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

Middle East and Central Asia > Saudi Arabia

You are looking at 1 - 10 of 82 items for :

  • Type: Journal Issue x
Clear All Modify Search
Cover Departmental Papers
Assessing Banking Sector Vulnerabilities in the Gulf Cooperation Council in the Wake of COVID-19
Abdullah Al-Hassan
,
Imen Benmohamed
,
Aidyn Bibolov
,
Giovanni Ugazio
, and
Ms. Tian Zhang
The Gulf Cooperation Council region faced a significant economic toll from the COVID-19 pandemic and oil price shocks in 2020. Policymakers responded to the pandemic with decisive and broad measures to support households and businesses and mitigate the long-term impact on the economy. Financial vulnerabilities have been generally contained, reflecting ongoing policy support and the rebound in economic activity and oil prices, as well as banks entering the COVID-19 crisis with strong capital, liquidity, and profitability. The banking systems remained well-capitalized, but profitability and asset quality were adversely affected. Ongoing COVID-19 policy support could also obscure deterioration in asset quality. Policymakers need to continue to strike a balance between supporting recovery and mitigating risks to financial stability, including ensuring that banks’ buffers are adequate to withstand prolonged pandemic and withdrawal of COVID-related policy support measures. Addressing data gaps would help policymakers to further assess vulnerabilities and mitigate sectoral risks.
Keywords:
COVID-19; banking performance; corporates performance; sovereign-banks-economy nexus; bank asset quality; oil price shock; policy support; assessing banking sector vulnerability; C. bank assets quality; Financial statements; Commercial banks; Loans; Credit; Global; Middle East
Cover International Monetary Fund Annual Report 2017 Financial Statements
International Monetary Fund Annual Report 2017 Financial Statements
International Monetary Fund

Abstract

The audited consolidated financial statements of the International Monetary Fund as of April 30, 2017 and 2016 include the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income, of changes in reserves, resources, and retained earnings, and of cash flows for the years then ended. The IMF’s financial statements were audited by external auditing firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLC, which certified that they were prepared and presented in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. The standards include the design, implementation, and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of consolidated financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

Keywords:
AR; AREA; financial statement; SDR; SDR Department; financial year; interest rate; audit evidence; IMF's unit of account; reserve account; credit risk; exchange rate risk; Financial statements; Currencies; Credit; Income; Loans; Africa; Global; Middle East and Central Asia; Asia and Pacific; Western Hemisphere; Europe
Cover International Monetary Fund Annual Report 2016 Financial Statements
International Monetary Fund Annual Report 2016 Financial Statements
International Monetary Fund

Abstract

This paper outlines that the IMF is exposed to various types of operational and financial risks, including credit, market, liquidity, and income risks. The Executive Board of the IMF has overall responsibility for the establishment and oversight of the IMF’s risk management framework. The risk management framework encompasses primarily strategic, financial, and operational risks. As part of this framework, the Advisory Committee on Risk Management (ACRM) has been established to analyze, synthesize, and report on risks. Credit risk on credit outstanding refers to potential losses owing to the failure of member countries to make repurchases. Credit risk is inherent in the IMF's unique role in the international monetary system since the IMF has limited ability to diversify its loan portfolio and generally provides financing when other sources are not available to a member. Measures to help mitigate the IMF's credit risk include policies on access limits, program design, monitoring, and economic policies that members agree to follow as a condition for IMF financing; early repurchase policies; and preventative, precautionary, remedial measures and precautionary balances to cope with the financial consequences of protracted arrears.

