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By proposing a novel continuous and time-varying measure of Sharia compliance, we investigate whether it enhances the effects of corporate social responsibility, proxied by Environmental-Social-Governance scores, on firms' equity costs and market risks in emerging countries. We construct a large dataset of non-financial listed firms incorporated in eighteen emerging markets, both Sharia-compliant and conventional (4612 firm-year observations from 2002 to 2018), finding a consistent, statistically significant, and negative association between the interaction of ESG scores and the Sharia sensitivity with the cost of equity. Moreover, we reveal that this negative relationship is mediated by firms' market risk (risk channel).

The issue of market risks management in investment companies is being updated and gaining importance in recent years, due to frequent crises and shocks in the financial markets. The application of the normative and comparative method in work analyzes the exposure of investment companies business to market risks. The paper points out the importance of determining market risks, as well as the types of market risks to which investment companies are exposed, and the importance of introducing new solutions adopted in the European legislation. The application of the proposed solutions based on qualitative and quantitative measures should enable both investment companies surviving on the capital market and providing adequate legal protection to investors. Therefore, the paper emphasizes the need for identifying and early recognition of market risks in investment companies, proposing appropriate measures, assessments and models for managing market risks in the investment companies.

In the face of the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, it is essential to stabilize the security of urban “shopping baskets”. Through a survey and interviews with 46 agricultural cooperatives in Shanghai, this paper analyzes the impact of the pandemic on vegetable production and offers suggestions on agricultural insurance. The research results show that: (1) the pandemic has impacted almost all stages of the vegetable supply chain but has had a greater impact on the sales stage; (2) the market risks of vegetable production have increased significantly, and the gap between the field price and the market price has widened. The sales price difference between traditional channels and e-commerce is notable; (3) farmers' incomes have generally declined due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and traditional small-scale farmers have suffered more losses; and (4) agricultural insurance plays an important role in stabilizing the supply of vegetables to the city. To minimize the impact of the pandemic on vegetable production and to stabilize both urban “shopping baskets” and farmers' incomes, it is necessary to further improve agricultural insurance, especially to provide insurance against market risks.

Using a large and extended global dataset of non-financial firms (4624 listed entities from 2002 to 2018), we provide the first empirical evidence on how ESG and Sharia screenings interact and influence market risks. We link two contrasting literature streams: the risk reduction role that the stakeholder theory attributes to ESG scores, and the opposite effect for Sharia-compliance anticipated by the portfolio and agency theories. We find that when ESG scores are not considered, Sharia certification increases risks. We also prove that engagement in sustainable activities mitigates risks for both Sharia-compliant and conventional firms. More interestingly, we show that Sharia-compliant firms obtain a larger risk-mitigating effect for greater levels of ESG scores. These results are robust to endogeneity and to extensive additional checks. Our findings validate the hypothesized complementarity between ESG and Sharia screenings.

Energy mineral resource markets are represented by complex supply and demand ratios which are depending on different factors such as technical (transport) and geopolitical. The main characteristic of energy markets is represented by an uneven geographic distribution of hydrocarbon reserves and production on one hand, and energy consumption on the other. World oil markets, although geographically localized, because of specific market trade, represent a unique global market with a decreasing price difference. Price differences are the result of the development of transport possibilities of oil supply. The development of transport routes of natural gas and an increasing number of liquefied natural gas terminals in the world give pressure to the natural gas market and its integration into the global gas market. The integration of regional gas markets into a common European gas market is the main energy policy of EU concerning natural gas. On the other hand, there are still significant price differences on some markets (e.g. United States of America - South East Asia). The development of global energy markets is enabled by the development of futures and options contracts of an energy trade which have replaced bilateral contract deals between producers and consumers. Futures contracts are standardized contracts traded on exchanges. A buyer agrees to buy a certain quantity of stock for an agreed upon price and with some future delivery date. An option is a contract which gives a buyer the option of the right to buy (or sell, depending on the option) an asset at a predetermined price and at a later date. A stock’s price risk can be managed with the purchase and selling futures and options contracts. This paper deals with futures and options energy markets and their market strategies.

