Narrow Your Choices

Refine By Topic

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

Europe > Iceland

You are looking at 1 - 10 of 205 items for :

  • Type: Journal Issue x
  • Business and Economics x
Clear All Modify Search
Cover Global Financial Stability Notes
Pension Funds and Financial Stability
This Global Financial Stability Note examines the growth of the pension fund sector and the potential financial stability implications. Historically, pension funds have been seen as a contributor to financial stability because of their long-term and well-diversified liabilities. However, the sector has undergone significant structural shifts accelerated by a prolonged period of low interest rates, increasing its exposure to traditional risks while introducing emerging risks; this is reflected in growing intra-financial sector interconnectedness and exposure to long-term sovereign bonds. The recent transition to higher interest rates should be positive for the pension sector, albeit its pace and abruptness has been associated with liquidity stress and contagion risks in some countries.
Keywords:
Pension Funds; Financial Stability; Assets; Risks; Pension Plans; major pension fund sector; IMF Library; major pension savings market; structural liquidity; asset-liability duration mismatch; risk analysis; Pension spending; Pensions; Financial sector stability; Liquidity risk; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Iceland: Selected Issues
International Monetary Fund. European Dept.
This Selected Issues paper presents a pilot study on integrated policy framework (IPF) in Iceland. The IPF helps assess the appropriate policy responses to shocks for economies vulnerable to capital flow volatility, allowing for some market frictions. Iceland is an advanced economy pilot under the IPF with some of the frictions identified under the IPF framework. The Central Bank of Iceland implements an inflation targeting regime with the possibility of currency intervention within its mandate. The foreign exchange (FX) market in Iceland is assessed to be shallower than in other advanced economies, especially around episodes of global economic and financial stress. Foreign currency assets are mainly due to portfolio allocation of the large pension sector. The authorities should explore options to deepen the foreign currency derivatives market in a manner consistent with continued foreign exchange market stability. Iceland has a history of disruptive speculative foreign currency trading, which points to the need for moving cautiously with reforms to deepening the FX derivatives market. Reforms that could be explored include reassessing the limits on commercial banks’ derivative transactions. This would encourage greater participation of foreign investors in the domestic bond market and facilitate hedging of FX risk, thereby reducing the likelihood of disruptive exchange rate movements.
Keywords:
inflation expectation; FX Market shallowness; QIPF model; Iceland pilot study; staff team of the International Monetary Fund; Currency markets; Inflation; Central bank policy rate; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Iceland: 2024 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; and Staff Report
International Monetary Fund. European Dept.
The 2024 Article IV Consultation with Iceland highlights that following an impressive recovery from shocks in recent years, tight monetary and fiscal policies have slowed domestic demand growth, strengthened the current account, and started to lower inflationary pressures. A coordinated tightening of macroeconomic policies has successfully narrowed domestic and external imbalances built up during the post-pandemic period. Appropriately tight macroeconomic policies are expected to dampen economic growth in the near term, while medium-term growth prospects are favorable. Reactivation of the fiscal rules in 2026 presents an opportunity to revisit their design to ensure fiscal policy is both sustainable and contributes to macroeconomic stability. An application of the IMF’s Integrated Policy Framework to Iceland suggests some benefits of foreign exchange interventions during times of stress. Structural policies should focus on gradually reducing state involvement in collective wage bargaining, accelerating the green transition, and further diversifying the economy.
Keywords:
monetary policy stance; holdings of SDR; calibrating Policy; inflation expectation; EU regulations-credit bureaus; Inflation; Central bank policy rate; Housing prices; Fiscal rules; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
St. Kitts and Nevis: Selected Issues
International Monetary Fund. Western Hemisphere Dept.
This Selected Issues paper on St. Kitts and Nevis studies economic benefits from energy transition. Cheaper and more stable energy prices can support macroeconomic stability. In addition to the aforementioned effects, low and stable energy prices can mitigate the adverse impact from terms-of-trade shocks and reduce inflation volatility, thus contributing to smoothing out economic cycles. The energy landscape of St. Kitts and Nevis calls for energy reform. The two islands of St. Kitts and Nevis rely heavily on fossil fuels, primarily diesel, to power their grids without Interconnection. The analysis uses cross-country examples to examine the channels through which the adoption of renewable energy on a large scale can yield numerous long-term economic benefits. Transitioning to domestic renewable energy sources could stabilize domestic energy prices and reduce the volatility of inflation. A sharp reduction in energy costs in St. Kitts and Nevis could promote sectoral diversification. High-energy costs can prohibit economic diversification, particularly into energy intensive industries.
