Europe
Cœuré calls for greater risk-sharing in eurozone
ECB's Benoît Cœuré calls for greater risk-sharing within eurozone to help place euro on sustainable footing
IMF sounds warning over European deleveraging
Lagarde hopes to ‘significantly’ increase resources available to the IMF during spring meeting; Financial Stability Report also recognises need for increased firewall as deleveraging rages on in Europe
Spain's Ordóñez renews call for government action
Bank of Spain governor urges government to stick to target of reducing budget deficit to 5.3% in 2012; highlights work done on banking reform
Norway set to shift investment strategy after poor SWF performance
Norway sovereign wealth fund to focus on emerging markets following third-worst performance in history last year
Lagarde hopes for progress on IMF resource increase
IMF managing director sets out hopes for Spring Meetings; wants to see increase in resources and emerging market representation reform agreements
EBA chair wants flexible approach to macro-prudential regulation
Andrea Enria advocates flexible approach to macro-prudential regulation within the EU; says flexibility should not threaten the EU single market
Czech central bank sheds 96 jobs despite need to meet wider remit
Czech National Bank reduces headcount to same level as 2006, despite taking on additional regulatory responsibilities
Bank of Lithuania says 90% of population has bank accounts
Banking survey shows high level of participation in the banking sector; central bank to continue “financial education” lessons
Bank of Spain governor warns against complacency
Miguel Fernández Ordóñez outlines progress made in reforming Spanish banking sector; stresses there is more to be done, and that European interventions have merely bought time to push changes through
NBB working paper pays tribute to 'architect of the euro'
National Bank of Belgium working paper highlights role of Tommaso Padoa Schioppa in the creation of the euro
Draghi places emphasis on governments to drive EU growth
ECB president says national policy-makers must take measures to develop the competitiveness of their economies; downside risks prevalent for euro economy
Lagarde believes strong US role key to global recovery
IMF chief says US leadership vital; interconnectedness of the global economy means US has a stake in European and global recovery
Draghi explains why more LTRO draw-down information is not released
ECB president says it is not possible to release details of LTRO draw downs by individual banks and country usage figures as it could be misleading
Bank of Slovenia forecasts economic contraction in 2012
Bank of Slovenia forecasts 1.2% contraction in 2012: revised budget in April expected to contain further fiscal tightening
RBA governor posits positive outlook as rates remain unchanged
Domestic demand in 2011 was highest rate for four years, says Glenn Stevens; inflation and borrowing also at trend as Reserve Bank of Australia holds rates
Bernanke stresses financial stability role of central banks
Fed chairman says central banks must treat financial stability and monetary policy as equally important; discusses new regulatory regime as he delivers final student lecture in series
Israeli governor airs fears over impact of European slowdown
Stanley Fischer discusses European economic strife impact on Israeli growth prospects; expresses worries over possible methods for increasing defence budget
ECB’s Asmussen emphasises need for Greek reforms
Jörg Asmussen stresses importance of timely implementation of reform programme in Greece
Interbank market ‘almost dead’ in Europe, says Banque de France’s Mongars
ECB operations are critical for European bank funding as the interbank market is all but broken, says NALM panellist
Estonian governor calls for eurozone co-operation
Lipstok says eurozone member states must work together to ensure a sustainable economic recovery
Bundesbank president cautions against central bank shift into politics
Deutsche Bundesbank president Jens Weidmann confirms central bank’s policy advocating tighter eurozone rules while acknowledging long-term growth is needed to help peripheral countries out of debt
Reserve Bank of Australia wary of risks from European contagion
RBA Monetary Policy Committee signals ongoing concern at contagion effect from Europe dampening Australian prospects
‘Numerous episodes’ of heightened anxiety ahead for Europe, says RBA’s Stevens
Reseve Bank of Australia governor, Glenn Stevens, says ‘old world’ problems have “riveted” global attention but ECB action prevented another funding crisis
Canada cracks down on Syrian central bank
Canada imposes asset freeze on Central Bank of Syria; foreign affairs minister reiterates demand that president Assad step down