Inflation Peaking amid Low Growth Global growth is projected to fall from an estimated 3.4 percent in 2022 to 2.9 percent in 2023, then rise to 3.1 percent in 2024. The forecast for 2023 is 0.2 percentage point higher than predicted in the October 2022 World Economic Outlook (WEO) but below the historical (2000–19) average of 3.8 percent. The rise incentral bank rates to fight inflation and Russia’s war in Ukraine continue to weigh on economic activity. The rapid spread of COVID-19 in China dampened growth in 2022, but the recent reopening has paved the way for a faster-than-expected recovery. Global inflation is expected to fall from 8.8 percent in 2022 to 6.6 percent in 2023 and 4.3 percent in 2024, still above pre-pandemic (2017–19) levels of about 3.5 percent. The balance of risks remains tilted to the downside, but adverse risks have moderated since the October 2022 WEO. On the upside, a stronger boost from pent-up demand in numerous economies or a faster fall in inflation are plausible. On the downside, severe health outcomes in China could hold back the recovery, Russia’s war in Ukraine could escalate, and tighter global financing conditions could worsen debt distress. Financial markets could also suddenly reprice in response to adverse inflation news, while further geopolitical fragmentation could hamper economic progress. In most economies, amid the cost-of-living crisis, the priority remains achieving sustained disinflation. With tighter monetary conditions and lower growth potentially affecting financial and debt stability, it is necessary to deploy macroprudential tools and strengthen debt restructuring frameworks. Accelerating COVID-19 vaccinations in China would safeguard the recovery, with positive cross-border spillovers. Fiscal support should be better targeted at those most affected by elevated food and energy prices, and broad-based fiscal relief measures should be withdrawn. Stronger multilateral cooperation is essential to preserve the gains from the rules-based multilateral system and to mitigate climate change by limiting emissions and raising green investment. Checkout the full report here: Inflation Peaking amid Low Growth

Table of Contents Introduction. 2 Definition and overview of blockchain technology. 2 Importance of blockchain in finance management. 2 Purpose of the presentation. 2 Understanding Blockchain. 2 Basics of blockchain technology. 2 Distributed ledger. 2 Decentralization. 3 Cryptography. 3 Key components of a blockchain. 3 Blocks. 3 Transactions. 3 Consensus mechanism.. 3 Different types of blockchains. 3 Public blockchains. 3 Private blockchains. 3 Consortium blockchains. 3 III. Implications of Blockchain in Finance Management. 3 Enhanced Security and Transparency. 3 Immutable records and tamper resistance. 3 Auditability and traceability. 3 Efficient and Cost-Effective Transactions. 4 Eliminating intermediaries. 4 Faster settlements and reduced transaction costs. 4 Smart Contracts and Automation. 4 Introduction to smart contracts. 4 Streamlined processes and reduced paperwork. 4 Fraud Prevention and Risk Mitigation. 4 Increased trust through consensus. 4 Improved identity verification and KYC processes. 4 Use Cases of Blockchain in Finance Management. 4 Cross-Border Payments and Remittances. 4 Supply Chain Finance. 4 Trade Finance and Letters of Credit. 4 Asset Tokenization and Securities Trading. 4 Peer-to-Peer Lending and Crowdfunding. 5 Insurance Claims and Underwriting. 5 Challenges and Considerations. 5 Scalability and performance issues. 5 Regulatory and legal concerns. 5 Interoperability between different blockchains. 5 Privacy and data protection. 5 Future Outlook. 5 Emerging trends and developments. 5 Collaboration between traditional finance and blockchain. 5 Potential impact on financial institutions and intermediaries. 5 VII. Conclusion. 5 Recap of key points. 5 Summary of blockchain's implications on finance management. 6 Potential benefits and opportunities. 6 Closing remarks. 6 I. Introduction A. Definition and overview of blockchain technology Blockchain technology is a decentralized and distributed ledger that records transactions across multiple computers. It enables secure and transparent transactions without the need for intermediaries. B. Importance of blockchain in finance management Blockchain has significant implications for finance management. It enhances security, reduces costs, automates processes, and mitigates fraud risks, transforming the way financial transactions are conducted. C. Purpose of the presentation The purpose of this presentation is to provide an understanding of blockchain technology and its implications in finance management. We will explore the key components of blockchain, its benefits, and various use cases in the financial industry. II. Understanding Blockchain A. Basics of blockchain technology 1. Distributed ledger Blockchain utilizes a distributed ledger, where multiple participants maintain and validate the transaction records collectively. This eliminates the need for a central authority and enhances trust. 2. Decentralization Blockchain operates in a decentralized manner, meaning no single entity has control over the entire network. This ensures transparency, resilience, and reduces the risk of a single point of failure. 