Central Banks
IMF uneasy on nagging weakness of eurozone’s banks
Fund’s Global Financial Stability Report and World Economic Outlook updates show concern over insufficiency of eurozone stress tests, links between banking and sovereign risks
Central Bank of Turkey - Inflation Report (January 2011)
Central Bank of Turkey January 2011 Inflation Report revises inflation forecast for food prices upward
MPC’s Sentance critical of fellow policymakers’ focus on output gap
Bank of England’s Sentance dismissive of overemphasis on domestic output gap; says global factors must not be neglected as merely short-term disturbances when conducting policy
RBI hikes, saying inflation set to climb
Reserve Bank of India raises key rates by 25 basis points each while lifting baseline inflation projection 150 basis points; points to complex interplay of demand, supply side factors
Iraq’s Al-Shebibi warns foreign assets at risk of confiscation
Central Bank of Iraq governor Sinan al-Shebibi says ruling to place central bank under cabinet supervision risked the central bank losing assets held overseas
FSA's tough stance opens door to investment bans
The UK Financial Services Authority has taken a leaf from the book of the European Securities and Markets Authority and started a consultation that may well end up giving the regulator the power to ban investments it deems to be unsuitable.
Oddsson renews spat over Icesave dispute
Former Central Bank of Iceland chairman David Oddsson says Mervyn King gave assurance that Icelanders would not have to bear costs of Icesave deposit insurance
Banking Commission chief makes case for ring-fencing retail operations
Independent Commission on Banking chief John Vickers rules out “radical narrow banking” but says some separation between investment and retail banks could help
Oberthur drops De La Rue bid after increased offer flops
French banknote printer Oberthur Technologies abandons bid for British rival De La Rue following failure of increased offer at 935 pence per share
Safe haven effects caused exchange rate swings: IMF paper
Fund study identifies source of exchange rate volatility during financial crisis
ECB - Monthly Bulletin (January 2011)
European Central Bank January 2011 Monthly Bulletin says data on bonds indicate rise in inflation expectations
BoJ’s Morimoto on tackling deflation
Bank of Japan Policy Board member Yoshihisa Morimoto says central bank’s second loan disbursement programme would address the root problems in Japan’s economy
Bank of Italy moves to new balance of payments data regime
Bank of Italy releases first complete series of balance of payments data under new collection system; central bank says improvements will provide more accurate measures of firms’ investment income
West African central bank governor quits
Central Bank of West African States governor Philippe Henri Dacoury-Tabley steps down amid claims he did not cut off funds to beleaguered Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo
De La Rue rejects raised Oberthur bid
De La Rue board passes on new offer from French rival Oberthur Technologies of 935 pence per share, says bid still undervalues firm; US equity house Bain Capital reportedly backing Oberthur’s attempt
Nabli takes reins at Tunisian central bank
Former World Bank Middle East and North Africa chief economist Mustapha Kamel Nabli confirmed as governor of Central Bank of Tunisia
ECB’s Bini Smaghi: money matters
European Central Bank executive board member Lorenzo Bini Smaghi stresses importance of monetary aggregates as means to counter both inflation and financial imbalances
Bank of England – Trends in Lending (January 2011)
Bank of England’s January 2011 Trends in Lending survey show lending to business in the UK over the three months to November declined by £5 billion
BoJ paper on Chinese cross-border capital flows
Bank of Japan study examines the impact of greater economic integration on cross-border flows in China; makes recommendations on policy prescriptions
Strong settlement system essential: Mexico’s Carstens
Bank of Mexico governor Agustín Carstens says securities settlement system will contribute to sound financial system
Bank of Japan - Bank Lending Survey (January 2011)
Bank of Japan January 2011 bank lending survey reports little change in demand for loans by businesses