Keywords:
energy transition index; staff team of the International Monetary Fund; carbon capture in St. Kitts and Nevis; inflation volatility; copyright page; Renewable energy; Electricity; Energy prices; Non-renewable resources; Caribbean; Global
Cover High-Level Summary Technical Assistance Reports
Project Summary: Nordic-Baltic Technical Assistance Project – Financial Flows Analysis, AML/CFT Supervision, and Financial Stability
Ms. Grace Jackson
,
Maksym Markevych
,
Antoine Bouveret
,
Pierre Bardin
,
Alexander S Malden
,
Santiago Texidor Mora
, and
Indulekha Thomas
This paper focuses on the summary of Nordic-Baltic Regional Technical Assistance Project Financial Flows Analysis, Anti-Money Laundering and combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Supervision, and Financial Stability. Various international banking scandals concerning AML/CFT breaches have taken place in the Nordic Baltic region, with far-reaching financial and reputational consequences. Financial integrity issues could potentially present risks to financial stability in the short and medium term. The depth of geographic ML/TF risk analysis and understanding differs among the Nordic-Baltic countries. There has been clear investment in ML/TF risk models across the region, but some gaps remain, notably, advanced data collection and analysis. Quantifying the financial stability impact of money laundering shocks is an understudied area. AML/CFT regimes in the region would benefit from better understanding of the ML threats associated with cross-border financial flows and nonresident activities. In order to address cross-border AML vulnerabilities, efforts to enhance the supervisory understanding of ML risks, strengthen the risk-based supervision of banks and crypto asset service providers, and deepen cooperation should continue.
Keywords:
Anti-Money Laundering; Combatting the Financing of Terrorism; Money Laundering Shocks; Financial Stability; Illicit Financial Flows; Machine Learning; and Risk-Based Supervision
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Iceland: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note on Management and Supervision of Climate-Related Financial Risks in the Banking Sector
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
This technical note on Iceland presents analyses management and supervision of climate-related financial risks in the banking sector. The Icelandic authorities are committed to addressing climate change issues and reaching ambitious objectives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Domestic coordination with the Central Bank of Iceland (CBI) should be enhanced to support adequate consideration of climate-related financial risks within the financial sector. CBI should as soon as possible address the data quality and availability issues on climate-related financial risks. CBI has started to incorporate climate-related financial risks within the macroprudential surveillance and supervisory processes. The intensity and thoroughness of systematic supervision of climate-related financial risks within the banking sector should be gradually increased. In addition, banks should fully incorporate climate-related financial risks into their risk management frameworks in addition to their commendable efforts toward transparency. Finally, CBI should determine whether banks’ capital and liquidity buffers are adequate to cover climate-related financial risks.
Keywords:
climate-related financial risks; government initiative; EU norm; Climate-Related Financial risk; Iceland's strategy; Climate change; Commercial banks; External balance assessment (EBA); Credit risk; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Iceland: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note on Financial Safety Net Crisis Management
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
This technical note focuses on financial safety net crisis management in Iceland. This paper assesses and makes recommendations regarding the different elements of the financial safety net in Iceland. The scope of the assessment includes the institutional arrangements for recovery, resolution, and crisis management; the oversight of banks’ recovery plans; the legal regime for bank bankruptcy and resolution; resolution planning by the authorities; the funding mechanism to support resolution; the deposit guarantee scheme; and the government authorities’ collective preparedness to deal with financial crises. The current institutional framework for crisis management lacks formal involvement of the Ministry of Finance. The regime for banks that are systemic adheres to the internationally agreed resolution standards. The legal regime for bankruptcy and liquidation of banks that are not systemic is sound. The Deposit Guarantee Fund should be strengthened in line with EU requirements of the Deposit Guarantee Scheme Directive. Finally, the authorities’ collective contingency planning for financial crisis (including testing of plans) should be intensified.
