Banks
Chan welcomes code of conduct for Hong Kong bankers
HKMA chief executive praises stricter code of conduct, which seeks to improve banking culture, promote competition and protect consumers
Oman central bank toughens rules for systemic banks
Central Bank of Oman unveils framework for regulating domestic systemically important banks, including capital surcharges, stress testing, crisis management and resolution planning
BCBS paper reviews how accounting may fuel crises
Basel Committee paper surveys research into how accounting rules may have contributed to financial crisis, with implications for the design of disclosure rules
BoE’s Hauser says markets review will avoid heavy-handed regulation
Andrew Hauser says UK’s Fair and Effective Markets Review will seek to achieve its aims through market discipline if possible, instead of imposing burdensome regulation
Basel Committee issues enhanced disclosure standards
Revised standards aim to improve the comparability of banks’ risk-weighted assets, shedding light on internal model-based approaches
Ireland’s Honohan: organisational structure to be ‘thoroughly overhauled’
Central Bank of Ireland governor details ongoing efforts to rectify the regulatory failings that led to the 2008 crisis in the country's banking system
Bundesbank paper finds bank levy is biting
Big banks have adjusted their behaviour in response to a tax on their liabilities, but less revenue has been raised than expected, Bundesbank researchers find
Banks are being herded into using similar risk methods by regulation, experts warn
Regulation is encouraging banks to manage risk using similar methods, which presents a threat to financial stability, witnesses tell a UK parliamentary committee
Basel Committee revamps approach to credit risk models
Separate consultations set out improvements to standardised credit risk modelling approaches and make proposals for a capital floor; seek to reduce use of external ratings
First BoE stress test uncovers capital shortfall
One UK bank failed the Bank of England's stress test scenario and two more have had to raise additional capital; Carney says future tests may be less forgiving
Basel Committee tightens securitisation standards despite bank protests
Final standards for securitisations impose tougher capital requirements despite banks’ complaints that the rules are ‘punitive’; reduces reliance on external ratings
Davis Report reveals extent of FCA communications blunder
Report uncovers misguided comms strategy, poor supervision by senior managers and sluggish response as FCA ‘taken by surprise’
IMF praises Central Bank of Kuwait’s ‘proactive’ approach
Central bank is ‘proactive’ in its liquidity management and macro-prudential supervision, IMF report says; publishing more timely information on oil sector would be ‘useful’
UK's FCA unveils reshuffle amid criticism
Conduct supervisor admits supervisory model for small firms has been "under strain" as three directors quit; critical report due to be published this week
BoE extends Funding for Lending Scheme
Scheme will continue for an additional year in a bid to boost credit provision to small businesses; Mark Carney admits lending to smaller firms is still problematic
BoE researchers posit dual model of interbank markets
Working paper separates exposures from funding to show the two parts of the interbank market have different structures; large ‘core’ banks present contagion risk
Bank of Portugal gets new powers to assess bank directors
Bankers’ current court cases and their personal business conduct are now also part of the Bank of Portugal's assessment of the banking system
Linde: Spanish banks have ‘solid solvency position’
Bank of Spain governor says performance of Spanish banks during ECB stress tests was ‘positive’; banks face the future in a ‘solid solvency position’
Central Bank of Brazil takes action to boost credit
Co-operative banks in Brazil to be granted as much as 760 million reais for new loans and allowed to issue bonds, in a move designed boost credit in the country
UK bank reforms may be ‘diluted’, warns parliamentary commission
Former members of the Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards warn regulations are at risk of being misinterpreted, diluted by lobbying, or applied incorrectly
RBI wants foreign banks to offer commercial services
R Gandhi, deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India, argues the local economy needs foreign banks to offer commercial services, ‘to ensure further penetration of banking activities’
UK launches probe into banking sector competition
Investigation will assess whether retail banking market is too concentrated, with barriers to entry and opacity under scrutiny
Central Bank of Kuwait highlights improving banking sector health
Banking sector saw improvements on ‘almost all fronts’ as Islamic banking continued to rise, according to annual financial stability report; income and return on equity see drop
Bulgaria hits back at EBA deposit insurance demands
Bulgarian National Bank says Bulgarian law does not give it the power to comply with EBA demands to release deposits at failed backs; EBA chair criticises apparent deceleration in process