Financial Stability
Opinion: Sepa opens borders for European money
ECB’s director-general of market infrastructure and payments reflects on the successful creation of the single euro payments area, its beneficial impacts and the payment cards challenge to come
BoE working group finds ‘striking' changes in investment behaviour by insurers and pension funds
Nature of investments has changed markedly over the past 15 years, says Andrew Haldane-led group, which also includes Oxford professor Ian Goldin and Jim O'Neill
Central Bank of Nigeria inks deal to set up credit fund for small businesses
Governor Godwin Emefiele signs MoU with state governments on $1.4 billion fund to lower lending rates for SMEs, but critics call for speedier remedies
Bank of Russia ready to act to cushion bank sanctions blow
US and EU sanctions are aimed at state-owned banks and could cover central bank-owned Sberbank - but sanctioning the Bank of Russia itself remains unthinkable
HKMA chief rejects use of $400bn fund for social purposes
Norman Chan says the HKMA’s exchange fund is the ‘last line of defence’ for financial stability and should be maintained as a buffer against ‘unforeseeable shocks and crises’
Bank of England unveils plans to lock up bankers' bonuses for seven years
New rule will mean financial sector bonuses can be 'clawed back' for up to seven years, but the BoE is also proposing bonuses are locked up until that period expires
Hong Kong and Thailand link settlement systems
New link will ensure the simultaneous delivery of US Dollars in Hong Kong and Thai Baht in Thailand; HKMA’s Peter Pang says it creates a ‘safer’ environment for settling forex transactions
Cross-border vulnerabilities should be taken more seriously, IMF paper says
Working paper says funding vulnerabilities ‘have real effects', although they have declined since the crisis due to lower exposures and increased capital levels
Credit cards account for more than half of all payment cards in the US, report shows
Credit cards accounted for 334 million of the 776 million ‘general purpose cards' used in 2012; Over 250 million mobile payments made using mobile wallet application, Fed study finds
RBI executive director says ‘multiple instruments' needed to stem EM capital outflows
Deepak Mohanty says drawdown of forex reserves, monetary tightening, and augmentation of reserves needed to dampen speculative flows
Herding tendencies mean smaller banks won't solve moral hazard issue
Anticipation of bailouts encourages banks to invest alike, making bailouts more probable and crises more severe, Minneapolis Fed paper argues
BoE exec calls for enough GLAC to restore capital level above minimum
Banks that have undergone resolution ‘likely to need at least as much capital as other banks in the market' to command market confidence
Banxico deputy says capital controls 'multilaterally detrimental'
Manuel Ramos-Francia says EMs that have implemented capital controls to stem capital flows have ‘deflected' them towards other economies, creating political tension
ECB data stolen in blackmail attempt
Hackers raid ECB database that contains around 20,000 email addresses of people who have registered for its events; security breach did not impact internal systems
Menon: ‘Too early’ to ease macro-prudential policies
Managing director says there are ‘some indications’ the property market is cooling down, but remains concerned by high prices and household debt
Bulgarian governor offers to step down
Ivan Iskrov says he will resign ‘immediately’ if parliament sets a date for picking his successor; attacks politicians for using the central bank as a ‘plaything’ in their election campaigns
RBA deputy hints at renminbi clearing bank and RQFII quota
Philip Lowe reveals that Australia should get a designated clearing bank ‘in the coming months’ and hopes to obtain a quota for investment in mainland China shortly after
IMF staff note: Structural reforms 'more desirable' than nominal wage cuts in Europe
International Monetary Fund staff note says ‘many reforms’ are still needed in deficit countries; highlights benefits of greater fiscal integration in longer term
IMF paper finds macro-prudential polices can help prevent liquidity traps
Researchers find that debt limits and insurance requirements can help prevent economic agents from accumulating excessive leverage and triggering liquidity traps
Sri Lanka seeks return of money offered at Indian shrines
Sri Lankan central bank seeks to repatriate estimated 20 tonnes of coins offered as part of religious worship in India
Tanzania hits financial inclusion target early due to mobile surge
Benno Ndulu says the number of adults with access to financial services has doubled in five years; describes mobile phones as ‘critical link’ between the unbanked and the formal system
French paper warns buffers ‘may not be sufficient’ to avoid credit crunch
Banque de France working paper finds an increase in market pressure to hold more capital can ‘limit the ability of banks to expand credit’ and trigger a crisis
Euro banknote counterfeiting rises 4.4% year-on-year
‘Europa’ series will not address forgery problem until 2015; Eurosystem central banks urge consumers to ‘look, feel and tilt’ notes to look out for counterfeits
Robert Pringle’s Viewpoint: Start policy normalisation now!
Policy changes are needed to reduce the chances of another recession