Financial Stability
Injections pose no moral hazard risk: ECB member
In spite of the Bank of England's claims to the contrary, moral hazard should not be an issue in deciding whether or not to inject extra funds into the money markets, a member of the European Central Bank's (ECB) executive board said on Monday.
Boston Fed blames subprime on house price decline
In conducting what it calls "the first rigorous assessment of the homeownership experiences of subprime borrowers", the Boston Federal Reserve has found that the decline in house prices that began in the summer of 2005 is the factor most responsible for…
Subprime standardisation can help: Fed's Kroszner
Randall Kroszner, a Federal Reserve governor, said last Friday that he is hopeful efforts to standardise loan-modification options and processes for subprime loans will help lenders, investors, homeowners, and communities faced with potential mortgage…
ECB makes new bid to calm end-of-year fears
The European Central Bank (ECB) responded to panic in the interbank markets on Friday by pledging to lend over longer periods.
HK's Yam on ominous central bank injections
Joseph Yam, the chief executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, said on Tuesday that the continued need for central banks to inject extra funds was "not a good sign."
Old Lady changes tack and steps in with £10bn
The Bank of England said on Thursday that it would lend an extra £10 billion ($20.7 billion) at its benchmark bank rate to allay fears that interbank borrowing costs will shoot up over December.
Subprime crash has tarred all structured products
The subprime crisis has led to all securitised products being sold at a discount, regardless of whether they hold bad debt, says Guy Debelle, the assistant governor responsible for financial markets at the Reserve Bank of Australia.
There's a riot goin' on
By analysing so-called "riot points", we can see that the current crisis is spreading and deepening, says Avinash Persaud, the chairman of Intelligence Capital, a financial advisory firm.
ECB lends extra €30 billion
The European Central Bank injected an additional €30 billion ($44 billion) into eurozone money markets in a bid to ease recurring tensions in interbank lending.
Britain asks EU to back Rock aid
United Kingdom authorities have requested European Commission approval of their decision to give Northern Rock more than £20 billion-worth ($41 billion) of Bank of England money under the Union's state aid rules.
Unanimity required in subprime response: Noyer
Central banks needed to act unanimously to provide liquidity in the wake of the subprime turmoil because of the globalisation of interbank markets, Christian Noyer, the governor of Banque de France said on Tuesday.
Hurley confident on Irish performance
The Irish economy has performed well in 2007 compared to others, a trend that is set to continue into 2008, says John Hurley, the governor of the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland.
Trichet warns on adverse impact of globalisation
Interlinkages in the global economy mean no country can insulate itself from events, says Jean-Claude Trichet, the president of the European Central Bank.
Fed aims to counter tensions with new operations
The New York Federal Reserve said on Monday that it will inject extra funds from now until the new year in a bid to counter "heightened pressures in money markets."
Favoured Rock bid would repay £11 billion
The preferred bid for Northern Rock, led by the Virgin group of companies, would repay £11 billion-worth ($22.7 billion) of the beleaguered mortgage lender's Bank of England debt.
HKMA predicts impact of capital flow reversal
Improvements in external payment positions and financial strength have increased the resilience of Asian economies to a reversal of capital flows, research published by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority finds.
US downturn's impact limited in East Africa
An economic slowdown in the United States would have ramifications for East Africa but many factors can limit its impact, says Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile, the governor of the Bank of Uganda.
Subprime losses could mount to $300 billion
US housing market losses are likely to be in the region of $200 billion to $300 billion, a report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) finds.
ECB to counter new tensions with extra funds
The European Central Bank (ECB) said on Friday that it will inject more liquidity into the eurozone money market in a bid to allay "the re-emerging risk of volatility."
Trichet blames complexity for ratings reliance
Jean-Claude Trichet, the president of the European Central Bank, said on Friday that the complicated nature of many structured products had led to an over-reliance on credit ratings.
Canada's Duguay raises chances of liquidity shift
Fresh suspicions that the Bank of Canada may alter its liquidity provisions by lending for longer periods arose on Tuesday after a speech by Pierre Duguay, a deputy governor of the central bank.
ECB loans show illiquidity in longer-term lending
The results of this month's European Central Bank (ECB) three-month open market operation reveal liquidity tensions remain for longer-term interbank lending.
Zimbabwe set for new currency
Gideon Gono, the governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, said on Wednesday that the issue of a new currency was imminent, after announcing just over a fortnight ago that it would be delayed until 2008.
BlackRock to manage superfund
BlackRock, an asset manager, is expected to look after the planned $75 billion structured products superfund, set up to ease money market illiquidity.