News & Published Material

Here you can find everything that has been published in different news lists on www.fi.se.

2018

FI has not manipulated public documents

2018-12-18 | News

“The assertion that Finansinspektionen (FI) supposedly manipulated public documents related to money laundering investigations and that were requested by the newspaper Svenska Dagbladet is incorrect,” says FI’s Director General Erik Thedéen. An internal legal assessment that FI is publishing today shows that the documents and their release have been handled correctly. FI’s Board of Directors convened for an extraordinary meeting to receive information about this matter and how it will be handled.

The TRS 2 system is unable to create FD files at the moment

2018-12-07 | News Reporting Markets

At the moment, Friday, 7 December, the TRS 2 system is unable to create FD files (daily feedback).

FI Supervision 9: Banks’ work on information and cyber security

2018-12-07 | Fintech Reports Bank

Several banks are working to develop and enhance their information and cyber security. Some have not yet fully adapted their work to the changed conditions introduced by increased digitalisation and an increased level of cyber threats. FI expects that the banks will continue to focus on developing their information- and cyber security abilities, and keep managing and monitoring their information and cyber risks.

FI Analysis 14: Reference rates are changing

2018-11-29 | BMR Reports Markets

Reference rates are important since they are used in many financial contracts, and it is therefore crucial that they are fair, transparent and accurately reflect the underlying market.

Erik Thedéen: Household Debt and the Role of Macroprudential Policy

Thedéen discussed the impact of high household debt on financial stability and sustainable economic growth as well as the role of macroprudential policy at the 7th FIN-FSA conference on EU Regulation and Supervision.

Higher interest rates test resilience

2018-11-27 | News Stability Consumer

Low interest rates have contributed to high risk-taking, rising asset prices and increasing debt. Higher interest rates in the next few years could reduce risk-taking and thus dampen the build-up of risk. However, unexpectedly large interest rate fluctuations and uncertain global developments could also test the financial sector’s resilience. These are some of the conclusions Finansinspektionen (FI) draws in this year’s second report on the stability in the financial system. The report will be presented at a press conference today.

Stability in the Financial System (2018:2)

The economy continues to be strong, both in Sweden and globally, but it is now showing signs of a slow-down. Interest rates have been low for a long period of time, which has led to high risk-taking and rising asset prices. As a result, the risks in the financial system are elevated. The resilience in the Swedish financial system is satisfactory in general but continued high growth in debt fuelled by lending and investments related to residential property and commercial real estate require monitoring.

TRS 2 upgraded to a new system version

2018-11-26 | News Reporting Markets

On Monday, 26 November, TRS 2 was upgraded to a new system version.

Klas Granlund: Brexit, positive progression not a reason to stop preparations

Despite the positive progression over the past few weeks, there is still some uncertainty surrounding Brexit. FI has previously identified the limited access to clearing services as one of the consequences of Brexit that could have a major impact on Swedish firms. The European Commission’s communication that it will take action to manage risks to financial stability that are associated with clearing is therefore welcomed. At the same time, though, a hard Brexit could create other types of frictions that affect Swedish firms. It is therefore of utmost importance that Swedish firms continue to prepare for Brexit.

Erik Thedéen: Macroprudential policy and healthy housing markets

Affordable housing and household indebtedness is increasingly the focus of the public debate in many countries. Erik Thedéen participated in a plenary panel together with representatives from Australia, Canada and Ireland to discuss what can be done to manage systemic risks and maintain healthy housing markets.

Capital requirements of Swedish banks as of Q3 2018

Finansinspektionen publishes the capital requirements of the largest Swedish banks and credit institutions that belong to supervisory categories 1 and 2 as of the end of Q3 2018.

Extended system maintenance in TRS 2 system

2018-11-21 | News Reporting Markets

FI is extending the ongoing maintenance and upgrade of the production environment in the TRS2 system until further notice.

FI Supervision 8: Governance and control of information and communication technology operations in insurance undertakings

2018-11-15 | Reports Insurance

In general, the insurance undertakings employ adequate governance and control practices in their ICT operations. But FI has also observed that some undertakings have difficulties identifying and managing the consequences of outsourced ICT operations.

Biennial Review of the Systemic Risk Buffer

As outlined in the capital requirements directive, FI must review the systemicrisk buffer on an biennial basis. FI has reviewed the arguments originally setout to support a SRB buffer level of 3 % at consolidated level for the major banking groups and finds the arguments to still hold today for the three remaining major banking groups, following Nordea’s re-domicile.

