Financial Stability
Bernanke defends Fed’s response to financial crisis
Fed chairman defends actions taken before and during global financial crisis; offers justification for Fed response to struggling systemically important firms
PBoC decision to widen trading band welcomed
Chinese central bank announces “enlarged” floating band of renminbi trading prices against the US dollar; analysts and IMF welcome decision
Sarb investigation finds low-quality proof Krugerrand coins
Investigation into SA Mint Company uncovers low-quality proof Krugerrand coins may have been casted between April 2011 and May 2011; dealers offered chance to return coins
Fed research examines supply-side changes in US housing market
New York Fed staff paper studies impact of supply-side changes to US housing market on the creation of a house price bubble
RBI deputy governor emphasises role of state regulators in forex markets
H R Khan says market participants must work with supervisors and regulators rather than pursue self regulation
Reserve Bank of India writes to banks about electronic payments
Indian central bank asks banks to accept electronic transfers for credit to loan accounts, following complaints from customers
Basel Committee highlights resource challenges in stress testing
Basel Committee on Banking Supervision releases peer review of implementation of stress-testing principles; reveals resource concerns at both banks and supervisory level
Riksbank establishes financial stability communication policy
Swedish central bank publishes new financial stability communications policy; supplements the general policy in place at the Riksbank
Plosser says more 'can and should be done' to aid Fed transparency
Philadelphia Fed president urges the Federal Reserve to do more on transparency; says a quarterly monetary policy report should be published
BIS working paper focuses on Asian credit booms
Bank for International Settlements research finds international credit booms foster domestic credit surges in developing Asian economies
ECB’s Cœuré urges governments and banks to act
Benoît Cœuré says monetary policy alone cannot solve eurozone crisis; highlights need for banks and governments to play a role in addressing causes of problems
Currency floor breach raises questions over SNB policy
The Swiss National Bank should consider enlisting the help of top-tier banks to keep EUR/CHF above 1.20, forex traders suggest
Asmussen offers ECB's take on Irish path to recovery
Jörg Asmussen says Ireland has come a long way but still has work to do; expresses confidence further emergency support from eurozone will not be necessary
Lagarde hopes for progress on IMF resource increase
IMF managing director sets out hopes for Spring Meetings; wants to see increase in resources and emerging market representation reform agreements
Norges Bank withdraws coin from circulation
Norwegian central bank issues reminder that 50-øre coin will no longer be legal tender after May 1; urges public to spend or exchange the coins ahead of that date
Beige Book signals modest US growth
Federal Reserve summary finds modest growth reported by all districts amid concerns about petroleum prices; manufacturing sector expansion also noted
IMF working paper discusses cashflow sensitivity since financial crisis
IMF research links firms' cashflow sensitivity and their ability to use physical assets as collateral since the financial crisis
EBA chair wants flexible approach to macro-prudential regulation
Andrea Enria advocates flexible approach to macro-prudential regulation within the EU; says flexibility should not threaten the EU single market
Malaysia announces circulation date for new banknotes
Bank Negara Malaysia reveals new banknotes will enter into circulation in July this year; work being carried out to ensure “smooth transition” in the country
Fed’s Tarullo sees early wins for dynamic capital supervision
Daniel Tarullo, a governor of the Federal Reserve, believes the introduction of new dynamic capital techniques in the US has improved regulation; says static rules have serious flaws
Sigtarp appoints special inspector general
Christy Romero appointed after approval from President and Senate
India's Subbarao contrasts Fed and ECB's roles during financial crisis
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor discusses the different responses of the Federal Reserve and the ECB to the on-going financial crisis
ECB research examines impact of fiscal policies on eurozone growth
European Central Bank working paper examines the impact of governments' fiscal policies on euro area growth rates since the financial crisis
BoE publishes annual payments system oversight report
Bank of England's annual payments system oversight report reveals areas where further improvements are needed