain vulnerabilities and continue to act pre-emptively if systemic risks intensify. In order to mitigate intensification of corporate—and potentially household—vulnerabilities, the FSAP proposed: active engagement with the European Central Bank on the possible use of bank-specific measures; considering fiscal measures to incentivize corporates to finance through equity rather than debt; and a sectoral systemic risk buffer.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; asset; return on equity; bank; financial system; U.S. dollar; debt service; real GDP; monetary policy; banking sector; asset quality; Insurance companies; Insurance; Stress testing; Financial statements; Liquidity requirements; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Euro Area Policies: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note-Insurance, Investment Firm, and Macroprudential Oversight
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
While national authorities are still largely responsible for supervising the nonbank sector and applying the macroprudential framework, European Union (EU)-level organizations’ supervisory role is growing. Further convergence and strengthening of supervision of insurers and investment firms is consistent with the goals of an EU single market and financial stability. The macroprudential framework functions well but could be simplified and expanded to cover aspects of the nonbank sector.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; interest rate; single market; coverage ratio; credit institution; financial activity; market structure; parent company; group assets; Insurance companies; Insurance; Solvency; Macroprudential policy; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
France: Selected Issues
International Monetary Fund. European Dept.
This Selected Issues paper analyzes expenditure reforms in France. After decades of rising public spending and successive tax increases, the medium-term fiscal consolidation path described in the 2015 Stability Program is now fully expenditure based. However, recent efforts of nominal spending containment have not delivered the intended savings in the context of low growth and inflation. A thorough review of the efficiency of public spending could help prepare more fundamental reforms of spending programs and processes to underpin a lasting reduction in expenditures, which reached a record high of 57.2 percent of GDP in 2014.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; center; local government; product market reform; bank; pay; product market regulation; social spending; growth ceiling; targeted expenditure review; Labor markets; Employment; Minimum wages; Unemployment; Europe; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
France: 2013 Article IV Consultation
International Monetary Fund. European Dept.
This 2013 Article IV Consultation highlights that in a context of weakening economic conditions in Europe and sizeable fiscal consolidation and domestic policy uncertainty, the French economy flat lined in 2012. However, recent improvements in economic indicators support the expectation of a gradual recovery in the second half of 2013. Credit conditions remain supportive, and private demand is unencumbered by balance sheet repair issues and thus more apt to respond favorably to an improvement in confidence. The economy is projected to contract by 0.2 percent in 2013 and to grow by 0.8 percent in 2014.
Keywords:
government projection; General government balance; policy uncertainty; structural adjustment; potential GDP; supervisory authorities; Labor markets; Loans; Insurance; Securities; Europe; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
France: Financial Sector Assessment Program—Detailed Assessment of Observance of Insurance Core Principles
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
This paper discusses key findings of the Detailed Assessment of Observance of Insurance Core Principles for France. The assessment reveals that insurance regulation and supervision are still predominantly carried out using a Solvency I approach. The insurance sector remained resilient through the recent global financial crisis. A thorough approach to assessing insurer technical provisions and their coverage by admissible assets has led to financially sound insurers. Individual French insurance companies have not needed any government or industry support.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; risk management; financial crisis; Société Générale; Solvency II; discount rate; internal audit; senior management; solvency report; insurance group; insurance undertaking; insurance supervision; Insurance companies; Insurance; Solvency; Insurance supervision; Internal controls; Europe; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
France: Financial System Stability Assessment
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
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 III Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital targets during 2013, and have divested noncore assets. The banks are increasing their liquidity and reducing their dependence on short-term and U.S. dollar wholesale funding. IMF staff recommends timely feedback and strengthened follow-up mechanisms in the supervisory process.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; interest rate; bank spread; French bank; bank equity price; financial crisis; Société Générale; banks bottom up; financial institution; bank cross-holdings; bank recapitalization purpose; banking system; bank capital; covered bond; bank basis; Insurance; Solvency; Insurance companies; Stress testing; Global; Europe