Financial Stability
ECB compromise on Basel III adjustments gets mixed response
An ECB proposal for the European Systemic Risk Board to have oversight on whether European regulators can adjust Basel III for macro-prudential purposes gets a mixed response from central bankers
Esma under pressure on Emir implementation
A public hearing on Emir draft technical standards has left market participants concerned regarding both the implementation time frame and the asset classes covered by trade repositories and CCPs
Bank of Canada paper studies central counterparties in repo markets
New Bank of Canada discussion paper looks into impact central counterparties have on a model of a repo market; finds stabilising elements
Estonia data shows increases in travel service provision
Bank of Estonia reveals data gathered by tacking travellers' mobile phones
Bank lending 'steady' according to Central Bank of the Philippines
Latest data shows bank lending grew at a 'broadly steady pace' in January, central bank says
IMF paper studies impact of regulation and taxation on banking
IMF researchers investigate the impact of bank regulation and taxation in a dynamic model with banks exposed to credit and liquidity risk
MAS releases recent economic developments briefing
Monetary Authority of Singapore sets out recent economic developments in the country; reveals inflation prediction for 2012
Cœuré gives ECB perspective on priorities for the reform of financial regulation
Newest member of the European Central Bank's executive board talks about the key issues financial regulatory reforms must address
Pakistan’s Anwar calls for development of corporate bond markets
State Bank of Pakistan governor wants to see corporate bond market developed in the country; stresses government must be open to change for process to work
RBI cuts reserve ratio to improve lending conditions
Reserve Bank of India reduces cash reserve ratio for banks by 75bp; move injects 480 billion rupees into banking system
Norway to issue new coin to mark universal suffrage
Norges Bank announces plans to introduce a commemorative 10-krone coin 100 years after suffrage was extended to all women
Greece’s private bondholders approve ‘voluntary’ debt swap
An 85.8% majority approves Greek sovereign debt swap but strong-arm tactics raise concerns about the future legal certainty of sovereign bonds
Australia’s Lowe confronts the country’s changing economy
RBA deputy governor calls on Australia to make the most of the opportunities a shifting world economy offers the country
BIS study looks at financial volatility prediction
Bank for International Settlements researchers investigate the prediction of financial volatility using economic variables
IMF paper studies bank asset quality in emerging markets
IMF research paper finds significant links between banks' asset quality, credit and macroeconomic aggregates
Governor Zeti encourages use of Islamic financing
Zeti Akhtar Aziz says Islamic finance presents new opportunities to support the economy and overall financial stability
SNB spent $19.6 billion maintaining minimum exchange rate
SNB purchased foreign currency to a value of $19.6 billion in 2011; central bank also reveals larger than expected profit
UK payment card fraud falls to 10-year low
UK card fraud has fallen sharply due to ‘chip and pin’ and new online payment services, reaching a 10-year low in 2011. Online banking fraud has also fallen but bogus mortgages remain a concern
Philippines economic newsletter looks at roots of financial crisis
Central Bank of the Philippines investigates international claims and cross-border lending during the global financial crisis
IMF paper analyses corporate investment in India
International Monetary Fund research paper looks into how the business environment affects corporate investment in India, which has been sluggish since the financial crisis
Fed paper studies the effect of Tarp on bank risk-taking
Discussion paper says the increase in risk-taking without an increase in lending following Tarp capital injections “is suggestive of moral hazard due to government ownership”
European Commission pursues Hungarian central bank independence issue
European Commission welcomes Hungarian promise to change legislation affecting the independence of the central bank, but wants to see more details
Bank of Estonia to reveal travel statistics gleaned from mobile positioning data
Estonian central bank has been using data from mobile phone usage for more than three years to assist with balance of payments calculation; only two other European central banks operate similar systems
IMF’s Shinohara highlights Ethiopia’s economic challenges
Naoyuki Shinohara, deputy managing director of the IMF, says Ethiopia still has work to do on containing high inflation and raising savings, among other issues