Work with sustainability is progressing – but there is still much to be done

FI is publishing today three reports on sustainability. The reports show that the work with sustainability is progressing on several fronts and that the industry’s own initiatives, where relevant, are working. But there is still a lot of work left to be done. FI is also publishing a follow-up report for the Government on FI's work with sustainability-related matters in 2018.

FI Supervision 7: Sustainability perspective in lending to corporates – a follow-up review

The banks give greater consideration to sustainability aspects in their lending to corporates. However, FI sees a need for more transparency and comparability in the area of sustainability.

FI Supervision 6: Sustainability Information in Funds

2018-11-07 | Reports

The fund industry has created through its self-regulation an information standard that fund managers must use when providing the information needed for a consumer to understand a fund’s management with regard to sustainability. Finansinspektionen (FI) conducted a survey in the summer of 2018 to follow up on and evaluate the industry’s self-regulation in the area.

Integration of sustainability in corporate governance

Sustainability-related risks and opportunities do not differ from the other risks and opportunities that can be linked to financial firms’ operations. Therefore, sustainability should not be managed in limited areas of corporate governance, but rather be an integral part of corporate governance as a whole. In this survey, FI studied how financial firms describe their management of sustainability aspects in corporate governance and how these aspects are integrated into the operations.

Finansinspektionen’s work in 2018 to contribute to sustainable development

FI has conducted a number of supervision activities related to sustainability at the same time as the organisation has been partly restructured and received additional resources. During the year, FI's work has focused on integrating sustainability-related matters into its ongoing supervision, a project that will continue and be intensified.

Major Swedish banks show resilience in EU stress test

2018-11-02 | EBA News Stability

The major Swedish banks are resilient and have the ability to withstand a sharp deterioration in the market, according to the stress test conducted by the European Banking Authority (EBA).

Decision regarding the countercyclical buffer rate

Finansinspektionen (FI) decided on 31 October not to change the countercyclical buffer rate. The buffer rate of 2.5 per cent, which will be applied as of 19 September 2019, shall thus continue to apply. The countercyclical buffer guide is set at 0.41 per cent.

The Network for Greening the Financial System has published its first report

The members of the international Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) acknowledge in their first report that climate-related risks are a source of financial risk. The Network therefore clarifies that it is within the mandates of central banks and supervisors to ensure the financial system is resilient to climate-related risks.

FI’s Use of Macroprudential Tools

2018-10-18 | Reports Stability

Household debt is not primarily a direct threat to financial stability. However, if the economy takes a turn to the worse, many households may be forced, or even choose, to reduce their consumption in order to continue to be able to pay off their loans. This could exacerbate a crisis and threaten financial stability, determines FI in a report on FI’s use of macroprudential tools.

IOSCO creates a sustainable finance network chaired by Erik Thedéen

The International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) decided today to create a Sustainable Finance Network (SFN).

Erik Thedéen: Will the banks withstand the next crisis – what role will capital requirements play?

Discussing how the banks will withstand the next crisis is undoubtedly asuitable topic in October 2018, which marks exactly ten years since the mostdifficult phase of the financial crisis.

FI raises the countercyclical buffer rate

FI has decided to raise the buffer rate from 2.0 to 2.5 per cent. The reason for this change is that the systemic risks have increased.

Finansinspektionen follows closely the developments at Nasdaq Clearing

2018-09-14 | News Markets

Finansinspektionen has an ongoing dialogue with Nasdaq Clearing given that the company decided to declare a member in the firm’s commodity market in default. Finansinspektionen is also in contact with other affected authorities and organisations.

Erik Thedéen: On the Agenda: The Swedish FSA’s mandate and current challenges

The procyclical nature of the financial sector tends to amplify cycles and may turn a severe downturn into a financial crisis. One of FI’s tasks is to mitigate this pro-cyclicality.

FI's comments on Nasdaq Clearing's decision today

2018-09-12 | News Markets

Nasdaq Clearing AB has decided to declare a clearing member in the firm’s commodity market in default. The member is active in the electricity derivatives markets through trading on the Norwegian Stock Exchange, Nasdaq Oslo ASA. These financial instruments are centrally cleared in Nasdaq Clearing AB, a firm under Finansinspektionen’s (FI’s) supervision.

Erik Thedéen: Higher countercyclical capital buffer?

A speech given by Erik Thedéen, FI's Director General, at the UBS Annual Nordic Financial Services Conference in Stockholm today.