Keywords:
AR; AREA; financial statement; consolidated financial statement; PRG trust; net interest; audit evidence; net cash; accompanying note; Financial statements; Currencies; Personal income; Loans; Credit; Africa; Asia and Pacific; Global; Middle East and Central Asia; Western Hemisphere
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Jordan: Request for an Extended Arrangement Under the Extended Fund Facility-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Jordan
International Monetary Fund. Middle East and Central Asia Dept.
This paper discusses Jordan’s Request for an extended arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF). The economic growth of Jordan remains below potential. Unemployment is high, particularly for youth and women, and the refugee crisis is weighing on the economy and public finances. Real GDP growth is projected to increase to 2.8 percent in 2016, supported by lower oil prices relative to their 2014 peak, an accommodative monetary stance, and some recovery in private investment. In view of Jordan’s balance of payment needs, the policy actions already taken, and the comprehensive package of adjustment measures proposed by the authorities, the IMF staff supports the authorities’ request for an extended arrangement under the EFF.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; reform program; refugee; deficit; indirect cost; electricity company NEPCO; NEPCO; IMF quota; government balance; economic reform reform program; Syrian refugee; Government debt management; Fiscal consolidation; Loans; Global; Europe; Middle East; Africa
Cover IMF Working Papers
The Impact of Oil Prices on the Banking System in the GCC
Padamja Khandelwal
,
Mr. Ken Miyajima
, and
Mr. Andre O Santos
This paper examines the links between global oil price movements and macroeconomic and financial developments in the GCC. Using a range of multivariate panel approaches, including a panel vector autoregression approach, it finds strong empirical evidence of feedback loops between oil price movements, bank balance sheets, and asset prices. Empirical evidence also suggests that bank capital and provisioning have behaved countercyclically through the cycle.
Keywords:
WP; NPL ratio; oil price; price growth; GCC bank; Macro-financial linkages; nonperforming loans; panel vector autoregression; asset price appreciation; bank asset quality; Oil prices; Credit; Financial cycles; Capital adequacy requirements; Global
Cover IMF Working Papers
An Empirical Investigation of Oil-Macro-Financial Linkages in Saudi Arabia
Mr. Ken Miyajima
Oil-macro-financial linkages in Saudi Arabia are analyzed by applying panel econometric frameworks (multivariate and vector autoregression) to maceoeconomic and bank-level balance sheet data for 9 banks spanning 1999–2014. Lower growth of oil prices and non-oil private sector output leads to slower credit and deposit growth and higher nonperforming loan ratios, with feedback loops within bank balance sheets which in turn dampens economic activity. U.S. interest rates are not found to be a key determinant.
Keywords:
WP; price; bank; private sector; NPL ratio; Macro-financial linkages; nonperforming loans; panel vector autoregression; oil price; price growth; Brent crude; bank npls; solvency risk; equity price; Oil prices; Credit; Financial statements; Stocks; Middle East; North Africa; East Africa; Eastern Europe; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Kuwait: Selected Issues
International Monetary Fund. Middle East and Central Asia Dept.
This Selected Issues paper analyzes energy price reform in Kuwait. It emphasizes that Kuwait should take advantage of current low global energy prices to strengthen efforts to reform domestic energy prices. In the longer term, this would benefit growth by increasing efficiency in the economy and creating space for higher public and private investment. In the short-term, one-off effects on inflation should be manageable. Productive activities more sensitive to energy costs, particularly the transport sector, would be able to adjust to higher energy prices more easily if the reform is gradual.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; firm; price; debt; companies debt; energy price; real estate; transport company; installments loan; beverages company; wage subsidy; Energy prices; Inflation; Labor markets; Employment; Fuel prices; Global; Asia and Pacific; Europe; Africa
Cover Policy Papers
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)—Oil Prices, Financial Stability, and the Use of Countercyclical Macroprudential Policies in the GCC
International Monetary Fund
