The impact of the coronavirus crisis on the financial sector in Central America is expected to be felt mainly in services related to stock brokerage and investment advice, where a drop is expected.
The "Information System for the Impact Analysis of Covid-19 on Business", prepared by the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData, measures the degree of impact that the crisis will have on companies according to their sector or economic activity, during the coming months.
Local authorities decided to raise by 10% the minimum capital required for the opening of a bank or the operation of existing ones.
The Superintendence of Banks and Other Financial Institutions (Siboif) announced that the minimum capital required for banks that already operate or wish to enter was raised by $1.03 million, from $10.67 million to $11.70 million.
Some days after having initiated the administrative procedure against Aldesa Puesto de Bolsa, the judicial authorities of Costa Rica carried out several raids in the homes of the directors of the entity and its offices.
On May 24, through a relevant fact, the General Superintendence of Securities (Sugeval) explained that investigations would be made to determine whether or not the stock exchange carried out the necessary accounting records of accounts receivable payment operations for nine months.
In Costa Rica, the General Superintendence of Securities initiated an administrative sanctioning procedure against Aldesa Puesto de Bolsa, arguing that the company would not have kept the necessary accounting records.
On May 24, in a relevant fact published by María Luisa Fernández Garita, head of the General Superintendence of Securities (Sugeval), it was explained that investigations will be made to determine if the stock exchange post did not keep the necessary accounting records of accounts receivable payment operations during nine months.
In Costa Rica, Aldesa Corporación de Inversiones applied for judicial intervention because of lack of liquidity and announced the closing of the stock exchange.
From Aldesa's press release:
March 8, 2019. The uncertainty generated by the fiscal crisis among Costa Rican investors during the last quarter of 2018 led to a severe loss of liquidity in the market, which impacted the private real estate projects managed by Aldesa.
The new tax reform proposal being discussed in Costa Rica raises capital gains tax from 8% to 15%, and also excludes recognising as a debt deposits made by issuers in the securities market.
In the view of the National Stock Exchange (BNV), not recognizing deposits made in the stock market as debt leaves it at a clear disadvantage, compared to banks, as a source of financing for companies.Not only does it compromise access to investors' savings, it also significantly limits companies and individuals investment options.
Grupo Prival, a financial institution of Panamanian origin, has announced the sale of its subsidiary Prival Securities El Salvador, on May 8, 2018.
Elcapitalfinanciero.com reports that "... In a note sent to the Superintendency of the Stock Market (SMV) for public knowledge, the banking institution reported that the change was duly notified and authorized by the Superintendency of Banks of Panama (SBP). "
Protecting the rights of investors and minimizing systemic risk is part of the objectives pursued by the new law on the stock market in the Dominican Republic.
The Executive Power promulgated Law 249-17 that modifies the previous 19-00 of the Dominican securities market.
The Superintendent of Securities, Gabriel Castro González, "...
Panamanian stock market officials are evaluating increased controls on securities houses operating in the country, through the figure of corporate governance.
The Superintendency of Securities in Panama is analyzing the possibility of demanding that the stock brokers fulfill norms of corporate governance, as banks and insurers already do.
Trading volume last year reached $1.526 billion, 30% more than what was traded in 2015.
The repo market accounted for most of the volume traded in the stock market in 2016, with an increase over 2015 of 33%.The volume traded in these instruments was 382 million, while in 2015 $289 million was traded.
Taxes on transactions made on the stock exchange in El Salvador are discouraging operations on the secondary market, which fell 80% in May compared to the same period in 2015.
Between January and March $382 million in securities transactions were traded, 45% more than the amount recorded in the same period in 2015.
Data from the National Stock Exchange indicates that in March alone the volume traded by the five exchanges approved in the stock exchange system amounted to $94 million, an increase of 136% over the same month of 2015.
The market regulator is preparing rules for a new type of short-term investment fund, which will be available before July.
The Superintendency of Securities (Sugeval) in Costa Rica announced that it will add to its portfolio an investment fund focused on very short term securities which are low risk and high liquidity, reported El financierocr.com. This new instrument will be approved in the first half of 2016.
The business sector recognizes the need to implement the standards required to be removed from the gray list, but is calling for flexibility so that businesses are not harmed.
Without calling into question the need for the country to implement and enforce the rules on transparency, financial sector companies are insisting that authorities provide them with greater flexibility in order to minimize the impact the changes will have on their businesses.
In order to prevent a repetition of cases such as that of Financial Pacific, the Superintendency of Securities is preparing legislation which incorporates an obligation to comply with good corporate governance practices.
Although details of the proposal have not yet been released, the Superintendence authorities indicated that "... it is related to general corporate governance recommendations, such as having an audit committee, a risk committee, having an independent director, among other things.
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