Banks
UK payments regulator approves of code of conduct
Big UK banks have published a voluntary code of conduct for those providing indirect access to payment systems, in a bid to improve standards
UK payments have room for improvement, report finds
Report identifies priorities for better payments among consumers, businesses and government, finding desire for faster, more flexible payments with less room for error
Kazakh central bank moves to stabilise banking sector
Central bank launches plan to compensate depositors hit by collapse in value of tenge, as banks reliant on external funding run into problems
Rajan warns banks there will be no more ‘extend and pretend’ on NPLs
Banks need to face the fact that large chunks of their assets are non-performing, and the RBI will no longer prop them up via a policy of forbearance, governor says
RBNZ tweaks macro-prudential plans after banks push back
Banks will be subject to more lenient ‘speed limits’ and will have more time to adapt to new macro-prudential rules, after the industry complains
BoE economists mine tweets for early-warning indicator
Central bank put its work on ‘text mining’ and big data to work during Scottish independence referendum in an attempt to create an early-warning indicator for bank runs
China should ‘rein in’ vulnerabilities, IMF warns
Economy faces challenge in balancing reform and growth, with IMF warning of growing risks in the financial system and need for further rebalancing
IMF paper finds standard risk metrics perform poorly with low financial depth
Authors find ‘excess credit’ is a better early warning indicator for financial instability than credit-to-GDP where countries have limited financial depth
UK regulators spare Co-op Bank £120m fine
Bank of England and FCA ‘censure’ the troubled bank for multiple failures including not being open with regulators, but drop a £120 million fine on financial stability grounds
End of sanctions could be double-edged sword for Iranian banks
Iran central bank vice-governor warns domestic banks have work to do before they are opened up to international competition, but Iranian investors see end of sanctions as broadly positive
Lobbying softens regulatory treatment of distressed banks in US, paper finds
Under-capitalised US banks are less likely to be rigorously supervised if they have exercised political or regulatory influence, a working paper published by the ECB finds
ECB paper models joint default risk with fat tails
Researchers reject normal distribution in favour of one with fatter tails, find ‘unprecedented’ tail risks in 2011-12 fell sharply after the OMT announcement
UK payments regulator evaluates efforts to improve access
Banks and payment systems now expected to be more transparent about criteria for access; regulator says this is now bearing fruit, but the real tests are yet to come
New trading book QIS tackles correlation gripes
Changes proposed for correlation, exotic derivatives and hard-to-model risks
BoE’s Gracie describes unique dangers of cyber attack
Unprepared firms could find themselves up against attacks by fraudsters or unscrupulous states, and the damage could be difficult to detect
EBA data shines light on systemic banks
Latest figures on European systemic banks highlight the many different ways in which institutions can have a systemic impact
BoE’s Gracie praises TLAC and MREL standards
Executive director says loss-absorbing capacity provided by the two standards will help regulators co-operate across borders and ensure core functions can continue to operate
EBA reports shine light on variation in risk weights
Two studies aim to track down some of the reasons that risk-weighted assets appear to vary across banks with similar risk profiles, offering suggestions for supervisory action
EBA report identifies issues stemming from use of macro-prudential tools to date
Survey of European use of macro-prudential tools to date reveals problems of overlaps and double counting, interaction with micro tools and bewildering diversity
Bundesbank paper tracks causes of financial crisis balance sheet contraction
Working paper identifies characteristics and behaviour that had a dampening effect on German banks during the 2008 crisis, noting the importance of taking a nuanced view
RBI deputy says securitisation market is ‘raring to go’
R Gandhi dismisses concerns that Indian regulation of securitisations is too heavy handed, saying there are plenty of opportunities if firms are willing to seize them
Martin Wheatley resigns as FCA chief executive
FCA chief quits after it emerges the UK chancellor will not be renewing his term next year; worldwide search begins for successor
Israel’s Flug wants to shine light on ‘grey market’
The alternative financing market, composed of both law-abiding and criminal elements, needs to be shrunk and brought under the supervisory spotlight, says Bank of Israel's governor