This report consists of two parts: Part 1 presents a review of recent economic developments and a macroeconomic outlook. Part 2 focuses in greater depth on a special, selected topic relevant to Malawi's development prospects. This report focuses on agricultural risk management. Malawi is now set to suffer a second year of poor harvests due to the effects of a drought that is sweeping Southern Africa. This drought has had a serious impact both on the economy and on food security, requiring a major humanitarian response. The current situation underscores Malawi's serious need to improve the resilience of the agricultural sector and to develop a better system of risk management. With the country expected to continue to face climate-induced shocks into the future, it is vital that the Government considers how best to mitigate the impact of such shocks. In 2015 Malawi recorded a GDP growth rate of just 2.8 percent, with this low rate the result of both adverse weather conditions and macroeconomic instability. Flooding in southern districts followed by a countrywide drought resulted in a contraction in agricultural production. Maize, the key crop in terms of food security, recorded a 30.2 percent year-on-year drop in production. As a result, an estimated 2.8 million people (17 percent of the population) were unable to meet their 2015/16 food requirements.

One of the challenges facing the energy industry today is how to improve investment attractiveness and business competitiveness in energy generation. It is becoming particularly important to enhance the sectoral risk management systems in order to ensure long-term growth and sustainable development in the energy sector amidst numerous factors and uncertainties created by the globalization of the financial markets. This paper presents the authors’ approach to assessing sectoral risks in the energy industry based on capital management for the purpose of achieving a certain level of long-term financial stability. The practicalities of applying the proposed approach to sectoral risk assessment are considered using a power generation company as an example. © 2014 WIT Press.

This note discusses the stress tests that were carried out on Moldova’s banking system as part of the 2014 financial sector assessment program (FSAP) update. The objective of this exercise was to assess the resilience of the banking system to major sources of risk. The stress tests were conducted in collaboration with the National Bank of Moldova (NBM), and complement other approaches, such as the analysis of financial indicators and the assessment of the quality of supervision. The stress tests focused on the banking system and covered all 14 banks operating in the country. Four macroeconomic scenarios were considered in the financial stability assessment. The stress tests include a comprehensive assessment of risk factors. Potential credit risk losses on the loan book represent the most important risk factor for the banking system. The stress tests also assessed the liquidity in foreign currency, and yielded similar results. However, there are a couple of banks whose ability to meet the liquidity norms is based on relatively large-scale cross-border interbank placements, and there are some doubts about the genuine liquidity of these positions. This note is structured as follows: section one gives executive summary; section two presents a brief description of the banking sector in Moldova and stress test coverage; section three describes the macroeconomic scenarios used in the stress tests; section four details the different methodologies used in the solvency stress tests; section five describes the liquidity stress tests; and section six concludes.

Different approaches to defining dynamic market risk measures are available in the literature. Most are focused or derived from probability theory, economic behavior or dynamic programming. Here, we propose an approach to define and implement dynamic market risk measures based on recursion and state economy representation. The proposed approach is to be implementable and to inherit properties from static market risk measures., Comment: 16 pages, 3 figures

For many years, microfinance has been the poster child of governments, policymakers, and international organizations with the goal of lifting millions of people out of poverty. The notion that microfinance can pursue and achieve the intertwined goals of development and financial profitability without friction predominated. This dual opportunity, combined with a huge untapped market for financial services at the bottom of the pyramid attracted large amounts of funding from international capital markets, triggering unprecedented levels of growth. Until the global financial crisis, the sustainability of the resulting market growth had not been significantly questioned. As the crisis unfolded during the end of 2007, there seemed to be consensus among microfinance practitioners, analysts, and other industry experts that this crisis will be different. The microfinance industry braced itself for anticipated liquidity crunches, increase in costs of funds, and foreign exchange, as well as a sharp rise in portfolio arrears. This paper will: review recent publications that have drawn conclusions on the effects of the global financial crisis based on empirical data research; draw the conclusion that proper governance and risk management systems are essential and can have avoided many of the problems specific microfinance institutions (MFIs) faced during the financial crisis; and highlight Basel framework sections relevant to MFIs and demonstrate how these can be applied to strengthen MFIs.

