Financial Stability
Zimbabwean governor says banks more stable
John Mangudya says the banking sector ‘remains safe and sound’ after the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe moved to address credit risk and liquidity constraints
European leaders strike Greek deal but hurdles remain
All-night session ends in Greece agreeing to a tough reform package, but finance ministers continue to debate possible bridge financing and national parliaments must still give green light
IMF wants new fund with ability to extend ELA in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Staff suggest creating financial stability fund that can provide liquidity support to stressed but solvent banks, which the currency board arrangement prohibits the central bank from doing
CPMI and Iosco launch first consistency assessment of FMI principles
'Level three' assessment will examine the consistency with which the Principles for Financial Market Infrastructures have been applied to central counterparties
Greek crisis enters critical weekend
Negotiations enter final days, with European authorities scrambling to assess whether new proposals go far enough; Greece has backers, but Germany must still be persuaded
Fed’s Brainard ponders whether systemic banks could choose to downsize
Governor Lael Brainard says systemically important institutions may choose to ‘reduce their systemic footprint’ as regulation kicks in and impacts cost-benefit analysis
De Grauwe says Greek crisis has shaken OMT credibility
Belgian economist says ECB’s decision not to use OMTs because of fears over Greek solvency may have fatally damaged the policy’s credibility and consequently the stability of the eurozone
New swaps margin hub aims to solve disputes pre-call
Matching up risk factors should avoid collateral headaches, hub hopes
HKMA introduces ‘major' piece of financial infrastructure to facilitate China flows
New routing and settlement service will underpin mutual recognition of funds initiative launched July 1; will enhance Hong Kong's role as ‘leading asset management centre', says Pang
Greece asks for three-year ESM bailout as Tsipras tries to unite Europe
Government submits request for longer support programme than previous proposals while Alexis Tsipras seeks backing during rowdy European Parliament session
BoE FPC wary of buy-to-let risks
Financial policy committee asks bank staff to identify channels through which the market threatens stability; UK government caps tax relief on buy-to-let property
Minneapolis Fed research separates Greece and Puerto Rico debt crises
Staff report notes the debt crisis has spilled over to the private sector in Greece but not in Puerto Rico, given the latter’s inability to interfere with private external debt contracts
Sama publishes first financial stability report
Report indicates Saudi financial system is coping well, despite the 2014 oil price shock and continued geopolitical instability in the region; past year saw ‘significant’ regulatory change
Capital volatility fears spur talk of wider G-Sii charges
Concerns about yo-yoing capital are behind proposals to extend the higher loss absorbency requirement beyond non-traditional business
Greece set to request new ESM bailout
Greece expected to submit new proposal to ESM in effort to unlock bailout funds; ECB appears to increase haircuts on collateral used by Greek banks to obtain emergency liquidity
IMF staff call on US to develop new macro-prudential tools
Assessment says tools that strengthen market resilience to run risks and fire sales in shadow banking sector should be a high priority; staff report recommends 2016 rate hike
European leaders to meet as Greeks scramble to produce new proposals
Heads of state and finance ministers to meet on July 7, with Greek government expected to present new proposals; chief negotiator takes over as finance minister
Varoufakis out as Greeks vote No
Greek finance minister steps down despite 62.5% of voters backing the government’s position by rejecting the latest proposals; Eurogroup says ball in Greece’s court
Swedish authorities pin down structural factors driving growth in household debt
The rise in home ownership and a favourable tax system are probably contributing to the growth in household indebtedness, report finds, as Riksbank continues to urge action
Constâncio supports guided stress tests of shadow banks
ECB vice-president continues his campaign for new macro-prudential tools that can impact non-bank institutions, highlighting the importance of developing a ‘clearer picture’ of the sector
IMF analysis calls for Greek debt relief
Analysis encourages European lenders to double grace and maturity periods on existing loans while providing two-thirds of another €52 billion in financing to keep Greece afloat
Eurozone central bank policy challenges and risks
ECB governing council member Ignazio Visco explains why Europe needed an expanded asset purchase programme despite potential issues associated with moral hazard and financial instability
SNB paper: both monetary and macro-prudential policy impact arrears
Working paper suggests monetary policy impacts the affordability problems that drive arrears in the short term, while macro-prudential policy can help prevent longer-term problems
Varoufakis to stand down if Greeks vote 'Yes'
Greek finance minister says he will quit if the public votes to accept the latest terms offered to Greece in the July 5 referendum; demands debt restructuring as part of any deal