Financial Stability
CME guaranty fund cut could lure new clearing members
Regional banks and prop shops are eyeing direct membership, but the lower minimum guaranty fund contribution does little for existing FCMs
RBA’s Ellis sees gaps in understanding of credit and property price relationship
The Australian central bank's head of financial stability discusses what economists do and don’t know about the property market, highlighting areas that need more work
Danish paper explores prevalence of interest-only mortgages
Interest-only loans lead some families ‘to save less and increase their leverage’ assets, which could pose a financial stability risk, research shows
German reforms did not create eurozone imbalances, paper finds
German model illustrates the positive effect of structural labour reforms between 1999 and 2008 on GDP, consumption, investment and employment, but also the eurozone more widely
EBA raises ‘significant concerns’ over bonus culture at European banks
Bonuses at many banks found to have little correlation with performance in last bonus round before cap; one banker paid over €18 million and largest bonus proportionally was 25 times base salary
Zhou says markets have stabilised as G20 meetings end
The central bank governor says the renminbi and Chinese stock markets have largely finished correcting; G20 policy-makers pledge to avoid competitive devaluation
RBI official defends going beyond Basel III
Vishwanathan singles out aspects of Indian financial system that make higher capital requirements appropriate, including short ratings history and population of unrated borrowers
ECB paper makes case for Bayesian model averaging in stress-test models
Working paper highlights the differences between using Bayesian model averaging and a series of handpicked equations
Maltese not ‘aggressive’ in restructuring assets in 2014
Financial Stability Report indicates core domestic banks re-balanced assets to boost returns but were not aggressive in their approach
Research questions whether Asia development has permanent effect on long-run price of commodities
RBA paper reveals that developments in Asia has had a significant effect on the level of commodity prices, but the increase was smaller than first thought
DNB sizes up pension fund recovery plans
DNB assessment of recovery plans highlights funds do not intend to cut pensions in order to achieve new regulatory requirements
MAS takes step to facilitate capital sourcing across Asean jurisdictions
Singapore central bank issues implementation handbook with Thai and Malaysian regulators for firms looking to raise capital in other Asean countries
Safe as houses: designing a more stable mortgage
A conference at the New York Fed earlier this year looked at some innovative mortgage designs that could boost financial stability. Central Banking approached some of the speakers to learn more
BIS paper studies impact of Swiss CCB on quality of credit
Working paper finds activation of countercyclical capital buffer affected the composition of mortgage lenders in two key ways
Israel’s bank supervisor looks to split credit card companies from banks
Hedva Ber has revealed plans to boost competition in financial sector, including forcing two of the largest Israeli banks to sell their credit card companies and creating a credit database
BoJ deputy urges thorough analysis of risk weight revisions
Hiroshi Nakaso calls for a cost-benefit analysis of proposed revisions to ‘standardised approach for credit risk’ that some market participants fear could restrict financing for development
UK payments regulator approves of code of conduct
Big UK banks have published a voluntary code of conduct for those providing indirect access to payment systems, in a bid to improve standards
UK payments have room for improvement, report finds
Report identifies priorities for better payments among consumers, businesses and government, finding desire for faster, more flexible payments with less room for error
RBI designates two banks ‘systemically important’
Reserve Bank of India lists State Bank of India and ICICI Bank as ‘domestic systemically important banks’ and details additional capital requirements
Ukraine central bank awaits wider regulatory powers
Ukraine’s central bank has achieved significant reforms of the banking sector, but needs a draft law to pass to gain the power necessary to regulate the non-bank sector, World Bank analyst says
Finnish deputy: international competition will change mortgage lending
Bank of Finland deputy argues conditions for international competition in mortgage lending are ‘improving’ and there is the potential for a ‘substantial impact’ in the eurozone
Household debt had modest impact on US consumption, research finds
Household debt in the US accounted only slightly for the decline in household consumption nationally in the 2000s, research published by ECB finds
BIS paper finds emerging market corporations exploiting carry trade
Study of emerging market foreign currency-denominated bond issuance by Bruno and Shin finds corporations appear to be issuing bonds as part of a carry trade, rather than financing investment
IMF paper explores capital inflows and credit growth
Working paper finds an increase in capital inflows can fuel credit growth, but it depends on their composition; no ‘significant’ connection with foreign direct investment