Regulation
Arab states launch money laundering task force
Arab states agreed on Tuesday 30 November on the creation of the 14-member Middle East-North Africa Financial Action Task Force to work together to try to keep money out of the hands of terrorists.
Biern on The Bank Secrecy Act & USA Patriot Act
In testimony 'The Bank Secrecy Act and the USA Patriot Act' given on 17 November Herbert Biern of the Division of Banking Supervision and Regulation said regulators believe that banking organizations have to take reasonable and prudent steps to combat…
ECB report on bond markets & interest rates
The European Central Bank published the third and extended edition of a report entitled "Bond markets and long-term interest rates in non-euro area Member States of the European Union and in accession countries" on 24 November.
Ukraine central bank introduces stability measures
The National Bank of Ukraine announced on Tuesday 30 November that it is forbidding commercial banks from making early deposit withdrawals and has set limits on cash and noncash foreign-currency transactions to preserve stability during the country's…
PBOC deputy governor sees no RMB reform timetable
Regulators may let China's four biggest state banks become market makers in US dollar trading, clearing the way for less currency intervention by the central bank, a state-run newspaper reported on Monday 29 November.
Italy's Fazio on regulation and supervision
In a speech on 'Regulation and supervision in financial markets' given on 19 November, Antonio Fazio of the Bank of Italy said the economy of the euro area is afflicted by a loss of competitiveness that reflects structural weaknesses in several fields.
Bahrain establishes new money laundering taskforce
Bahrain is establishing a new taskforce to combat money laundering and terrorist financing across the region. The Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF) will be set up on November 29 and 30 in a meeting to be held behind…
Riksbank deputy on the housing market
Increasing household debt and rising housing prices since the early 1990s have been of great interest to the Riskbank, said Lars Nyberg, a deputy governor, in a recent speech. The central bank and consumers must be vigilant although there do not "seem to…
Frankel on currency crises
In the 2004 Mundell-Fleming lecuture, given at the IMF on 5 November, Professor Jeffrey Frankel examines currency crisis, and their political fallout.
Macfarlane: Monetary Policy & Financial Stability
At a speech given in Melbourne, Reserve Bask of Australia governor, Ian Macfarlane highlights rising risks within the Australian home loan market.
Caruana: what is next for Basel
Remarks by Mr Jaime Caruana, Governor of the Bank of Spain and Chairman of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, at the "Basel II: Reality Check" Conference, London, 10 November 2004.
Brazil's central bank takes over Banco Santos
Brazil's central bank took over operations of Banco Santos on Friday evening, in response to the bank's weak financial situation and its failure to meet deposit requirements.
Fed's Bies on financial supervision issues
In a speech on 'Financial supervision issues' given on 5 November, Susan Schmidt Bies of the Federal Reserve said the US government budget has become a "cookie jar" for lawmakers over the past four years, with taxpayer funds spent in some cases for …
Chicago Fed's Moskow on community development
In a speech on 'Lessons for Community Development Financial Institutions' given on 5 November, Michael Moskow of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago said Community banks could learn from some of their competitors, such as check-cashing services, and…
Iraqi central bank authorises hard currency loans
The Iraqi Central Bank has authorized the public and private banks to give loans in hard currency to citizens in accordance with the regulations and mechanisms approved by each bank's board of directors.
Interview with Central Bank of Nigeria's Soludo
In a recent interview Central Bank of Nigeria governor Charles Soludo talked about his plan to increase banks' minimum capital requirement. Soludo gives his opinion on some of the most talked-about points of his plan.
Padoa-Schioppa on European financial institutions
In a speech 'How to deal with emerging pan-European financial institutions?' given on 3 November, Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa of the ECB said the regulatory and supervisory framework that is now in place can meet the challenges. The condition, however, is…
Cyprus and Russia sign money laundering accord
The Cypriot Unit for Combating Money Laundering (MOKAS) has signed a cooperation agreement with the corresponding unit from the Russian Federation on international cooperation against money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism.
Thaksin's tiff with the Thai bank governor
This article discusses reports that Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has ordered the finance ministry to study "reform" of the Bank of Thailand's supervisory role. The idea is to reduce the central bank governor's authority, splitting his…
Fed's Bies on financial institution supervision
In a speech on 'Enterprise perspectives in financial institution supervision' given on 21 October, Susan Schmidt Bies of the Federal Reserve said mortgage market giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were taking on interest-rate risk as a way to grow…
FATF targets cross-border cash movements
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), meeting in Paris from 20-22 October, has added a key element to the world's counter-terrorist financing defences.
PBOC's Zhou calls for deposit insurance
China should make the setting up of a bank deposit insurance system a priority to protect savers and help liquidate indebted banks, central bank governor Zhou Xiaochuan was quoted on Monday 18 October as saying.
IMF assesses financial stability in Norway
A delegation from the IMF is currently visiting Norwegian authorities and financial market participants to gather information about the Norwegian financial system.
Malta's Bonello on the cb & financial stability
In a speech on 'The Central Bank of Malta and financial stability' given on 13 September, Michael Bonello of the Central Bank of Malta said there are clearly several good reasons why sound regulatory and oversight practices remain vital for the stability…