Country Finance Nicaragua

Elections: Daniel Ortega, of the Frente Sandinista de Liberacion Nacional (FSLN), took office for a five-year term in January 2007, following elections in November 2006. Mr Ortega’s FSLN party won 38 seats in the 92-member legislature in the elections. The next elections for the presidency and National Assembly are set for November 2011.

Government: Nicaragua is a presidential democracy with a National Assembly. The president is head of state, head of government and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. He or she is elected for a period of five years and appoints a cabinet. The 92-member Legislative Assembly is directly elected by the population by proportional representation, with members serving five-year terms.

Major political parties: The Frente Sandinista de Liberacion Nacional (FSLN, the Sandinistas) is the party of the government in office. Leading opposition parties include: Partido Liberal Constitucionalista (PLC); Alianza Liberal Nicaraguense (ALN, formed by ex-PLC members, the Partido Conservador—PC, and the Partido de la Resistencia Nicaraguense—PRN); and Movimiento Renovador Sandinista (MRS, formed by ex-FSLN members).

Country Finance Nicaragua

Regulatory/market assessment

Regulatory/market watch

Nicaragua at a glance: Political structure

Nicaragua at a glance: Sovereign debt ratings*

Nicaragua at a glance: Financial regulation in Nicaragua

Banks and other financial institutions: Overview

Banks and other financial institutions: Bank regulators

Banks and other financial institutions: Regulatory watchlist

Banks and other financial institutions: Domestic banks

Banks and other financial institutions: Foreign banks

Banks and other financial institutions: Investment banks and brokerages

Banks and other financial institutions: Development and postal banks

Banks and other financial institutions: Offshore banks

Banks and other financial institutions: Insurance companies

Banks and other financial institutions: Pension funds

Banks and other financial institutions: Mutual fund and asset managers

Banks and other financial institutions: Venture-capital and private-equity firms

Banks and other financial institutions: Factoring firms

Banks and other financial institutions: Financial leasing companies

Banks and other financial institutions: Other institutions

Banks and other financial institutions: Microfinance debt moratorium riles business community

Monetary and currency policies/regulations: Overview

Monetary and currency policies/regulations: Base lending rates

Monetary and currency policies/regulations: Monetary policy

Monetary and currency policies/regulations: Currency

Monetary and currency policies/regulations: Loan inflows and repayment

Monetary and currency policies/regulations: Repatriation and remittance of capital

Monetary and currency policies/regulations: Restrictions on trade-related payments

Short-term instruments/regulations: Overview

Short-term instruments/regulations: Cash management

Short-term instruments/regulations: Payment-clearing systems

Short-term instruments/regulations: Receivables management

Short-term instruments/regulations: Payables management

Short-term instruments/regulations: Currency spot market

Short-term instruments/regulations: Futures and forward contracts

Short-term instruments/regulations: Options

Short-term instruments/regulations: Swaps

Short-term instruments/regulations: Exotics

Short-term instruments/regulations: Bank loans

Short-term instruments/regulations: Time deposits

Short-term instruments/regulations: Certificates of deposit

Short-term instruments/regulations: Treasury bills

Short-term instruments/regulations: Repurchase agreements

Short-term instruments/regulations: Commercial paper

Short-term instruments/regulations: Overdrafts

Short-term instruments/regulations: Banker's acceptances

Short-term instruments/regulations: Supplier credit

Short-term instruments/regulations: Intercompany borrowing

Short-term instruments/regulations: Discounting of trade bills

Medium- and long-term instruments/regulations: Overview

Medium- and long-term instruments/regulations: Securities markets

Medium- and long-term instruments/regulations: Portfolio investment

Medium- and long-term instruments/regulations: Trading, clearing and settlement

Medium- and long-term instruments/regulations: Corporate governance

Medium- and long-term instruments/regulations: Listing procedures

Medium- and long-term instruments/regulations: Recent initial public offerings

Medium- and long-term instruments/regulations: Underwritten offerings

Medium- and long-term instruments/regulations: Rights offerings

Medium- and long-term instruments/regulations: Private placements

Medium- and long-term instruments/regulations: GDRs/ADRs

Medium- and long-term instruments/regulations: Alternative markets

Medium- and long-term instruments/regulations: Bank loans

Medium- and long-term instruments/regulations: Financial leasing

Medium- and long-term instruments/regulations: Corporate bond issues

Medium- and long-term instruments/regulations: Private placements

Medium- and long-term instruments/regulations: Structured finance

Medium- and long-term instruments/regulations: Infrastructure financing

Medium- and long-term instruments/regulations: Trade financing and insurance

Key contacts