3. Cryptography Blockchain uses cryptographic techniques to secure transactions and ensure data integrity. It employs cryptographic hash functions and digital signatures to authenticate and protect the information stored on the blockchain. B. Key components of a blockchain 1. Blocks Blocks are the building blocks of a blockchain and contain a set of transactions. Each block is linked to the previous block through a cryptographic hash, forming a chain of blocks. 2. Transactions Transactions represent the exchange of assets or information on the blockchain. They are recorded in blocks and are typically validated by network participants through a consensus mechanism. 3. Consensus mechanism Consensus mechanisms ensure agreement among network participants on the validity of transactions. It enables trust and prevents fraudulent activities. Common consensus mechanisms include Proof of Work (PoW), Proof of Stake (PoS), and Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance (PBFT). C. Different types of blockchains 1. Public blockchains Public blockchains are open and accessible to anyone. They are maintained by a decentralized network of participants, and anyone can join the network, validate transactions, and create blocks. Bitcoin and Ethereum are examples of public blockchains. 2. Private blockchains Private blockchains are restricted to a specific group of participants. They provide privacy and control over the network, making them suitable for enterprises and organizations. Access to the blockchain is permissioned, and participants are often known entities. 3. Consortium blockchains Consortium blockchains are a hybrid between public and private blockchains. They are operated and maintained by a consortium or a group of organizations that have shared control over the network. Consortium blockchains offer a balance between openness and control. III. Implications of Blockchain in Finance Management A. Enhanced Security and Transparency 1. Immutable records and tamper resistance Blockchain's immutability ensures that once a transaction is recorded on the blockchain, it cannot be altered or deleted. This provides a high level of security and reduces the risk of fraud and tampering. 2. Auditability and traceability Blockchain's transparent nature enables easy auditing of transactions. Each transaction is recorded on the blockchain, creating an auditable trail of activities. This enhances transparency and accountability in financial transactions. B. Efficient and Cost-Effective Transactions 1. Eliminating intermediaries Blockchain eliminates the need for intermediaries, such as banks or clearinghouses, in financial transactions. This reduces costs, speeds up processes, and enables direct peer-to-peer transactions. 2. Faster settlements and reduced transaction costs Blockchain enables near-instantaneous settlements compared to traditional systems that may take days. It also reduces transaction costs by removing intermediaries and streamlining processes. C. Smart Contracts and Automation 1. Introduction to smart contracts Smart contracts are 2. Streamlined processes and reduced paperwork Smart contracts automate and streamline various financial processes, eliminating the need for manual paperwork and reducing human errors. This increases efficiency and accelerates transaction processing. D. Fraud Prevention and Risk Mitigation 1. Increased trust through consensus Blockchain's consensus mechanisms foster trust and prevent fraudulent activities. The distributed nature of blockchain ensures that transactions are verified by multiple participants, reducing the risk of fraud or manipulation. 2. Improved identity verification and KYC processes Blockchain technology can enhance identity verification and Know Your Customer (KYC) processes. It allows for secure storage and sharing of verified user data, reducing the risk of identity theft and fraud. IV. Use Cases of Blockchain in Finance Management A. Cross-Border Payments and Remittances Blockchain facilitates faster and cheaper cross-border payments by eliminating intermediaries, reducing fees, and providing real-time transaction tracking. B. Supply Chain Finance Blockchain enhances supply chain finance by enabling transparent and secure tracking of goods, verifying authenticity, reducing fraud, and streamlining payment processes. C. Trade Finance and Letters of Credit Blockchain simplifies trade finance by digitizing and automating the processing of letters of credit, reducing paperwork, and improving trust among participants. D. Asset Tokenization and Securities Trading Blockchain enables the tokenization of assets such as real estate or artwork, making them divisible and tradable. It enhances liquidity, simplifies ownership transfer, and reduces intermediaries in securities trading. E. Peer-to-Peer Lending and Crowdfunding Blockchain platforms facilitate peer-to-peer lending and crowdfunding by connecting borrowers directly with lenders, automating loan agreements, and providing transparency and auditability. F. Insurance Claims and Underwriting Blockchain streamlines insurance processes by automating claims processing, reducing fraud through transparent records, and improving underwriting accuracy through access to verified data. V. Challenges and Considerations A. Scalability and