Financial Stability
BIS paper weighs future of liquidity stress tests
Bank for International Settlements working group compiles survey on current stress-testing practices among its members, and identifies a basic framework of what future tests could include
Netherlands Bank says macro-prudential tools have ‘added value’ in currency union
Dutch central bank points to national and regional benefits of macro-prudential policy; says the ECB’s ability to intervene in an individual country’s policy will help counter the ‘inaction bias’ of policy-makers
Cœuré concerned over 'big bang’ payments migration
ECB says many member states are planning to migrate to the Single Euro Payments Area in the last quarter of the year; Benoît Cœuré points to operational risks of leaving it to the last minute
Malaysia deputy touts progress on money laundering, terrorism financing
Alshari Yahaya also notes due diligence in some instances remains inadequate and not reflective of the level of risks; says 'reward system' should reflect strong risk culture and performance
ECB unveils three-pronged comprehensive assessment
European Central Bank reveals the methodology behind the risk assessment, asset quality review and stress test it will use to scrutinise the eurozone’s largest banks over the next year
RBA proposes Australian Payments Council to strengthen industry coordination
Reserve Bank of Australia and industry body Australian Payments Clearing Association launch consultation on establishment of new payments council
Bundesbank's Lautenschläger raises leverage ratio concerns
Introducing the leverage ratio as the primary regulatory requirement would mean taking two steps back to the risk-insensitivity of Basel I and even beyond, Bundesbank deputy president argues
Bundesbank warns over surge in German property prices
House prices in the country's biggest cities are up more than a quarter since 2010, as investors search for yield amid record low interest rates; lack of supply also plays a role, says new study
ECB’s Cœuré laments slow payments progress
Benoît Cœuré says closer integration of payment systems in Europe would bring major benefits, but is being held back by limited efforts at standardisation; urges banks to innovate more
Buba paper: Banks with volatile loan demand load up on wholesale funds
Bundesbank discussion paper argues ‘loan uncertainty' not only result but determinant of wholesale funding, implying regulatory cap on wholesale funding increases exposure to ‘asset-side shocks'
Central Bank of Ireland research scrutinises credit and house price links
Researchers anatomise Ireland’s painful housing boom and bust, highlighting importance of the 'income fraction' channel in creating sharp movements in mortgage credit supply
UK’s Chaps continues growth despite losses to Faster Payments
High-value payments system handled an increasing value of transactions in 2012 despite widespread migration to Faster Payments, according to first ever Chaps report
BoE's Financial Policy Committee ‘most fashionable backstop in town'
External member of the Bank of England's Financial Policy Committee says its interventions will inevitably be ‘counter-popular', as it is increasingly used to backstop other people's policies
Taper surprises could cause more volatility, warns Mexico deputy
Structural reforms should put the Mexican economy on a stronger footing, deputy governor Manuel Sánchez says, but warns economic rebound could suffer from tapering without stronger US growth
IMF paper warns half-hearted Japanese reforms would push up long-term rates
Researchers say long-term yields and banks’ interest rate exposures will increase if structural and fiscal reforms are not seen through to the end
Fed heavyweights warn new bank resolution laws won't end ‘too big to fail'
Dudley, Lacker and Tarullo say 'single point of entry' framework under 'Title II' provision is important but inadequate; FOMC members call for long-term debt requirement for Sifis
RBI launches ‘advanced’ new RTGS system
New platform expected to ‘significantly’ boost efficiency, and thought to be first ISO 20022-compliant RTGS system; Rajan says it keeps central bank a step ahead of financial markets
Malaysian deputy says ATM network can drive e-banking adoption
Muhammad bin Ibrahim urges banks to go to greater pains to educate their customers in the benefits of e-banking; says ATMs are important means of making electronic transactions
RBA’s Ellis warns against regulatory ‘monoculture’
Reserve Bank of Australia’s financial stability head says regulatory consistency is ‘important’ but should not result in identical business models that could all be vulnerable to one particular shock
Bailey sets resolution criteria for foreign banks' UK branches
Bank of England’s Andrew Bailey says foreign banks will not be able to operate branches in the UK if their home regulator’s resolution regime is not up to scratch
Fed's Fisher slams ‘fiscal misfeasance’ of US government
Dallas Fed president urges American politicians to show some leadership and put the US on a more sustainable fiscal path; Cleveland Fed researchers say shutdown will damage inflation estimates
Swedish policy-makers clash on mortgage risk weights
Heads of Sveriges Riksbank and Swedish Financial Services Authority disagree over where to set the risk-weight floor on mortgages
BIS publishes data disclosure standards for CCPs
CPSS and Iosco set requirements for which quantitative data central counterparties should release and when; aims to increase transparency around the risks associated with them
Cyprus finance minister says governor Demetriades is 'under scrutiny'
Harris Georgiades says expanded central bank board will improve governance; argues banks will succeed in raising equity as capital controls are lifted