Keywords:
B. bank insolvency; recovery planning; financial crisis preparedness; asset portfolio; market funding; resolution plan; Bank resolution framework; Lender of last resort; Bank resolution; Financial sector stability; Baltics; Europe
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Iceland: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note on Cyber and Operational Resilience, Supervision and Oversight
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
This technical note focuses on cyber and operational resilience, supervision and oversight in Iceland. The Icelandic financial sector has not experienced seriously disruptive cyber-attacks or operational issues in recent years, but threats are growing. Iceland’s dependence on international connectivity for both debit and credit card systems introduces a significant vulnerability into the payment system. There is no dedicated cyber security strategy for the finance sector. Operational risk experts in the Central Bank of Iceland (CBI) are experienced and well regarded by financial institutions, but more resources are needed to provide adequate coverage of this increasingly important area. The supervision of financial institutions’ cybersecurity is highly dependent on self-assessments by the regulated entities themselves and independent reviews carried out by third parties. CBI should regularly revise the list of critical operations and critical service providers for internal use and for presentation to the Financial Stability Committee and Financial Stability Council. CBI is encouraged to enhance its incident dashboard by summarizing cyber incidents and examining trends.
Keywords:
C. supervision approach; payment services directive; markets authority; market infrastructure; cash payment; Cyber risk; Financial sector stability; Financial sector; Payment systems; Operational risk; Europe; Baltics; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Iceland: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note on Macroprudential Policy
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
This technical note highlights macroprudential policy in Iceland. Macroprudential policy in Iceland recently has centered on the property market, given the importance of this market for households’ balance sheets, banks’ loan portfolios, and the potential systemic risks. The Central Bank of Iceland (CBI) has a strong institutional framework for macroprudential policy, assuring the willingness to act. The macroprudential framework also promotes the ability to act promptly. As the financial supervisor, the CBI has control over prudential tools; it may exercise its power as necessary to ensure financial stability. The institutional arrangements encourage effective cooperation and coordination with other institutions. CBI surveillance and systemic risk assessment rely on comprehensive quantitative information and constructive dialogue with the industry as well as on various models and stress tests. The strong analytical capacity for systemic risk monitoring can be further enhanced by filling data gaps and enriching models. While recent measures go in the right direction, the authorities should stand ready to take further actions if vulnerabilities persist.
Keywords:
capital markets department; Macroprudential decision making; housing market Mispricing; house price misalignment; CBI share; Financial sector stability; Macroprudential policy; Systemic risk; Loans; Mortgages; Global; Baltics
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Iceland: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note on Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism
International Monetary Fund. European Dept.
This technical note analyses anti-money laundering/combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) in Iceland. Iceland’s banking sector is comparatively small, and the geographical reach of cross-border payments activity is limited. The AML/CFT supervisory understanding and assessment of ML and terrorism financing (TF) risks in the banking sector has improved in recent years. Further refinements to the supervisory risk assessment tools and increased data collection will enhance the accuracy of the authorities’ focus for AML/CFT risk-based supervision of banks. Iceland has taken significant steps to establish a registration regime for virtual asset service providers (VASP) established in or operating in the country, however, efforts should continue to detect unlicensed activities. Going forward, a continued focus on thematic inspections would be a welcome. In some instances, the pace of completion of inspections has been slow. To drive meaningful change in the levels of AML/CFT compliance and the effectiveness of AML/CFT controls in banks (in particular, enterprise ML/TF risk assessment, customer due diligence, and suspicious transaction reporting), an enhanced supervisory presence through more frequent onsite activities and an increased pace in the completion of inspections would be beneficial.
Keywords:
TF risk assessment model; FSAP's finding; TF risk assessment; swift data; supervision of bank; Anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT); Financial Sector Assessment Program; Terrorism financing; Commercial banks; Correspondent banking; Baltics; Global