Financial Stability
RBI paper suggests alternative to Basel capital buffer
Working paper considers applicability of using debt-to-GDP ratio as guide to capital buffer; argues India requires a different method to assess capital requirements
‘Branchless’ banking increasing in Pakistan
So-called 'branchless banking' transactions grew 23% between January and March this year; accounts linked to mobile phones reached over 1 million during the period
Poland finalises Swiss currency swap agreement to protect banking sector
National Bank of Poland signs 'precautionary' currency swap deal with Swiss National Bank; in place to deal with liquidity pressures surrounding financing in Swiss francs
Sweden joins opposition to European banking union
Swedish government opposes European banking union proposals; Czech National Bank also expresses concerns
Reserve Bank of New Zealand examines bank funding
Quarterly bulletin article considers relationship between official cash rate and cost of bank funding; finds funding costs relative to the OCR changed following financial crisis
RBI executive director weighs financial stability objective
Deepak Mohanty considers financial stability as part of a central bank’s mandate; emphasises importance but says price stability should not be subordinated
Libor manipulation lawsuits could cost banks ‘tens of billions’
Barclays' $450m settlement gives lawyers smoking gun evidence of attempts to tamper with benchmark rates
Latest amendments to Hungarian central bank law appease IMF
Hungarian government publishes letter from Christine Lagarde which gives controversial law the go ahead; says IMF is ready to begin talks about financial aid once law is passed
Namibia offers reward to catch head of counterfeiter ring
Central bank announces reward for information leading to the arrest of “main culprit” responsible for counterfeit notes found recently; fake notes discovered just days after new currency launch
IMF paper examines crisis indicators
Working paper assesses the effectiveness of various indicators in predicting financial crises; finds that leverage is ineffective and instead use of poor quality collateral is “critical link”
Bank of Canada paper models repo market collapse
Working paper develops model of repo markets to explain causes of collapse; finds that central bank intervention can help prevent problems
Central Bank of Cyprus supports bailout request
Central bank recognises need for European help to recapitalise Cypriot banks; commits to supporting efforts to finalise the bailout
Basel Committee reveals final rules on capital disclosure
Final rules published on disclosure of banks’ capital composition as well as consultative document on risk reporting; committee aims to reduce financial stability risks from international banks
Bank of Japan concerned about wrong-way risk on banks’ cross-holdings
Helping banks by purchasing stock will create moral hazard, says Bank of Japan director-general
RBI paper develops systemic liquidity index
Working paper designs a 'systemic liquidity index' of financial markets in India; says index would be useful in monitoring financial system trends
BIS’s Cecchetti discusses financial globalisation
Stephen Cecchetti considers whether financial systems can grow too big and assesses how far countries should go in outsourcing financial services
Singapore and Thailand sign cross-border collateral MoU
Monetary Authority of Singapore and Bank of Thailand sign agreement to establish cross-border collateral arrangement; aims to promote financial stability in both countries
EC staff to ‘step up’ work on Spanish banks assessment
Olli Rehn calls for staff to speed up assessment of Spanish banking sector; downgrade rumours swirl after official government request for financial assistance from the Eurogroup
New $50 note released in Trinidad and Tobago
Central bank issues new note as part of independence celebrations; limited number of new $50 banknotes carry commemorative message
IMF highlights problems with overreaction to financial crises
Working paper studies data on banking crises; finds that a strong macroeconomic response to a banking crisis may reduce incentive for banks to restructure
Iceland central bank governor discusses policy challenges
Már Guðmundsson reflects on difficulties that remain in removing capital controls and tackling high inflation; suggests that others could learn from the Icelandic model
BoE paper studies impact of Lehman’s collapse on payments
Bank of England working paper studies the effect of the Lehman Brothers collapse on wholesale payment patterns; finds slower payments and increase in risk following the default
BIS calls for European banking union and urgent fiscal reform in developed nations
Urgent fiscal reform and genuine efforts to create a banking union in Europe are vital to breaking the viscous linkage between banking and sovereign stress, says BIS
ECB relaxes collateral eligibility rules
Broader range of lower quality assets now acceptable under ECB collateral rules; move should help Spanish banks after results of stress test reveal a potential €62 billion capital shortfall