Despite an unfavourable global economy, economic growth in Bangladesh is projected at close to 6 percent in fiscal 2013 (FY13). Adverse external demand and domestic supply constraints continue to be a drag on growth. Shortfalls in exports and investments due to a possible protracted crisis in the euro area and internal supply constraints may underpin the moderation of growth. Investment targets of the medium term budget framework 2013 to 2017 face major obstacles in shortage of electricity and gas supplies, and poorly functioning roads and ports. One positive prospect on the investment front is the increase in foreign direct investment in FY12, which surpassed the US$ 1 billion for the second time in Bangladesh's history. Fiscal policy is back on track. Fiscal performance in FY12 was favourable, notwithstanding increasing subsidies. The overall budget deficit in FY12 is estimated at 4.5 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Domestic financing of the deficit declined to 3.2 percent of GDP, from 3.5 percent in FY11. Lower government borrowing from the banking system in the second half of FY12 was a welcome reversal from worrying trends in the first half of the year. The FY13 budget deficit target 5 percent of GDP is modest, though higher than the estimated 4.5 percent of FY12, and is likely to be undershot primarily because of a shortfall in the implementation of the ambitious Tk 550 billion annual development programs, by now a familiar pattern. However, the financing of the deficit may be a challenge with a projected US$2.2 billion net external financing need, substantially more than the $1.4 billion of the revised FY12 budget. The rest of the deficit is projected to be financed from domestic sources, with a still heavy 69 percent reliance on bank borrowing. Bangladesh's economic outlook is subject to several near-term risks. Possible intensification of the euro area crisis may deepen Bangladesh's export slump of the last six months; escalation of global food prices may reverse the recent decline in food inflation; global oil price shock will place the balance of payments under pressure again and shrink fiscal space; banks are susceptible to credit and market risk and the global economic vulnerabilities; and increased political instability and labour unrest may depress investments further.

Indonesian financial sector comprises banks, multi-finance companies, capital market companies, insurance companies, and pension funds. The banking sector accounts for about 80 percent of the financial sector assets. It is dominated by 121 commercial banks, which account for about 98.6 percent of total banking assets (including 5 sharia banks accounting for 1.8 percent market share), with rural banks comprising the remainder of the banking system (about 1.4 percent market share). Bank Indonesia (BI), the central bank, is responsible for regulation and supervision of the banking system. The assessment of compliance with the Basel Core Principles for Effective Banking Supervision (BCP) was carried out within the framework of the Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) between September 29 and October 16, 2009.

The global financial crisis severely affected economies in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ECA). Currencies depreciated across the region. Government tax revenues declined sharply leading to high budget deficits and rising levels of public debt. Tightening credit supply and deteriorating financial conditions have limited the ability to borrow in the public and private sector. The financial crisis slowed demand enough to delay an imminent energy shortage by a few years. In this sense, the financial crisis bought ECA countries some time. This report analyzes the impacts of the global financial crisis on power sectors in five countries in the ECA region: Armenia, Kyrgyz Republic, Romania, Serbia and Ukraine. It estimates the investment gap and proposes a prioritization of critical investments in each country. The report also proposes actions needed to mobilize financing for the sector, including a continued commitment to legal, regulatory and policy reform in the sector. The global financial crisis has created a window of opportunity to meet investment needs and avert a potential power shortage, but Governments need to recognize and act on this opportunity. This report serves as a starting point to facilitate further World Bank engagement in the region that can help Governments make timely, critical investments and foster sustainable investment in the sector over the long-term.

This assessment of the Basel Core Principles (BCP) was conducted as part of the financial sector assessment program (FSAP) update evaluation of the El Salvador financial system from April 22 to May 10, 2010. The supervisory framework was assessed against the BCP methodology issued in October 2006. The assessment of compliance with each principle is made on a qualitative basis. A four-part assessment system is used: compliant; largely compliant; materially noncompliant; and noncompliant. A largely compliant assessment is given if only minor shortcomings are observed, and these are not seen as sufficient to raise serious doubts about the authority's ability to achieve the objective of that principle. A materially noncompliant assessment is given when the shortcomings are sufficient to raise doubts about the authority's ability to achieve compliance, but substantive progress has been made. A noncompliant assessment is given when no substantive progress toward compliance has been achieved. The ratings assigned during this assessment are not comparable to the ones assigned in the 2000 FSAP, as the bar to measure the effectiveness of a supervisory framework has been raised in the new methodology. This paper is structures as follows: introduction; information and methodology used for assessment; institutional and macroeconomic setting and market structure- overview; preconditions for effective bank supervision; main findings; and recommended action plan and authorities' response.