Financial Stability
Fiji’s Whiteside on microfinance challenges
Reserve Bank of Fiji governor Barry Whiteside says poor infrastructure presented challenges in extending financial services into the rural areas
Turkey’s Yilmaz on central banks’ enhanced stability mandates
Central Bank of Turkey governor Durmuş Yilmaz says centralising power for safeguarding stability at central banks places too great a burden on unelected officials
Creditless recoveries not uncommon: IMF paper
Fund study finds creditless recoveries are common and may result from impaired financial intermediation
Zimbabwe told to look to commercial banks for US coin supplies
Contrary to local media reports, Federal Reserve has not made formal arrangement with Harare
BoJ forecasts widespread production declines following earthquake
Report of Recent Economic and Financial Developments says domestic production expected to decline in earthquake aftermath
Crisis reshaping Australian bond market: RBA’s Debelle
Reserve Bank of Australia assistant governor Guy Debelle says regulatory reforms to change Australia’s bond market structure
Buba’s Weber says negative growth effects of Basel III unfounded
Bundesbank president Axel Weber says higher Basel III capital requirements will have positive long-term implications on growth
Japan injects ¥7 trillion; expands asset purchase programme by ¥5 trillion
Bank of Japan makes largest-ever same-day funds operation in bid to subdue market panic following Tohoku earthquake
EU agrees to more generous terms for Greece
Heads of state agree to lower rate of interest and extend maturity on Greek loan; no word on Ireland
Bank’s King calls for grand bargain to tackle global imbalances
Bank of England governor Mervyn King says G-20 countries must reach agreement on path to rebalance global economy; says G-20 could metamorphose into IMF governing body
BIS economists identify indicators of systemic risk
Bank for International Settlements research points to size as most reliable indicator of systemic importance, ahead of interbank lending and borrowing
BoJ leaps to action to soothe quake fears
Bank of Japan moves to assure investors that financial infrastructures are still working; central bank will work to maintain smooth liquidity, settlement conditions
IMF paper on foreign credit expansion in European EMEs
Fund study finds evidence of significant increase in level of foreign credit growth in emerging European countries
Foreign currency loans in EMEs supply driven: SNB paper
Swiss National Bank study finds evidence that the level of pre-crisis foreign currency loans in Bulgaria was partly supply driven
Wealth main determinant of bank service distribution: SNB paper
Swiss National Bank study says amount of bank account holders is directly correlated to wealth
RBA’s Lowe on policy implications of Australia’s higher terms of trade
Reserve Bank of Australia assistant governor Philip Lowe warns against changing the structure of the economy to reflect rise in terms of trade
AIG makes $15.7 billion offer for Maiden Lane II
New York Fed receives formal offer for bailout vehicle containing AIG’s residential mortgage-backed securities portfolio; insurer in bid to reduce debt to Washington
Canada to launch first polymer note this year
Bank of Canada set to issue new C$100 polymer banknote in November 2011; says entire series will be unveiled in the spring
Markets wobble as Spanish downgrade, eurozone fears bite
Moody’s one notch Spanish downgrade exacerbates investor jitters a day before European Council meets to discuss EFSF, ESM, bailout renegotiations
Clarity, access to information key to financial market infrastructure oversight, say regulators
Consultation report from CPSS and Iosco says central banks, market regulators need clear, specific information to determine which financial market infrastructures need regulation
Libya’s Bengdara pleads for softer sanctions on central bank: report
Central Bank of Libya governor Farhat Bengdara tells Wall Street Journal he is lobbying for some leniency on central bank sanctions; says cannot return to Tripoli
Australia’s Stevens calls for collective effort to rebalancing global economy
Reserve Bank of Australia governor Glenn Stevens says advanced economies must utilise excess supply to help boost domestic demand in Asia
CPSS-Iosco proposes risk standards for CCPs
Central counterparties should be ready for failure of one or two largest customers, regulators suggest
European parliament embraces Tobin tax
Lawmakers throw their weight behind Tobin tax on financial transactions; say global difference of opinion should not stop Europe implementing levy