Central Banks
Banks should not rely on CDS spreads for credit risk
National Bank of Belgium study highlights a number of shortfalls in policymakers’ use of CDS spreads as an indicator for bank risk
Bernanke on the success of stress testing program
Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke says stress testing helped return credibility to banking sector
Canada’s Murray: commodity boom and bust avoidable
Bank of Canada deputy governor John Murray says commodity market volatility can be eased with sensible policies
'Audit the Fed’ clause weakened on independence fears
Senator who proposed full Fed audit drops demands to review discount window and open market operations, White House and Fed pressure seen as key
Fed’s Hoenig calls for counter-cyclical leverage ratio, slams Basel requirements
Hoenig calls for change in regulatory approach to bank lending by ditching Basel II approach in favour of ceiling on leverage
Norway’s wealth fund profits again
Norges Bank’s Government Pension Fund-Global returns just under 4% for first quarter of 2010, outperforming benchmark once again; fund will set up Singapore office to strengthen Southeast Asian presence
Rate round-up: Czech National Bank cuts on eurozone woe
Romania and Iceland also loosen; Australia, Peru and Norway raise rates by 25 basis points, Egypt and Indonesia hold
Trichet plays down 'nuclear option' to end Greece crisis
ECB president Jean-Claude Trichet says option for outright purchase of government bonds is not on table
Sovereign troubles will drag banks down: Moody's
Ratings agency says sovereign downgrades in the southern eurozone could lead to decline in banking sector, further spending cuts will exacerbate problem
IMF: inflation targeting the next step for emerging economies
IMF study makes strong case for adoption of inflation targeting in emerging economies
Riksbank’s Svensson concedes further cuts unlikely
Lars Svensson explains the banks decision to leave its benchmark rate at 0.25% until December 2010, after previous calls to cut the rate further
Fed’s Rosengren: full US recovery years away
Boston Federal Reserve president Eric Rosengren identifies several challenges towards economic recovery in the United States
Controversial ‘audit the Fed’ amendment stirs blogosphere
Independent senator proposes clause that gives government audit office extensive powers to review Fed’s decisions, support mounts among lawmakers and commentators
Senate okays disputed Argentine reserve transfer
Lawmakers in Argentina's upper house approve president’s decree to transfer $4.4 billion of central bank reserves to bond repayment fund
Philly Fed's number two to step down
Philadelphia Federal Reserve first vice president William Stone plans to step down towards the end of this year
Malaysia's Mahathir: Islamic finance must not follow western banking model
Malaysia's former prime minister Mahathir calls for more regulation of banking sector and repudiates western model on banking
Gono retains top job in new Zimbabwe board
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono shock survivor of management cull; nine new board members appointed to improve governance standards
ADB's Kuroda pushes agenda for economic integration in Asia
Asian Development Bank president Kuroda hails Asian rebound but calls for commitment on wider integration of region
European rating agency could break the hold of 'big three': Barnier
European commissioner Michel Barnier moots a continental ratings agency to introduce diversity, comments follow criticism of ratings agencies from European finance minister
BoE broad money returns to pre-crisis growth levels
Bank of England estimates show broad money rose sharply in March, as credit conditions in the United Kingdom continue to improve
Indonesia’s finance minister named World Bank managing director
Mulyani Indrawati moves to World Bank Group months after alleged corruption accusations
Investors’ hold on Sarb to be weakened
South African cabinet approves bill of amendments to central bank law that would disrupt formation of shareholder blocs and enhance corporate governance standards