Regulation
IMF mission leaves Russia with no agreement
Russia is likely to get a frosty reception from the Paris Club of sovereign creditors after an International Monetary Fund mission left Moscow this week without reaching agreement.
Norges Bank supports MeritaNordbanken's buy
The Norwegian central bank, Norges Bank, said Thursday it recommends to the Norwegian banking and insurance authority that Nordic Baltic Holding and its unit MeritaNordbanken (S.MNB) be allowed to acquire Christiania Bank og Kreditkassen (Y.CBK).
Manila c.bank sets body to check money laundering
The Philippines central bank said on Thursday it would set up a six-member committee to evaluate reports on suspicious bank transactions as part of its efforts to fight money laundering.
Indonesia regulators seek banking consolidation
Indonesia might close or merge more than 100 banks within three years in its battle to create a strong financial system, the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency said.
Fraga welcomes BSCH bid for Banespa bank
Spain's Banco Santander Central Hispano was the surprise high bidder for Banespa yesterday, claiming Brazil's state bank for an unexpectedly high US$3.6bn. Arminio Fraga, Brazil's central bank president, welcomed the bid.
Second Nicaraguan bank collapses
Nicaragua is facing a crisis in its fragile financial system after the regulator moved to take over the second bank to fail in the past 100 days, and attacked the government for refusing to guarantee its customers' deposits.
Iran's Bank Melli to open branch in Moscow
Iran's Bank Melli will soon open a branch in Moscow with a capital of over $10m, Central Bank of Iran governor Mohsen Nurbakhsh said in a meeting with his Russian counterpart Viktor Gerashchenko.
Sri Lanka working towards 10 pct capital adequacy
Sri Lanka's central bank governor said on Friday he would work towards raising tier two capital adequacy ratios for commercial banks to 10 percent next year from eight percent now.
Thai cenbank's supervision to focus on risk mgmt
Bank of Thailand's supervision department will shift its focus to supervising the risk management of financial institutions early next year, said an official Friday.
Estonian bank sector Oct capital adequacy 13.7 pct
The Estonian central bank said on Friday the average capital adequacy ratio in the banking sector at the end of October stood at 13.7 percent, down from 14.1 percent at the end of August.
Pakistan might adopt Islamic banking gradually
Pakistan may try to convert gradually to a full Islamic banking system rather than make a sudden transformation by the middle of next year - the Supreme Court's deadline to end all interest driven transactions, which are considered contrary to Islam -…
Cenbank says Taiwan will not face financial crisis
Taiwan's central bank governor Perng Fai-nan dismissed Tuesday the speculation that Taiwan will suffer a financial crisis early next year.
IMF lobbies private sector over finance standards
An IMF/World Bank team visited London today on one leg of a travellingroadshow designed to sell global financial standards to the private sector.
Bank Indonesia says using key tools to help rupiah
Anwar Nasution, acting governor of Bank Indonesia, said that the central bank was using several key tools to help boost the rupiah.
Interview with Ernst Welteke
Ernst Welteke, president of the Deutsche Bundesbank, talks with the editor of the Quarterly Journal of Central Banking, Robert Pringle, about the forthcoming restructuring of the Bundesbank, the euro, the ECB and the need for greater political…
Husain wants banking consolidation in Pakistan
Pakistan's central bank governor Ishrat Husain has said that he wants fewer, but stronger financial institutions in Pakistan which can mobilise and allocate resources in a cost effective and efficient manner.
Slow integration of European equity markets
Sir Eddie George, Governor of the Bank of England, said to UK parliamentarians that European equity market integration will take time.
Bahrain develops Islamic banking regulatory regime
The Bahrain Monetary Agency said it has developed a regulatory system for Islamic banking in the island state, and the framework was being considered by banks.
Market approach to maintaining systemic stability
An article by David Mayes at the Bank of Finland examines a more market based approach to maintaining systemic stability.