Central Banks
FSA’s Turner is right to push for a Tobin tax
The financial sectors in mature economies grew too large in the run-up to the crisis. A Tobin tax can help prevent this from happening again, argues Costas Lapavitsas, a professor at the School for Oriental and African Studies
BIS global financial regulator needed: Griffith-Jones
Stephanie Griffith-Jones argues for far stronger global financial regulatory governance under the Bank for International Settlements (BIS)
Global regulatory reform not in sight: Kern Alexander
Kern Alexander says consensus on international regulatory reform is still far ahead
Iceland begins dismantling capital controls
Central Bank of Iceland takes first step towards capital-account liberalisation
Japan shifts liquidity focus to loans
The Bank of Japan will extend low interest corporate loans to March, but halt purchases of commercial paper and corporate bond at year-end
Paul Jenkins to leave Bank of Canada
Paul Jenkins, senior deputy governor of the Bank of Canada, will leave the central bank when his current term expires in April 2010
Bank of Portugal launches new website
The Bank of Portugal has unveiled a new and more user-friendly portal
HKMA lays down law on pay
Central bank gauges local industry reaction to its draft guideline
India’s Thorat: coordination key in crisis
Reserve Bank of India’s Usha Thorat draws regulatory and crisis-management lessons from India’s past financial crises
Kenya’s Ndung’u praises M-Pesa
Central Bank of Kenya’s Njuguna Ndung’u says M-Pesa mobile payments service improves financial inclusion and provides secure remittances channel
Net lending increases: Bank of England figures
Bank figures also show an increase in mortgage loan approvals
No “urgency” to exit as Kiwis hold rates
Decision to stay at record low reflects recovery
Unconventional measures must remain – Buba’s Weber
Axel Weber says main liquidity-boosting measures must continue and be wound down only gradually
Rand strength undesirable: SA finance minister
Pravin Gordhan, South Africa’s Minister of Finance says the government will aid the central bank building reserves
Macroprudential policy tough to apply – Watanagase
Bank of Thailand’s Tarisa Watanagase says macroprudential policy framework is challenging to put into practice
Norway raises rates
Higher than expected inflation means Norges Bank becomes first European central bank to begin “exit strategy”
Strong Canadian dollar “threat to growth”
Mark Carney, governor of the Bank of Canada, says currency intervention is ineffective without supporting policies
Vietnam holds rates steady and commits to dong liquidity
Central bank's policy reflects anticipated year-end currency shortage
Global balance-sheet growth behind dollar scarcity
Bank for International Settlements looks at the causes of the dollar shortage in the global banking system during the crisis
Zambia’s Fundanga: region to upgrade regulation
Bank of Zambia’s Caleb Fundanga says Eastern and Southern Africa’s regulation must adapt to complex cross-border financial institutions and move to consolidated supervision
Bank of Albania – Annual Report 2008
Economic growth was in line with projections in 2008, notes Ardian Fullani in the central bank’s latest Annual Report
Euro-area credit standards show signs of easing
European Central Bank’s lending survey shows substantial decline in banks tightening their credit standards