Switzerland
SNB bank council president will not stand for re-election
Bank council president Hansueli Raggenbass announces he will not stand for re-election at the end of his term of office
SNB announces year-long delay on new banknotes
Problems with suppliers mean the new Swiss banknotes will not enter circulation until the end of 2013 at the earliest; latest hiccup in long process of renewing the currency
SNB’s Jordan pledges to maintain Swiss franc’s currency floor
Swiss National Bank acting chairman, Thomas Jordan, preserves commitment of Sfr1.20 floor to euro; analysts expect the central bank to defend but not raise floor
Switzerland investigates need for ‘more specific’ insider trading rules
Head of legal services at the Federal Confederation explains the investigations under way into the circumstances that ultimately caused Philipp Hildebrand to resign as governor of the Swiss National Bank
Central bankers gather in Davos for World Economic Forum
Central banking is a hot topic at this year's World Economic Forum; attendees of the event discuss issues in Russia, Poland, China and more
Macro-prudential policies address root of stability problems, says SNB’s Danthine
SNB governing board member Jean-Pierre Danthine says policies that lean against asset bubbles can create large shortfall in economic growth; prefers forward-looking macro-prudential tools
Ingves targets domestic Sifis with tougher capital rules
Basel Committee chairman Stefan Ingves says all institutions whose disorderly distress or failure could trigger a systemic crisis should be subject to additional capital requirements
Gold and currency earnings secure profit for SNB
The Swiss National Bank expects to see annual profit of SFr13 billion ($13.6 billion); able to make the regular distribution to Cantons
Investigation into governing board could delay Swiss governor selection
Thomas Jordan firm favourite to succeed as governor; decision not expected soon as investigation into senior staff's finances continues
New appointments for two Basel-based committees
Agustín Carstens, governor of the Bank of Mexico, and William Dudley, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, take on positions on international committees
Hildebrand succumbs to pressure and resigns
Governor of the Swiss National Bank steps down; mounting political pressure follows uproar over wife’s currency trading activities
Hildebrand defiant over currency trade row
Swiss governor will not resign, expresses regret at political attack on the Swiss National Bank and reveals details of how information was leaked
Swiss governor faces questions over wife’s currency trades
Kashya Hildebrand bought US dollars shortly before Switzerland imposed limit on franc to euro value; Swiss National Bank denies dodgy dealing by governor
SNB holds rates despite weaker growth outlook
Swiss National Bank holds currency floor at Sfr1.20 to the euro as forecasts project a sharp decline in growth and deflation in 2012
European Commission draws up new list of countries for Solvency II equivalence
Decision on Bermuda, Japan and Switzerland equivalence to be taken once Level 2 measures agreed
Central Bank of Egypt denies involvement in illicit money transfer
Central Bank of Egypt says it did not participate in the transfer of funds abroad pertaining to former leader Hosni Mubarak
Sweden will go beyond Basel III capital rules, says Ingves
Riksbank governor Stefan Ingves says Sweden will follow Switzerland and UK in implementing higher capital adequacy requirements than Basel III for largest banks; details to be released soon
Central banks at risk of losing independence: SNB’s Jordan
Swiss National Bank vice-chairman Thomas Jordan says contribution to quasi-fiscal policy measures can lead to gradual loss of independence
SNB’s Hildebrand ready to intervene in Swiss franc market
Swiss National Bank chairman Philipp Hildebrand says central bank is prepared to weaken “highly valued” currency further if deflationary risks materialise
Could the Swiss start a trend?
Robert Pringle discusses the Swiss National Bank's action to limit the exchange rate between the franc and the euro, and asks if others should, and will, follow
SNB faces battle to maintain franc currency floor
Swiss National Bank pledges to set minimum euro exchange rate at Sfr1.20; analysts express concern over central bank’s ability to maintain exchange rate floor
Options traders braced for further SNB intervention
Demand has switched from downside EUR/CHF options to upside options in anticipation of further Swiss franc weakening measures from SNB, say senior options traders
Swiss franc rallies as SNB shows no sign of euro peg
Swiss National Bank intensifies battle against strong Swiss franc by injecting further liquidity into markets; pass on euro-peg moves currency 1% higher
Swiss franc falls on euro peg talk
Swiss franc loses 6.7% against the euro and 6.1% against the dollar as markets digest comments by Swiss National Bank vice chairman Thomas Jordan