Demand
Sri Lanka invites bids to mint 970 million coins
Central bank calling for four denominations of coin to be minted by end-March 2019; looking for mints with experience of supplying foreign countries with circulation coins
331,000 counterfeit notes withdrawn in H1 2016 – ECB
Figures show 80% of all the counterfeits were €20 and €50 notes; number of total counterfeits withdrawn in first half of 2016 lower year on year
‘Digital sterling’ could bring benefits but would reshape banking – BoE’s Broadbent
Bank of England deputy says central bank digital currency could entail a redesign of the banking system; research points to potential growth and stability benefits
Bank of Canada experimenting with distributed ledger technology
Wilkins tells audience the Bank of Canada has “rolled up its sleeves” with regard to fintech; central bank testing “CAD-coin” in conjunction with private sector
South African rand and Chinese renminbi now tradable on CFETS
Bilateral trading between rand and renminbi will cut costs, Sarb's head of financial markets says, as China makes latest move towards renminbi internationalisation
Philippines central bank reveals counterfeiting arrests
Central bank says it was behind four successful anti-counterfeiting operations in Q1; has the legal authority to make arrests and seize property
Antti Heinonen says cash is still relevant in modern society
Former ECB head of banknotes says cash is still evolving to keep pace with new payments technology, and banknote designs are staying ahead of counterfeiters
To play the counterfeiter
The Reproduction Research Centre in Copenhagen helps central banks to counterfeit colour-shifting technology and machine-readable codes on banknotes in a bid to reduce fraud
Riksbank adviser Segendorf offers insight into distributed ledger technology
Financial stability adviser evaluates the benefits of adopting distributed ledger technology and what effect digital currencies will have on cash
ECB scraps production of €500 note citing concern over illicit activities
The European Central Bank will stop producing the €500 note over concerns it facilitates criminal activities; move does not aim to increase the effectiveness of monetary policy, spokesman says
Mersch sets out broad questions around distributed ledgers
Yves Mersch considers how access to central bank money could work if market infrastructure adopts the technology; ECB publishes paper on its application in post-trade market for securities
Fed’s Brainard highlights potential in distributed ledgers
Policy-makers cannot afford to ignore the possibilities new technology could offer clearing and settlement systems, Lael Brainard says
Redesigned digital currency could keep central banks in control
Researchers at UCL launch “RSCoin” idea, highlighting its superiority over bitcoin; new digital currency framework would be controlled by central banks
Tighter quality standards on banknotes not needed, DNB paper suggests
The Netherlands Bank maintains the European minimum standard for sorting euro banknotes, as study sees no reason to impose stricter requirements
Sarb seeks release of banknotes from detained plane
The South African Reserve Bank confirms an aircraft carrying a consignment of banknotes has been detained in Zimbabwe, after the discovery of a dead body
Emerging markets leading the way in cutting-edge payments innovations, UK report finds
Mobile payments embraced in emerging markets where banking infrastructure lags; Kenya’s M-Pesa system handles flows equivalent to a quarter of nation's GNP
ECB ‘actively considering’ whether to scrap €500 note, Cœuré says
Executive board member says he finds arguments in favour of keeping highest denomination note ‘less and less convincing’, as evidence mounts of its role in corruption and crime
Analysts see Hong Kong peg under scrutiny
Hong Kong dollar reached lowest level in nearly a decade this week, putting long-standing peg ‘under fresh scrutiny' and prompting fears of possible attack
Fewer counterfeit banknotes withdrawn in Portugal in 2015
Statistics released by Bank of Portugal reveal a drop in the number of counterfeits withdrawn from circulation last year; the €20 remains the most frequently faked denomination
Argentina to issue three new banknote denominations
Top-value 100-peso note to be eclipsed by new currency; 200- and 500-peso notes will launch in first half of 2016, with 1000 peso note following in 2017
PBoC imposes reserve requirements on offshore deposits for first time
New measure designed to curb CNH short-selling and shows PBoC determination to stabilise offshore market in wake of recent gyrations, analysts suggest
Central Bank of Bolivia issues counterfeit warning ahead of festival
Any reproduction of the bolivar must be either double or half the size to avoid confusion with legal tender under counterfeiting rules, the bank says, ahead of Alasita in La Paz
PBoC cut in renminbi fix prompts market volatility
Central bank cuts fix by 0.51%, triggering second equities slump in a week and further divergence in onshore and offshore exchange rates
Russian and Chinese central banks sign MoU
The governors of the Russian and Chinese central banks sign memorandum of understanding; will now be able to issue bonds in each other’s markets