Single supervisory mechanism (SSM)
Lautenschläger says some leveraged finance practices need watching
ECB’s head of supervision notes increase in ‘covenant-lite’ deals
EBA unveils 2016 stress test methodology
European Banking Authority presents the methodology for 2016 stress tests; no single capital adequacy level, but results will inform regulators’ assessments under SREP
Small and medium eurozone banks must assess business models, Lautenschläger says
Smaller financial institutions need to examine their business models in detail, eurozone regulator says; SSM wants harmonised treatment of institutional protection schemes
Nouy says increase in European banking spreads not ‘justified’
Recent rise in credit spreads for eurozone banks does not appear justified, given their high capital levels, Danièle Nouy tells the European parliament
ECB’s Angeloni wants analysis of macro-prudential measures ‘at some stage’
Supervisory board member says analysis will be important in the future, partly because it will help identify ‘scope’ of potential ECB actions
Some eurozone countries increasing ‘regulatory fragmentation’, Lautenschläger says
‘Regulatory fragmentation’ between eurozone nations’ banking supervision regimes is being increased in some cases, Sabine Lautenschläger argues
Europe needs ‘consistent’ policy on solvency issues, Lautenschläger argues
Decisions needed on whether the SSM has competence in solvency issues currently dealt with at national level, Lautenschläger argues; calls for reform to ‘routine’ decisions process
SSM sets out supervisory priorities for 2016
The SSM set out its supervisory priorities for 2016, with a wide-ranging list of ‘thematic reviews’ to be carried out; key areas include business model risk and high levels of non-performing loans
EC plans full eurozone deposit insurance by 2024
Proposals outline gradual introduction of common deposit insurance in the eurozone between 2017 and 2024; size of fund equivalent to 0.8% of covered deposits, estimated at €43bn
ECB aims for single policy on ‘options and discretions’ with new proposals
Central bank publishes draft documents aiming to create a single policy for the exercise of options and discretions under banking law in financial systems it regulates
Harnessing network theory for more prudent bank supervision
Closer supervisory activities and data-sharing post-crisis offer the potential to harness network techniques to gain an improved understanding of financial risks
Danièle Nouy targets greater regulatory harmonisation
Supervisory board chair highlights efforts taken to harmonise regulatory framework in Europe but stresses more must be done; says SSM is ‘working very well’ as it approaches first anniversary
ECB concerned by impact of draft German law on supervision
European Central Bank suggests proposals could impact consistency across the banking union and its own supervisory discretion in response to Federal Ministry of Finance
ECB paper makes case for Bayesian model averaging in stress-test models
Working paper highlights the differences between using Bayesian model averaging and a series of handpicked equations
ECB rolls out new website
Central bank revamps website with new design that puts greater emphasis on images, graphs and statistics; builds on bank supervision site launched in November
Czech vice-governor questions case for joining banking union
Mojmír Hampl considers the pros and cons of the Czech Republic joining the SSM; government adopts a ‘wait-and-see approach’ and will review the issue every 12 months
Legal assistance cost Bank of Portugal €2 million in 2014
Bank of Portugal reveals €2 million cost of legal assistance with its intervention in BES, an act it describes as ‘an unprecedented effort to safeguard financial stability’
Bundesbank’s Dombret wants more ‘proportional’ supervisory teams
Executive board member says the joint supervisory teams in Europe should be proportionate to the size and significance of the banks they supervise
Centralising supervision may trigger more integration, ECB paper finds
Working paper suggests centralising supervision could create the need for even more centralisation; calls for ‘perimeter of banks’ supervised by central authority to be flexible
Nouy sees banking union driving deeper integration
ECB report finds financial integration back to levels achieved before sovereign debt crisis; Danièle Nouy expects banking union to help create ‘deeper integration of a higher quality’
Rossi calls on supervisors to ‘build a real single house’
Senior deputy governor at the Bank of Italy stresses the importance of harmonising supervisory practices across the eurozone to ‘exploit the potential’ of the SSM
Nouy sets out SSM priorities for 2015
Supervisory board chair Danièle Nouy reveals focus on profitability drivers of largest banks in eurozone, as well as their risk appetite and governance; first annual report published
Spanish deputy favours ‘moral persuasion’ in supervision
Fernando Restoy believes supervisors should have the ‘ability to influence the decisions’ of the managers of the entities it oversees through ‘moral persuasion’
Outgoing Belgian governor takes ECB role
Luc Coene named as one of four ECB representatives on the SSM supervisory board, a role he will start after stepping down as National Bank of Belgium governor next month