Federal Reserve System
People: Lautenschläger for ECB board; IMF's García set for Chile central bank
EU leaders nominate Bundesbank deputy, in charge of banking supervision, to take German spot on ECB executive; Chile's IMF director to join national central bank; and more
Yellen approved as Fed chairwoman
US Senate approves Janet Yellen as Federal Reserve's first female chair, in closest vote to date; adjusting unconventional policies to improving economic conditions ‘greatest challenge', says analyst
US community banks losing their edge with small businesses, paper finds
Fed discussion paper finds small, opaque businesses are just as likely to use a large banking corporation as they are a community bank; strong banking relationships remain important
Bernanke looks back on his time at the top
Fed chairman, who steps down on February 1, offers his take on an array of issues, including the long-term implications of asset purchases, central bank accountability and financial stability reforms
US Fed heads debate slow growth ‘riddle'
Presidents of four regional reserve banks at odds over whether weak trajectory in wake of the financial crisis is inherently structural or cyclical
2013: The year in review
The past year has seen growing acceptance of a new normal in central banking, and concrete progress on various elements of bank regulation – we look back at the biggest stories of 2013
Two-thirds of US non-cash payments by card, but cheques persist
Payments by credit and debit cards grew nearly 8% annually between 2009 and 2012, according to new Fed data; 122.8 billion non-cash payments made in 2012, worth $79 trillion
Fed taper met with calm, but questions remain
Markets take ‘expected' tapering in stride, but analysts warn of persistent emerging market vulnerabilities and changing FOMC dynamics in 2014
Robert Pringle's Viewpoint: Towards a Central Bank of Scotland
As in the 1930s, the global financial crisis is causing geo-political fallout, including increased latent tensions in Britain’s constitutional arrangements and international alliances
Bernanke praises Volcker and Greenspan contributions on policy communication
Current Fed chair uses centenary celebration to hail contributions of his two predecessors in improving the Fed's communications - including ‘qualitative forward guidance' under Greenspan
Fed appoints five new regional reserve bank chairs for 2014
Fed board of governors has released the names of regional reserve bank chairs and deputy chairs for 2014; JC Penney CEO and Yale economics professor among new appointees, seven chairs reappointed
ECB launches online competition to familiarise citizens with new €10 banknote
Players have to uncover four security features and also guess the number of euro banknotes in circulation in the euro area on December 31, 2013; new note unveiled on January 13
Federal agencies finalise Volcker rule exceptions
The Federal Reserve, FDIC and other agencies agree on a final version of the Volcker rule to ban proprietary trading and investment fund activities, but with a series of exemptions
Fed presidents weigh in on QE as job numbers improve, debt ceiling showdown looms
Five of 12 regional Fed presidents have staked out their positions on bank's asset purchases in recent days as FOMC gears up for next meeting on December 17
Fed launches online ‘gateway' to bank's history
New website features infographics, essays and biographies to mark the Fed's 100th birthday on December 23
Unexpected increases in Fed funds rate prompt gold prices to rise
Atlanta Fed working paper examining futures data between 1998-2008 finds that unexpected changes in the Fed's monetary policy can influence commodity prices
NY Fed vice-president on the evolution of Fed monetary operations
Simon Potter says the Fed has 'developed and tested' many different monetary policy tools since the crisis, including term and overnight reverse repos 'diverting deposits from banks'
African central banks need to brace for Fed tapering, says Ghana's Opata
African central banks should consider raising FX reserves to cover potential reserves losses and stress in domestic fixed income markets from Fed tapering, says Bank of Ghana official
San Fran Fed letter highlights impact of oil prices on inflation expectations
Researchers from the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco say consumers update their inflation expectations using a ‘few simple rules of thumb’ – one of which is linked to the price of oil
Fed could step in if US government hits debt ceiling, minutes show
Federal Reserve policymakers held unscheduled meeting the day before US Congress suspended the national debt limit; agreed the NY Fed trading desk could 'address disruptions in market functioning'
Yellen wins Senate committee approval
US Senate Banking Committee backs Janet Yellen as the next Federal Reserve chair; latest FOMC minutes reveal support for a cut in the interest rate the Fed pays on excess reserves
OTC derivatives reform contains ‘real world challenges' says Fed governor
Jerome Powell says worldwide reform efforts will turn OTC derivatives market infrastructure into a ‘pillar of strength in the next crisis' if implementation challenges can be overcome
OECD’s White says ECB supervision is back to front
William White says ECB should be managing the current crisis rather than trying to prevent the next one; warns that the global economy remains vulnerable, partly because of central bank actions
'Sticky' deposit rates could cost US households dearly when Fed raises rates
Unwillingness among retail banks in the US to pass on rising market interest rates to depositors costs the country's poorest savers up to $100 million a year, Fed economists find