News/Financial Stability
Brazil slams IMF proposal on capital controls
Brazil’s finance minister Guido Mantega rejects IMF proposals for establishment of framework on capital controls; attacks Fund’s laissez-faire policy on capital movements
G-20 agrees guidelines to identify imbalances
G-20 representatives move forward with plans to establish guidelines to measure economic imbalances
Greek budget cuts raise default concerns
Markets prepare for the worst as Athens unveils new tougher austerity measures; IMF managing director Dominique Strauss-Kahn says cuts are necessary
Russia launches Olympic coins
Bank of Russia launches Sochi 2014 coin series to “promote Olympic values in Russia and abroad”
Banks caught in ‘maelstrom of interlinked pressures’: IMF
IMF’s Global Financial Stability Report slams progress made by banking system reforms; calls for higher quality and quantity capital in Europe
Bank’s Fisher optimistic on winding down crisis facilities
Bank of England executive director of markets Paul Fisher says recent progress in markets reinforced decision to end special liquidity scheme next year
FDIC projects return to black
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation expects its deposit insurance fund to return to positive figures this year after 13 quarters of negative funds
‘Disquieting developments’ in ETFs warrants attention: FSB
Financial Stability Board warns of potential issues arising from recent trends in exchange-traded funds (ETFs)
Risk management reforms a work in progress: IIF survey
Institute of International Finance survey says further progress on risk management reforms necessary; calls for more work to promote appropriate risk culture
FSB outlines road to shadow banking regulation
Financial Stability Board sets out detailed definition of shadow bank; outlines possible future steps to better regulate the system
UK banking commission keen on ring-fencing retail operations
Safeguards on retail banking “common sense” chairman claims; Sifis need minimum capital ratio of 10%
IMF praises PMA as Palestine bids for statehood
Palestine Monetary Authority “now in a position to carry out functions of a central bank” as the territory bids for statehood recognition as of September
Belgium unveils financial health indicator
National Bank of Belgium designs financial health indicator to monitor risk of company failures; says probability of bankruptcy higher than 25% for least financially sound
Bank’s Haldane warns capital inflows may overwhelm emerging markets
Bank of England executive director for financial stability Andrew Haldane says rapid rate of investment in emerging markets could lead to financial instability
Sepa end-dates should be set in stone: ECB
European Central Bank proposes concrete end-dates for migration to Single Euro Payments Area
Greek debt still the most risky: CMA survey
CMA labels Greek sovereign debt as most risky in the world, second quarter in a row; countries elsewhere in Western Europe performed the best
EBA reveals benchmark for EU stress tests
European Banking Authority to apply 5% core Tier I capital ratio of risk-weighted assets on stress tests; says 90 banks will participate in tests
Japan offers ¥1 trillion to firms in disaster-stricken regions
Bank of Japan makes ¥1 trillion available for loans to financial co-operatives and banks in disaster-stricken regions
Portugal seeks bailout, Trichet confident rate hike will only help
Portugal seeks financial assistance from Brussels; European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet says rate hike will help build confidence in stricken sovereign
Sweden picks famous faces for new banknotes
Riksbank announces motifs to be emblazoned on new banknotes; include actress Greta Garbo, author Astrid Lindgren and singer Birgit Nilsson
Basel Committee’s Walter: consensus reached on method to identify Sifis
Basel Committee has now agreed on criteria for banks posing systemic threat; FSB agrees on accelerated timetable for G-20 recommendations
Ireland’s Elderfield: we’ll not haircut senior debt
Matthew Elderfield, Ireland’s head regulator, assures senior bondholders in four banks they will not face “action”
New York Fed to set up working group on OTC reforms
New York Federal Reserve receives commitment from market participants to support strategic road map on reforms to over-the-counter derivatives markets
Riksbank report examines links between housing and financial stability
Report notes that housing slumps seldom result in banking crises outside the US; highlights data deficiencies