Bank of England (BoE)
Carney says UK rate hike still some way off
Continued weakness in key indicators begins to puzzle policy-makers as Carney suggests there is room for the MPC to wait longer; CPI and core inflation on the rise
ONS to launch new website in response to review
The new site will draw on feedback from more than 600 people; US Fred model is something to strive for, says the deputy national statistician for economic statistics
Bank of England's Vlieghe wants more nuanced approach to monetary policy
Bank of England policy-maker says high levels of debt, ageing population and distribution of income combine to make him ‘patient' about rate hike; questions modelling based on representative agents
Paper finds positive impact from Dodd-Frank swap rules
Compulsory trading via swap execution facilities has boosted liquidity and cut trading costs in the market for interest rate swaps, working paper published by BoE finds
Volatility fails to shake outlook as BoE holds rates steady
Latest MPC minutes are largely preoccupied with discussion of international developments, but falling oil prices and market volatility do not herald major change in stance
BoE paper seeks to improve forecasts with adaptive model
Using an adaptive model in conjunction with heavy-tailed t-distributions allows authors to deliver ‘substantial improvements’ in forecasting inflation
BoE moves to close bonus clawback loophole
Under new proposals, banks will no longer be able to circumvent malus and clawback rules by buying out new employees’ bonuses
Bank of England paper explores exchange rate pass-through using ‘big data’
Author finds the pass-through to import prices varies depending on the size of the exchange rate movement at the micro level, but it is a different story at the macro level
Bean says statistics agencies struggling to keep pace with the modern economy
Former BoE deputy warns of a widening gulf between the structure of the economy and how ageing statistical techniques represent it; urges UK statistics office to be more ‘agile’
2015: The year in review
Research exploring new frontiers and challenging the prevailing orthodoxies took centre stage over the past year - we look back at some of the biggest stories
Bank of England paper explores time-varying capital requirements
Authors use firm-bank level database from UK to examine impact of higher capital requirements on asset growth of borrowing firms; also consider interaction with monetary policy
Bank of England tackles challenges flagged by staff survey
While the results show a strong, positive corporate culture at the BoE, the central bank has identified four areas for improvement
BoE’s FPC in line for powers over buy-to-let market
Government proposes handing central bank powers of direction over LTV and ICR limits for buy-to-let mortgages, over a year after the BoE first requested them
Bonus cap may impact other pay regulation, research from Bank of England warns
Researchers see potential for bonus caps to clash with other remuneration regulation; level of pay ‘at risk’ declines
HBOS investigation reveals possible ‘loose rivet’ in UK regulation
Accounting standards and auditing may be a weak point that is only just starting to be addressed, according to MPs at a parliamentary committee hearing on the failure of HBOS
BoE paper explores monetary and macro-prudential policy interactions
Macroeconomic and financial frictions in an economy can require ‘intervention of opposite direction’ on the interest rate, which a second instrument can help mitigate, paper finds
BoE’s Shafik says wages key to rate hike
Deputy governor says economy has been difficult to read in recent years but stronger growth in wages would be a major factor in prompting her to vote for a rate hike
UK banks must raise extra £27bn to meet resolution needs under BoE proposals
Large banks will have to issue additional subordinated debt to meet MREL requirement under proposals designed to ensure banks will continue to operate under resolution
Further macro-prudential policies ‘may be needed’ in UK, says IMF
Staff say existing measures have eased but not eliminated risks to household finances; encourage BoE to keep monetary policy unchanged until inflationary pressures are ‘clearer’
Economists point to key factors for BoE rate decision coming into ‘sharper relief’
Developments in labour market represent crucial signal for monetary policy move, but shocks from a Fed hike, commodities or further turbulence in emerging markets could all come into play
Modern central banks need big data strategy, Riksbank economists say
Central banks need to adapt to growing data volumes, but the organisational changes required could help departments work together more closely, economists say
Tucker to succeed Bair as Systemic Risk Council chair
Ex-Bank of England deputy governor Paul Tucker to chair private sector group pushing for ‘strong and simple reforms’ to financial system; succeeds former FDIC chair Sheila Bair
Bean calls for overhaul of UK statistics
Report dissecting UK statistics production calls for national statistics office to become more agile, make use of new forms of data, and tackle shortcomings
BoE plans capital framework redesign
The central bank hopes the realignment of capital requirements from individual banks to a system-wide buffer will simplify the framework and allow the FPC to respond to threats earlier