Banks
ECB overnight lending rockets to 19-month high
Banks’ borrowing from the European Central Bank’s marginal lending facility climbs to $21 billion on Wednesday; sudden move has sparked speculation on bank troubles, analysts say
Basel surveys literature on links between finance and real economy
Basel Committee on Banking Supervision’s Research Task Force identifies three transmission channels between financial sector and real economy
Spanish banks’ ECB reliance drops
Spanish banks’ borrowing from European Central Bank declines just over 20% compared to December
UBS investment chief claims Swiss capital ratios too high, won’t hold
Chief executive of UBS’s investment bank Carsten Kengeter suggests 19% capital requirement may be watered down; says rules will “always be broken”
Egypt's banks gradually reopen
Central Bank of Egypt says 396 more branches will reopen on Thursday and resume normal working hours; stock exchange also to reopen
Spain should consider regulatory overhaul: FSB peer review
Financial Stability Board peer review calls for Spanish authorities to consider new regulatory structure once market turmoil has subsided; separate review of Italy also published
Duke defends Fed’s liquidity measures
Federal Reserve board member Elizabeth Duke says Fed bail-out was necessary for welfare of entire economy, not just banks
UK FSA calls for more funds again
Financial Services Authority puts funding requirement up by 10%, pointing to increased cost of intensive supervision, Basel III and forthcoming split
Central Bank of Egypt advises banks to close amid continuing protests
Some banks in Egypt close on Sunday and Monday on central bank guidance; Moody’s downgrades country on fears over political situation
HKMA end-of-year review says banking sector resilient
Hong Kong Monetary Authority end-of-year review says banking sector remains resilient; plans to step up regulation of banks in 2011
IIF’s Oudéa calls for G-20 taskforce for cross-border resolution
Institute for International Finance’s Frédéric Oudéa says G-20 taskforce will stir up political will for agreement on cross-border resolution
IMF uneasy on nagging weakness of eurozone’s banks
Fund’s Global Financial Stability Report and World Economic Outlook updates show concern over insufficiency of eurozone stress tests, links between banking and sovereign risks
Banking Commission chief makes case for ring-fencing retail operations
Independent Commission on Banking chief John Vickers rules out “radical narrow banking” but says some separation between investment and retail banks could help
Bank of Japan - Bank Lending Survey (January 2011)
Bank of Japan January 2011 bank lending survey reports little change in demand for loans by businesses
Anglo chiefs approached me before crash: ex-central bank director
Former Central Bank of Ireland director Alan Gray says chairman and chief executive of now state-owned Anglo Irish Bank approached him over liquidity stress in lead up to government guarantee, crisis
Basel bids to ensure all regulatory capital can be used to buffer losses
Basel Committee on Banking Supervision sets out rules to ensure instruments deemed Tier I and Tier II capital can be used to soak up losses; instruments issued after January 2013 must comply
Public expectations of banking supervision unrealistic: Netherlands Bank study
The Netherlands Bank study says high public expectations of banking supervision can adversely impact financial stability
Haircut fears push up bank CDS prices
Spreads on the credit index for senior European financials widen as EU releases burden-sharing consultation paper
Spain’s Aríztegui on savings banks mergers
Bank of Spain deputy governor Javier Aríztegui discusses institutional protection schemes
Accountability and risk management key to banking: Albania’s Fullani
Bank of Albania governor Ardian Fullani tells bankers how central bank is raising the standards against which they are judged
Ireland lifts lid on tough new enforcement approach
Central Bank of Ireland publishes first-ever enforcement strategy, detailing tough line on sanctions; publication accompanies penalties on Allied Irish Banks, NCB Stockbrokers
Norges Bank on links between marginal value of cash and firms’ behaviour
Norges Bank research points to impact of marginal value of cash on businesses’ decision making
Brussels forges ahead with Sepa end-date proposal, despite differences
European Commission proposes deadlines for national credit and debit transfers to migrate to Sepa system; move could divide stakeholders
Bank of Canada – Financial System Review (December 2010)
Canadian central bank says households’ debt levels pose risk