Central Banks
Central bank wage cap backfires on Budapest: reports
Hungarian government could be pushed to amend controversial central bank salary cap as problems mount in finding suitable external rate-setters
Crisis measures assisted financially distressed firms: IMF paper
Fund study says crisis recapitalisation policies helped provide financially dependent firms access to credit
What central bankers can learn from the school of science
It is not only science's methods, but its desire to de-mystify that should be aped, Claire Jones writes
Ex FSA chair quits as head of LSE
Former Financial Services Authority chairman Sir Howard Davies steps down as director of London School of Economics over university’s financial links to Libyan Gaddafi regime
ECB’s González-Páramo calls on central banks to reinvent risk strategies
European Central Bank executive board member José Manuel González-Páramo says central banks must re-think their risk management framework; moots new toolkit
Basel III reduces output volatility: NY Fed paper
New York Federal Reserve study says rise in capital buffers leads to decline in output and output volatility
Canada pressed to develop inflation market
Current issuance of inflation-linked bonds is too meagre to meet demand from domestic and international investors, say market participants
EBA to launch new stress tests
European Banking Authority unveils timeline for second round of EU-wide stress tests with launch set for Friday; first executive director and internal committee named
UK lawmakers launch inquiry into BoE’s accountability
Influential parliamentary committee calls for views on the impact of regulatory change on Bank of England; changes will see Bank’s ambit expanded
FX flexibility can act as buffer to hot money: IMF’s Shinohara
IMF deputy managing director Naoyuki Shinohara encourages emerging markets to adopt more flexible exchange rates to help curb flow hot money
SNB confirms large loss on back of franc gains
Swiss National Bank reports $20.7 billion loss; figure slightly lower than that forecast in January
Kenyan lawmakers criticise Ndung’u reappointment
Lawmakers critique government’s reappointment of Central Bank of Kenya governor Njuguna Ndung’u without any parliamentary review or input
Bernanke on inflationary impact of global commodity boom
Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke says rise in global commodity prices may lead to temporary spell of inflation
Consumer behaviour influences financial distress: ECB paper
European Central Bank study shows individuals’ behavioural traits may contribute to level of financial distress experienced by consumers
ECB reports €171 million profit
European Central Bank experiences sharp fall in profits for 2010 due to €1.16 billion transfer of income to risk provision fund
Investment grade status provides premium: IMF paper
Fund study shows upgrade to investment grade status leads to sharp decline in sovereign spreads
Inflation targeting a successful framework: Central Bank of Chile paper
Central Bank of Chile study says sharp movements of inflation in Chile were consistent with inflation targeting framework
Map of global banking network shows climb in contagion since late 1980s
Bank of England paper uses BIS banking stats to show potential for cross-border contagion has been rising for past two decades, reaching its apogee at the time of the Lehman Brothers’ collapse
Williams succeeds Yellen at helm of SF Fed
Head of research named new head of San Francisco Federal Reserve
SNB to close Geneva office as cash distribution services are outsourced
Swiss National Bank says Geneva office will close next year as cash distribution services to be carried out by private firms; fifteen staff affected by closure