Central Banks
Bundesbank’s waning role in Europe dates back to Schmidt’s ‘Auschwitz’ comments
The loss of German central bank authority in Europe in the past two years dates back to an historic meeting with Helmut Schmidt, who used references to Auschwitz to drive home monetary integration
RBNZ policy to be set by ‘governing committee’
Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s four governors will make all its monetary and financial policy decisions in a new committee
Monetary policy is ‘mirror image’ of financial shocks, says ECB paper
Study finds that monetary policy is effective in mitigating financial shocks because it is capable of reversing the impact of shocks on GDP and investment
Fed’s Beige Book optimistic on labour market
Economic expansion still ‘modest or moderate’ in most Federal Reserve districts; labour market conditions improving but hiring is restrained
BoJ rejects immediate shift to radical easing
Bank of Japan remains committed to hitting new inflation target ‘at the earliest possible time’, but today rejected a proposal to start open-ended purchases straight away
ECB and BoE edge closer to more easing
Commentators home in on signs the ECB is shifting towards a more dovish stance; BoE could sanction more QE after three members voted in favour last time
Polish central bank shocks market with steep rate cut
Monetary policy committee cuts rates by 50bp but indicates the move brings to an end the cycle of easing started in November last year
De Larosière slams US protectionism and EU Solvency II rules
Former IMF and Banque de France chief Jacques de Larosière says the introduction of a swathe of new regulations in Europe – by contrast to the US – may jeopardise the continent’s growth
Philadelphia Fed president demands end to QE
Charles Plosser says asset purchases should be phased out gradually and halted before the end of the year; ‘meagre benefits’ are outweighed by threat to price stability
BoE's King urges RBS break-up
Mervyn King says too-big-to-fail remains the ‘single biggest regulatory challenge'; suggests RBS is broken up and calls government handling of the bank ‘a nonsense'
Bank of Mongolia launches ‘interest rate corridor’
New monetary policy framework seeks to reduce volatility in short-term interest rates, improve transmission and make policy more transparent
Swiss paper finds SNB's 2009 bond purchase policy narrowed spreads
Researchers find 'unique' Swiss bond purchase programme had a 'discounted portfolio balance effect of the expected purchases, as distinct from policy signalling'
Riksbank report deflects criticism over persistent below-target inflation
Economic commentary says low inflation is partly caused by factors outside the Riksbank’s control; argues tight policy cannot take all the blame for high unemployment
IMF report calls for more powers for Bank of Spain
Progress report finds Spain has implemented 'the bulk' of required financial sector reforms, but suggests greater independence and powers for the central bank
Colombian paper recommends using neural networks in yield curve forecasts
Neural networks, which process information in a similar manner to the human brain, are tested for their ability to improve yield curve forecasts in Latin America
ECB paper says government spending harms growth
Study analyses impact of government revenues and spending on long-term growth; finds income taxes and public investment can both have a negative impact
MAS pushes for tighter rules on financial advisers
Monetary Authority of Singapore expands and elaborates on report recommending tighter rules for financial advisers; calls for higher qualifications, more capital and greater efficiency
Top US regulators restless over too-big-to-fail
Fed’s Jerome Powell and FDIC’s Martin Gruenberg stress the need for ongoing progress in bid to eliminate ‘too-big-to-fail’ problem
ECB lauds 2012 as year of ‘great achievement' for T2S programme
Annual report details progress in 2012 including 22 participating clearing houses and new governance and legal frameworks, though one deadline has already been missed
New Zealand central bank publishes macro-prudential ‘tool-kit' consultation
Four new tools proposed by Reserve Bank of New Zealand; former RBNZ chief economist says implementation will take time, but anticipates an ‘announcement effect'
NY Fed paper says monitoring is essential to fix Dodd-Frank’s ‘significant limitations’
A growth in shadow banking is one risk from the Dodd-Frank Act that must be addressed by broad and forward-looking monitoring, a staff report says
Dutch paper suggests using loan-to-deposit ratio in macroprudential policy
Study says LTD ratio could be a useful tool for regulator to address liquidity risk; suggests counter-cyclical policy to encourage lending in tough times
Benoît Cœuré says ECB can only 'buy time for political bodies to act'
ECB executive board member calls on Europe's governments to 'redefine the European social contract' - saying rebalancing is 'inevitable'
Bernanke evaluates long-term interest rates
Federal Reserve chair Ben Bernanke expects long-term interest rates to rise gradually; says upside and downside risks to rate level are 'roughly symmetric'