Financial Stability
Atlanta Fed: Annual Report (2009)
Atlanta Federal Reserve Annual Report shows southeastern states hit hardest during financial crisis after boom in community banking
Trichet: Reforms must keep an eye on financial markets
ECB president Jean-Claude Trichet outlines four main areas of reform in the financial sector where there is further room for improvements
NY Fed: Shadow banks should not be kept in the dark
New York Federal Reserve study says permanent access to funding facilities for shadow banks should be considered following credit market strains
Botswana’s Mohohlo lauds accountants
Bank of Botswana governor Linah Mohohlo says accountants more than just number crunchers, pointing to expanding and evolving roles; outlines efforts in restoring good governance standards
Four risks to growth: Atlanta Fed’s Lockhart
Atlanta Federal Reserve president Dennis Lockhart counts Gulf of Mexico oil spill and commercial real estate sector risks among imminent threats to growth
Europe hikes capital rules, slashes banker bonuses
Legislation adopted by European Parliament requires banks hold up to four times more capital to protect against trading risk; half of bankers’ bonuses to be paid in contingent capital
Cebs unveils details of EU stress tests
Committee of European Banking Supervisors names 91 banks that will be subject to stress tests; vague on methodology
ECB bond purchase effect wearing off, warns IMF
Fund cautions that stability risks are on the rise again as effect of European Central Bank’s foray into bond markets loses bite; southern eurozone to face refinancing contest with US, UK and Japan
Gold should form an essential part of central banks’ liquidity portfolio
The credit crisis has highlighted that in times of turmoil, gold is one of the few assets that remains liquid, says Natalie Dempster, director of government affairs at the World Gold Council
BIS: currency collapses benefit output growth
Bank for International Settlements study on currency collapses finds devaluation helps growth in the long run, rather than dampening it
Ireland’s bad bank forced to slash profit forecast
Ireland’s National Asset Management Agency says €4.8 billion profit estimate was based on exaggerated figures from banks; chairman Frank Daly “disappointed and disturbed” by banks’ distortion
Differing sovereign debt haircuts to be included in EU stress tests: reports
Reports quote German banking officials as saying that extreme scenarios will apply steep haircuts to PIIGS sovereign debt, but none to bunds or French paper
Azerbaijan to move to DSGE model
National Bank of Azerbaijan will switch to consolidated DSGE framework by year-end; deputy research director says model valued for overall coherence and ability to factor in irrational behaviour
National Bank of Slovakia – Monthly Bulletin (May)
Monthly Bulletin shows economic recovery remains on a steady path in Slovakia
Protests at Icelandic central bank on car loan rules
Several hundred demonstrators congregate around central bank in peaceful protest against delinking of car loans from foreign currency exchange rates; rule change could see up to 10% of Icelanders hit with higher repayments
Central Bank of Brazil: inflation tax risked hyperinflation
Brazilian central bank study shows the country risked weak hyperinflation in the past due to high income tax elasticity
BoE data shows May rise in lending levels
Bank of England data on lending shows moderate gains in amount of loans issued to individuals and households; lending still remains below pre-crisis levels
Greek debt crisis sparks widening of almost all global CDS spreads
Cost of protecting against a Greek default up 190% in three months to mid-June as CDS spreads widened for 93% of sovereign debt on back of sovereign debt crisis in Europe
IMF resumes financial aid to Ukraine
Fund approves new application for loans after funding was cut off in dispute over its burgeoning fiscal deficit
ECB handled Greek crisis well: CentralBanking.com readers
CentralBanking.com poll shows more than 40% approval rating for European Central Bank’s handling of the Greek debt crisis
Foreign holdings of US Treasuries rise as supply for agency securities runs dry
Fed data show official-sector holdings of US agency securities fell after 12 straight weeks of gains
Netherlands’ Wellink survives resignation calls
Calls for Netherlands Bank governor to quit followed damning report into the central bank’s handling of failure of DSB
Norges Bank – Annual Report on Payments Systems (2009)
Norges Bank says Norway’s payment system is secure but has room for improvement in cost-effectiveness
IMF: FDI undermined competitiveness in central and eastern Europe
An IMF study on real effective exchange rates reveals large volumes of foreign capital flows reduced competitiveness in central and eastern and European countries