FMI
Bank of Italy moves to new balance of payments data regime
Bank of Italy releases first complete series of balance of payments data under new collection system; central bank says improvements will provide more accurate measures of firms’ investment income
De La Rue rejects raised Oberthur bid
De La Rue board passes on new offer from French rival Oberthur Technologies of 935 pence per share, says bid still undervalues firm; US equity house Bain Capital reportedly backing Oberthur’s attempt
Strong settlement system essential: Mexico’s Carstens
Bank of Mexico governor Agustín Carstens says securities settlement system will contribute to sound financial system
Euro counterfeits drop by 5.9%
European Central Bank statistics show 364,000 forged euro banknotes recovered in second half of 2010; €50 note remains most popular bill to fake
Oberthur seeks equity house support in De La Rue takeover bid: reports
French banknote firm Oberthur reportedly in talks to issue private equity houses with convertible bond to fund De La Rue acquisition
Oberthur given takeover deadline as De La Rue spat intensifies
French banknote printer told to “put up or shut up” by 7 February; ruling comes on the heels of efforts to force De La Rue to clarify relationship with RBI, failed November takeover bid
Bidder calls on De La Rue to reveal details of RBI relationship
Oberthur says firm should inform shareholders about recent business with Reserve Bank of India; claims paper scandal has "undermined" ability to win new contracts as a stand-alone firm
Hong Kong lawmakers to enforce mandatory CCP by the end of 2012
Hong Kong joins Japan in mandating central counterparty clearing for OTC derivatives with CCPs and a central repository expected to be set up in the coming months.
Philippines bats away attacks of new banknote series: reports
Central Bank of the Philippines’ deputy governor Diwa Guinigundo reportedly dismisses criticisms of incorrectly rendered native bird and map on new banknotes
Brussels forges ahead with Sepa end-date proposal, despite differences
European Commission proposes deadlines for national credit and debit transfers to migrate to Sepa system; move could divide stakeholders
Brazil unveils first of new family of banknotes
Central Bank of Brazil releases second generation of R50 and R100 notes
Cobbold confirmed as De La Rue CEO
Tim Cobbold named banknote manufacturer’s new chief executive
Electronic methods leading growth of cashless payments in the US, says Fed study
Federal Reserve study shows number of cashless payments has grown, with debit card, automated clearinghouse transactions leading the way
Atlanta Fed names new second in command
Retirement of Atlanta Federal Reserve first vice-president Patrick Barron sparks reshuffle in retail payments office
Canada closes part of currency unit
Bank of Canada agrees to sell assets from optical security material division to banknote security supplier Fortress Optical Features
De La Rue shares soar on Oberthur takeover bid
Banknote printer De La Rue confirms preliminary takeover bid has been made; French firm Oberthur Technologies behind the move
Sarb refutes faulty rand note claims
South African Reserve Bank says it has full confidence in currency after media reports of flawed batches of R100 notes; issue surfaces ahead of first general meeting under new central bank law
Merkel enraged at vote to scrap US-EU Swift data deal: WikiLeak
Leaked wire from US embassy in Berlin says Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel was furious at German MEPs' decision to reject Swift data sharing deal with United States
Nigeria to launch new mobile payments system
Central Bank of Nigeria grants licence to create system that will provide banking services to all with a mobile phone
Securency chairman set for London move
RBA assistant governor Bob Rankin to become chief representative in Europe; Rankin to remain Securency chairman until polymer manufacturer sold
Central Bank of Iceland – Financial Stability Report 2010/2
Central Bank of Iceland’s Financial Stability Report 2010/2 discusses new payment system infrastructure in Iceland
RBI’s Gopinath promotes mobile banking in India
Reserve Bank of India deputy governor Shyamala Gopinath says mobile banking key to achieving financial equality in India
Qatar launches m-payment scheme
Qatar Central Bank licenses two telecoms providers to offer mobile payment services; move makes it first in region to operate scheme
Estonia nabs firms over euro leak
Bank of Estonia fines two companies for mishandling euro coins ahead of the currency’s launch in 2011; strong link to coin sale in neighbouring Latvia