performance issues Blockchain faces challenges in scaling to accommodate a large number of transactions and maintaining performance. Solutions like layer-two protocols and sharding are being explored to address these challenges. B. Regulatory and legal concerns Blockchain's decentralized nature raises regulatory and legal concerns, such as data privacy, cross-border transactions, and compliance with existing financial regulations. Regulatory frameworks need to evolve to address these issues. C. Interoperability between different blockchains Interoperability between different blockchains is essential for seamless integration and exchange of assets and information. Efforts are underway to develop standards and protocols for interoperability. D. Privacy and data protection While blockchain provides transparency, preserving privacy and protecting sensitive data is crucial. Privacy-enhancing technologies like zero-knowledge proofs and secure multiparty computation are being developed to address these concerns. VI. Future Outlook A. Emerging trends and developments Emerging trends include the integration of blockchain with other technologies like artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, and decentralized finance (DeFi). These developments have the potential to revolutionize finance management further. B. Collaboration between traditional finance and blockchain Traditional financial institutions are exploring blockchain technology and collaborating with blockchain startups to leverage its benefits. Partnerships and consortia are being formed to drive innovation and adoption in the financial industry. C. Potential impact on financial institutions and intermediaries Blockchain has the potential to disrupt traditional financial institutions and intermediaries. They will need to adapt and innovate to remain competitive in a decentralized and digitally transformed financial landscape. VII. Conclusion A. Recap of key points Blockchain technology is a decentralized and transparent ledger that offers enhanced security, efficiency, automation, and fraud prevention in finance management. B. Summary of blockchain's implications on finance management Blockchain technology improves security, reduces costs, stream C. Potential benefits and opportunities Implementing blockchain in finance management can lead to reduced transaction costs, faster settlements, improved fraud prevention, and increased efficiency and transparency, unlocking new opportunities for innovation and growth. D. Closing remarks Blockchain technology has the potential to reshape the finance industry by revolutionizing how transactions are conducted, recorded, and verified. Embracing blockchain's capabilities can drive a more secure, efficient, and inclusive financial ecosystem.

Operational Risk Governance:Sound Practices for the Management and Supervision of Operational Risk BIS June 2011 The Board of Directors Principle 3: The board of directors should establish, approve and periodically review the Framework. The board of directors should oversee senior management to ensure that the policies, processes and systems are implemented effectively at all decision levels. Principle 4: The board of directors should approve and review a risk appetite and tolerance statement for operational risk that articulates the nature, types, and levels of operational risk that the bank is willing to assume. Senior Management Principle 5: Senior management should develop for approval by the board of directors a clear, effective and robust governance structure with well defined, transparent and consistent lines of responsibility. Senior management is responsible for consistently implementing and maintaining throughout the organisation policies, processes and systems for managing operational risk in all of the bank’s material products, services and activities, consistent with the risk appetite and tolerance. Risk Management Environment Identification and Assessment Principle 6: Senior management should ensure the identification and assessment of the operational risk inherent in all material products, activities, processes and systems to ensure the inherent risks and incentives are well understood. Principle 7: Senior management should ensure that there is an approval process for all new products, activities, processes and systems that fully assesses operational risk. Monitoring and Reporting Principle 8: Senior management should implement a process to regularly monitor operational risk profiles and material exposures to losses. Appropriate reporting mechanisms should be in place at the board, senior management, and business line levels that support proactive management of operational risk. Control and Mitigation Principle 9: Banks should have a strong control environment that utilises: policies, processes and systems; appropriate internal controls; and appropriate risk mitigation and/or transfer strategies. Business Resiliency and Continuity Principle 10: Banks should have business resiliency and continuity plans in place to ensure an ability to operate on an ongoing basis and limit losses in the event of severe business disruption. Role of Disclosure Principle 11: A bank’s public disclosures should allow market participants to assess its approach to operational risk management.