Financial Stability 1/03

Norges Bank shall foster robust and efficient payment systems and financial markets. This is in accordance with the Norges Bank Act and the Payment Systems Act. We strive to limit the risks in the clearing and settlement systems and we monitor the financial services industry in order to identify trends which may weaken the stability of the financial sector. Norges Bank’s Financial Stability report is published twice a year. In this report, we evaluate trends in the financial services industry, with particular emphasis on banks, and analyse the industry’s capability of dealing with disturbances in the economy. The banking crisis in the early 1990s showed the importance of focusing on macroeconomic conditions in order to identify trends that can threaten the stability of the financial system. The report has been published since 1997 - and as a separate publication since 2000. The report is discussed by Norges Bank’s Executive Board. The main conclusions of the report are summarised in a submission to the Ministry of Finance. The purpose of the report is to increase awareness and contribute to debate about issues that are important to financial stability among the authorities, participants in the financial sector, enterprises and households.publishedVersio