Banks
ECB orders Latvia to shutter bank over laundering allegations
US Treasury alleges the bank laundered billions of dollars and had links to North Korea
FCA fails to publish contentious report on RBS
Regulator opts to supply parliamentary committee with a confidential version of the report, but lawmakers may publish it anyway
Singapore to step up consumer protection on e-payments
Banks must offer users better protection measures, but users could also face fines for recklessness or carelessness
FCA to examine feasibility of global regulatory sandbox
UK regulator recommends establishing a “college” of regulators to strengthen co-operation across borders; interested parties have until March to comment
People: Tunisian governor resigns; EFSF appoints chairman
Governor Ayari quits after Tunisian prime minister initiated the process to replace him; EFSF picks new chairman; European Commission proposes new chief for Systemic Risk Board
Sama enables blockchain for cross-border payments
Pilot with Ripple will allow domestic banks to settle payments across the xCurrent network; payments infrastructure based on the Interledger Protocol
BIS’s Carstens sees danger in rapid technological change
General manager says supervisors should ensure the banking system remains resilient amid numerous challenges to traditional business models
RBA paper proposes new method of mapping the banking network
“Density-based” approach helps overcome shortcomings of other methods, authors say
People: Caruana nominated for Spanish commercial bank’s board
Qatar appoints deputy governor and Ukraine announces new onsite inspection head
RBI launches tougher rules on non-performing loans
Overhaul of framework for dealing with stressed assets is latest step in central bank’s push to clean up financial sector
World Gold Council launches gold accounting framework
Guidance aims to help central banks harmonise the treatment of gold in their accounts in a way that meshes with broader reserves accounting
President names governor for one of Yemen’s two central banks
Saudi Arabia likely to be a key influence in appointing the new figure, says expert
BoE’s Cunliffe sees liquidity risk in rise of investment funds
Investors have poured money into less liquid instruments at a time when market liquidity has been falling, warns the BoE deputy governor
Aruban central bank needs mandate to regulate payment system – report
New mandate would require creation of central bank payments department; stakeholders agree on need for modernisation
China’s shadow banking market dominated by banks
BIS researchers map the Chinese shadow banking system and its evolution over time, finding it contrasts with the market-based shadow banking of the US
Interest rate risk could be seed of next crisis – economists
Financial markets may have underestimated the persistence of low rates, and regulations have amplified the threat, say Srichander Ramaswamy and Philip Turner
Banks running out of time to make post-Brexit eurozone applications
Banks looking to relocate should apply “by the end of the second quarter” – ECB supervisor Lautenschläger
A dangerous unknown: interest rate risk in the financial system
Urgent action is needed to tackle the little-understood build-up of interest rate risk in the global financial system; macro-pru tools still inadequate to tackle the issue
Saudis deposit $3 billion to build up Yemeni central bank
Saudis are also training central bank staff, and say US and UK are supporting capacity-building
Fed imposes growth cap after ‘consumer abuses’ at Wells Fargo
Troubled lender is not allowed to expand its assets further until it improves governance and controls
Central Bank of Malta seeks closer ties with North Africa
Malta is well-placed to link the north and south sides of the Mediterranean, says board director Philomena Meli
Banks not necessarily more opaque than other firms – BIS paper
Study compares stock returns of those with insider knowledge against the wider market
BoE’s Brazier flags concerns about ‘stretched’ credit markets
BoE is simulating ‘liquidity mismatch’ in bond markets to ensure financial stability, says executive director; central bank has a ‘duty’ to adapt regulation
Markets should not panic over reserve levels – Bajan governor
Haynes says level of reserves has reached new all-time low at 6.6 weeks of imports, but central bank is not considering a devaluation