Sisällysluettelo : Bank of Finland. Financial market report

Abstract

1 Financial intermediation 3 1.1 Housing loans growing fast in some euro area countries 3 1.2 Record dividends from listed Finnish companies 4 2 Banks and insurance companies 6 2.1 Banks did well in 2003 6 2.2 Performance of major European and American banks improved in 2003 7 2.3 Broad restructuring in insurance sector 9 3 Securities markets 11 3.1 Continued growth on the share markets 11 3.2 Risk premiums at exceptionally low levels on non-financial corporation loans 12 3.3 Mutual fund markets showing strong growth 13 4 Infrastructure 15 4.1 EU: Swift introduction of comprehensive legislative framework for retail payments 15 4.2 Banks seek significant savings through more efficient processing of payments 16 5 Major development projects in regulation and supervision 18 5.1 The Committee of European Banking Supervisors commenced operations 18 5.2 Regulatory initiatives for securitisation in Europe 19 6 Key corporate arrangements and events in the financial sector 21