Economic and financial developments in the GCC economies are interwoven with oil price movements. GCC economies are highly dependent on oil and gas exports. Oil price upturns lead to higher oil revenues, stronger fiscal and external positions, and higher government spending. This boosts corporate profitability and equity prices and strengthens bank balance sheets, but can also lead to the buildup of systemic vulnerabilities in the financial sector. Banks in the GCC are well-capitalized, liquid, and profitable at present, and well-positioned to manage structural systemic risks. However, oil-macro-financial linkages mean that asset quality and liquidity in the financial system may deteriorate in a low oil price environment and financial sector stress may emerge. The scope for amplification of oil price shocks through the financial sector suggests a role for a countercyclical approach to macroprudential policies. Countercyclical macroprudential policy can prove useful to reduce the buildup of systemic risks in the financial sector during upswings, and to cushion against disruption to financial services during periods of financial sector stress. The GCC countries have considerable experience with implementing a wide range of macroprudential policies, but these policies have not generally been adjusted through the cycle. GCC central banks implemented several macroprudential measures before the global financial crisis and have continued to enhance their macroprudential frameworks and toolkits to limit systemic financial sector risks. Although there is some evidence of macroprudential tools being adjusted in a countercyclical way, most of the tools have not been adjusted over the financial cycle. Further enhancements to the GCC macroprudential framework are needed to support the countercyclical use of these policies. A comprehensive and established framework, supported by strong institutional capacity, is essential for countercyclical macroprudential policies. This framework should provide clear assignment of responsibilities and guidance on how policies will be implemented to maintain financial stability and manage systemic risks over the financial cycle. Addressing data gaps and the further development of reliable early warning indicators in signaling potential systemic stress are needed to help guide the countercyclical use of a broad set of macroprudential policies. Expanding the countercyclical policy toolkit and its coverage can help address emerging financial sector risks. The implementation of countercyclical capital buffers and dynamic loan loss provisions could boost resilience in line with systemic risks faced in GCC economies. At the same time, using existing macroprudential policies countercyclically would prove useful to address emerging financial sector risks in a more targeted way. Expanding the coverage of macroprudential tools to nonbanks can help boost effectiveness by reducing leakages.
Keywords:
PP; oil price; GCC country; GCC bank; GCC economy; GCC business cycle; financial system; Oil prices; Macroprudential policy; Macroprudential policy instruments; Financial sector risk; Nonperforming loans; Global
Cover IMF Working Papers
How Does Bank Competition Affect Solvency, Liquidity and Credit Risk? Evidence from the MENA Countries
Raja Almarzoqi
,
Samy Ben Naceur
, and
Alessandro Scopelliti
The paper analyzes the relationship between bank competition and stability, with a specific focus on the Middle East and North Africa. Price competition has a positive effect on bank liquidity, as it induces self-discipline incentives on banks for the choice of bank funding sources and for the holding of liquid assets. On the other hand, price competition may have a potentially negative impact on bank solvency and on the credit quality of the loan portfolio. More competitive banks may be less solvent if the potential increase in the equity base—due to capital adjustments—is not large enough to compensate for the reduction in bank profitability. Also, banks subject to stronger competitive pressures may have a higher rate of nonperforming loans, if the increase in the risk-taking incentives from the lender’s side overcomes the decrease in the credit risk from the borrower’s side. In both cases, country-specific policies for market entry conditions—and for bank regulation and supervision—may significantly affect the sign and the size of the relationship. The paper suggests policy reforms designed to improve market contestability and to increase the quality and independence of prudential supervision.
Keywords:
WP; bank competition; bank regulation; Solvency; Liquidity; Credit Risk; Supervision; market share; bank market power; bank risk; liquidity position; incumbent bank; bank assets; bank liquidity; bank capital ratio; bank capital; bank portfolio; decisions bank; Competition; Bank solvency; Islamic banking; Nonperforming loans; North Africa; East Africa; Middle East; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
United Arab Emirates: Selected Issues
International Monetary Fund. Middle East and Central Asia Dept.
This Selected Issues paper discusses measures to strengthen fiscal policy and budget frameworks in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It provides an overview of government’s revenue and expenditure developments, and presents fiscal sustainability analysis that is most relevant to countries with large hydrocarbon wealth such as the UAE. The paper discusses measures to contain expenditure growth—controlling the public wage bill, reducing subsidies and transfers, and stabilizing other expense in real terms. It also proposes options to increase nonhydrocarbon revenue such as broadening corporate income tax with lower rates, introducing a low rate-broad based value added tax, and levying an excise tax on automobiles.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; government; small and medium enterprise; bank; funding; revenue; country authorities; guarantee scheme; portfolio consist; SME access; government expense; rating agency; Small and medium enterprises; Budget planning and preparation; Credit; Energy subsidies; Loans; Middle East; North Africa; East Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Global