Central Banks
Netherlands Bank says macro-prudential tools have ‘added value’ in currency union
Dutch central bank points to national and regional benefits of macro-prudential policy; says the ECB’s ability to intervene in an individual country’s policy will help counter the ‘inaction bias’ of policy-makers
IMF paper presents Global VAR model for analysing banking and sovereign risks
Researchers develop a global vector autoregression model that incorporates forward-looking contingent claims into its analysis of banking systems, sovereigns and macroeconomic conditions
Cœuré concerned over 'big bang’ payments migration
ECB says many member states are planning to migrate to the Single Euro Payments Area in the last quarter of the year; Benoît Cœuré points to operational risks of leaving it to the last minute
Malaysia deputy touts progress on money laundering, terrorism financing
Alshari Yahaya also notes due diligence in some instances remains inadequate and not reflective of the level of risks; says 'reward system' should reflect strong risk culture and performance
Bank of Canada holds rates despite drop in growth and inflation forecasts
Governing council holds key policy rate at 1% despite suggesting inflation will take two years to return to target; says economy is rebalancing but the process will ‘take longer than previously projected’
ECB unveils three-pronged comprehensive assessment
European Central Bank reveals the methodology behind the risk assessment, asset quality review and stress test it will use to scrutinise the eurozone’s largest banks over the next year
OECD tells Brazilian government to stay quiet on interest rate policy
New report urges government to stop commenting on future trajectory of interest rates, and set fixed terms for MPC members ‘during which they cannot be dismissed'
Australian government pours $8.5bn into RBA's reserves
New Australian government blames dwindling reserves on predecessor's demand for ‘extraordinary' dividends; records show losses were incurred due to currency movements in 2010–11
RBA proposes Australian Payments Council to strengthen industry coordination
Reserve Bank of Australia and industry body Australian Payments Clearing Association launch consultation on establishment of new payments council
Productivity still a puzzle for Bank of England MPC
Latest minutes show the monetary policy committee still does not really understand what is driving falling unemployment and rising productivity; inflation pressures seen softening slightly
Central Bank of West African States facing broken transmission mechanisms
Members of the IMF’s African department find the central bank’s ability to influence liquidity conditions in the WAEMU is restricted by the union’s ‘shallow’ financial system
Bundesbank's Lautenschläger raises leverage ratio concerns
Introducing the leverage ratio as the primary regulatory requirement would mean taking two steps back to the risk-insensitivity of Basel I and even beyond, Bundesbank deputy president argues
Woodford forward guidance an ‘academic curio', says BoE's Bean
Deputy governor says Bank of England cannot commit to low interest rates for as long as Woodford and Eggertsson would advocate; concedes financial stability knockout in guidance may be ‘material'
Bank of Russia slashes forex intervention target
Halved intervention target brings rouble closer to free-float; IMF tells central bank to maintain reform momentum and resist calls to loosen policy
Bundesbank warns over surge in German property prices
House prices in the country's biggest cities are up more than a quarter since 2010, as investors search for yield amid record low interest rates; lack of supply also plays a role, says new study
Cypriot board member breaks ranks to criticise Demetriades
Alexandros Michaelides accuses central bank governor of a lack of professionalism for cancelling board meeting ahead of troika visit; demands greater respect
Singapore becomes third RQFII renminbi hub
Deal struck between Singaporean and Chinese authorities follows hot on the heels of an agreement with London, making Singapore the third approved centre for renminbi investments
ECB’s Cœuré laments slow payments progress
Benoît Cœuré says closer integration of payment systems in Europe would bring major benefits, but is being held back by limited efforts at standardisation; urges banks to innovate more
China should be in ‘no hurry’ to relax capital controls, says ADB paper
Working paper makes recommendations for Chinese fiscal and monetary policy, including maintaining control over exchange rates and taking steps to curb the growth of shadow banking
Buba paper: Banks with volatile loan demand load up on wholesale funds
Bundesbank discussion paper argues ‘loan uncertainty' not only result but determinant of wholesale funding, implying regulatory cap on wholesale funding increases exposure to ‘asset-side shocks'
Central Bank of Ireland research scrutinises credit and house price links
Researchers anatomise Ireland’s painful housing boom and bust, highlighting importance of the 'income fraction' channel in creating sharp movements in mortgage credit supply
UK’s Chaps continues growth despite losses to Faster Payments
High-value payments system handled an increasing value of transactions in 2012 despite widespread migration to Faster Payments, according to first ever Chaps report