Financial Stability
BIS statistics show sharp contraction in Q2
Cross-border claims fall significantly in advanced economies, led by euro-denominated transactions; credit to emerging markets is up quarter-on-quarter, but down year-on-year
Threshold-based forward guidance can work at the zero lower bound, BoE paper says
Private sector industries have to understand how threshold-based forward guidance will be used in order for it to be effective, BoE working paper notes
BoJ lifts lid on new approach to macro stress testing
Tests designed to measure system-wide impact of a ‘tail event’ on financial and economic stability, allowing comparisons over time; BoJ reveals underlying variables for first time
Retail banking investigation findings criticised by MP
First report from investigation on retail banking criticised by Andrew Tyrie for its findings on ‘free-if-in-credit’ model for current accounts
Fed support high on wish list for buy-side repo clearing
Risk USA panellists want liquidity support for planned new services
Kganyago defends bank’s inflation targeting regime
South African Reserve Bank governor insists striving to meet an inflation target is not the same as ignoring growth, in speech in Cape Town
Long-term low interest rates risk financial instability, Geneva report argues
Long-run accommodative monetary policy could raise risks to financial instability, Charles Bean and other economists argue; issuance of leveraged loans in US corporate market on the rise
Eurozone prices to rise in the long term, survey of forecasters says
The eurozone’s long-term inflation rate will rise, and GDP will grow ‘gradually’, professional forecasters tell ECB survey; falling energy prices expected to push short-term inflation down
BoE’s Bailey considers how to foster competition
Bank of England deputy governor highlights the role of the PRA in fostering competition in the banking sector
China confirms launch of QDII2
Scheme allowing Shanghai-based individuals to invest overseas agreed in meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang this week
Liquidity issues demand further work, says BoE’s Cunliffe
Greater fragility of market liquidity requires reassessment of regulation, new stress tests and better data, BoE deputy says; private sector economists warn of distortionary effects from QE
UK’s Osborne defends ‘middle way’ struck by BoE bill
Finance minister tells MPs the decision to drop the reverse burden of proof avoids creating a two-tier regime; talks up value of BoE independence in response to concerns over NAO role
Regulators push back at complaints of fatigue
EBA chief and secretary-generals of Basel Committee and Iosco defend their work so far and stress the bulk of regulation will be completed in 2016 – though there is more on the horizon
RBA’s Edey explains cross-border treatment of CCPs
Australia will not insist on domestic incorporation for overseas CCPs; regulators favour a ‘graduated framework’ for imposing additional requirements on the most important CCPs if necessary
RBA’s Richards gauges sentiment on card payments regulation
Head of payments policy highlights areas of ‘common ground’ in response to issues paper on card payments regulation, but also some ‘real differences’ between stakeholders
Macro-prudential measures may restrict financial integration, ECB paper says
Macro-prudential policies may partly explain recent fall in European and global financial integration, paper argues
BoE unveils new systematic stress tests
Stress tests designed to move counter-cyclically with the financial cycle and inform decisions on capital buffers; BoE looking to improve modelling techniques to keep pace
Brainard mulls how to reduce ‘undue’ regulatory burden
Fed’s Lael Brainard discusses potential areas for reducing regulatory burden faced by banks; warns process may take longer where interagency agreement needed
‘Great moderation’ due to weaker recoveries, paper argues
The ‘great moderation’ in the US economy is still significant if analysed using a longer data set than previously, researchers argue; one of two significant falls in US volatility since 1875
BoE’s Bailey defends dropping reverse burden of proof
PRA chief says decision to backtrack on key element of senior managers regime makes the rules more robust; rejects suggestion he has been ‘cowed by the lawyers’
Sarb publishes first draft of forex code of conduct
New code of conduct proposed for South African foreign exchange over-the-counter market, though official review finds no evidence of malpractice
Repeat of Asian crisis ‘unlikely’, say Singapore bank chiefs
Policy-makers are responding more proactively to risks than in 1997, they say, while economies are seen as much stronger
EBA plots shift to new phase of work
As European banking legislation is finalised, the institution plans to concentrate more on harmonisation and less on standard-setting; expanding workload contrasts with shrinking budget
PRA plans to subject ‘other systemic institutions’ to tougher scrutiny
Institutions designated as O-Siis would face tighter scrutiny and be expected to produce resolution plans, with the potential for further measures in the future