Central Banks
BIS’s Cecchetti discusses financial globalisation
Stephen Cecchetti considers whether financial systems can grow too big and assesses how far countries should go in outsourcing financial services
Singapore and Thailand sign cross-border collateral MoU
Monetary Authority of Singapore and Bank of Thailand sign agreement to establish cross-border collateral arrangement; aims to promote financial stability in both countries
EC staff to ‘step up’ work on Spanish banks assessment
Olli Rehn calls for staff to speed up assessment of Spanish banking sector; downgrade rumours swirl after official government request for financial assistance from the Eurogroup
New $50 note released in Trinidad and Tobago
Central bank issues new note as part of independence celebrations; limited number of new $50 banknotes carry commemorative message
IMF highlights problems with overreaction to financial crises
Working paper studies data on banking crises; finds that a strong macroeconomic response to a banking crisis may reduce incentive for banks to restructure
Iceland central bank governor discusses policy challenges
Már Guðmundsson reflects on difficulties that remain in removing capital controls and tackling high inflation; suggests that others could learn from the Icelandic model
BoE paper studies impact of Lehman’s collapse on payments
Bank of England working paper studies the effect of the Lehman Brothers collapse on wholesale payment patterns; finds slower payments and increase in risk following the default
RBI paper analyses exchange rate volatility transmission
Working paper assesses spillover of exchange rate volatility from international currencies to Indian rupee; finds volatility is dependent on foreign exchange rates and domestic policies
Caruana says central bank credibility ‘must not be squandered’
BIS secretary general says reliance on central banks to provide extraordinary monetary policy to prop up the financial system is causing dangerous distortions; credibility may be ‘squandered’
BIS calls for European banking union and urgent fiscal reform in developed nations
Urgent fiscal reform and genuine efforts to create a banking union in Europe are vital to breaking the viscous linkage between banking and sovereign stress, says BIS
ECB relaxes collateral eligibility rules
Broader range of lower quality assets now acceptable under ECB collateral rules; move should help Spanish banks after results of stress test reveal a potential €62 billion capital shortfall
New York Fed appoints new head of markets group
Simon Potter named as chief of markets group and manager of the System Open Markets Account; begins new role on June 30
Brazil and China agree currency swap and deepen cooperation
Central Bank of Brazil announces agreement with China Banking Regulatory Commission to enhance exchange of information; governments agree to currency swap
Canada may withdraw monetary stimulus if growth remains on track, says Carney
Mark Carney lauds Canadian economy, says Europe must create a common banking union and believes global recovery relies on moving to an open, multi-polar international economy
Czech National Bank paper studies changing inflation dynamics
Working paper examines causes of changing inflation dynamics in central Europe; finds inflation expectations play a 'substantial role' in price stability
Bank of Finland paper assesses impact of eurozone crisis response
Discussion paper considers the effect of initiatives in response to the eurozone crisis on countries’ sovereign debt; finds some policy decisions had 'significant' short-term effect on bond markets
BoE’s Weale discusses monetary policy challenges
Martin Weale paints bleak picture of the global economy; says new Bank of England schemes should help to support the recovery
Fed paper examines balanced budget rules
Working paper considers whether balanced budget rules affect spending at different levels of government; finds rules impose discipline on the states but have little impact on federal spending
Bank of England to post collateral in OTC derivatives trades
BoE thought to be the first major central bank to change policy on collateralisation as it seeks to reduce dealer funding charges
Bank boards have little time to focus on business risk, says Scotiabank chief
Canadian bank chief believes pressing need to meet raft of new regulations means top bankers have little time to focus on business risks; says ‘small’ and ‘uncomplicated’ banks fail too