Financial Stability
Irish central bank targets consumer-first culture
New report from the central bank reveals focus on culture within the financial industry; head of consumer protection tells Central Banking about the institution’s plans
BIS sees cross-border liquidity reverting to historical trend
Latest global liquidity indicators show low volatility combining with rapid cross-border credit growth; researchers challenge simple supply and demand theory of oil-price slump
Good data vital for effective financial inclusion policies
With the World Bank soon to release the first update to its global financial inclusion database, Central Banking speaks to the Alliance for Financial Inclusion on the importance of good data
Pakistan targets automated cash management in five years
State Bank of Pakistan aims to automate cash management and urges commercial banks to follow suit; deputy governor says it will help ensure only clean and genuine notes circulate
IMF: Pan-African banks pose oversight challenges
Report highlights need to reconcile regional and national interests in currency unions in the continent to ensure effective regulation and supervision
Wheeler: RBNZ will ‘talk more’ about housing
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand will focus on the market in coming months, Wheeler says, with house price inflation ‘increasing again’ in Auckland
Impact study postponed for Basel rate-risk project
An impact study for a Basel Committee proposal on the standardised regulation of banking book interest rate risk has been pushed back. Regulators blame the delay on banks' IT constraints
Curbs on rehypothecation may boost welfare, St Louis Fed paper finds
Researchers find rehypothecation boosts welfare, particularly as inflation rises, but it generally goes too far, implying there are benefits to regulatory intervention
BoE’s Kohn and Taylor foresee FPC divisions
Financial policy committee is likely to rely more heavily on voting in future, Donald Kohn and Martin Taylor tell MPs; Andrew Tyrie attacks accountability and calls for review
FSB: Bank of Russia's financial stability mandate unclear
Peer review calls for 'adequate' legal basis to impose macro-prudential measures; warns mandate of separate advisory body 'seems to duplicate' that of central bank
Rajan says RBI is seeking ways to encourage foreign investment
RBI tightens rules for foreign investors but Rajan says central bank is looking into ways of encouraging desirable FDI flows; rates remain on hold
Rosengren says cyber criminality could turn people to ‘less efficient' payment options
Boston Fed president says central banks ‘essential' to discussion on cyber security at Basel Committee conference in Cape Town
Central Bank of Nigeria sets up steering committee on financial inclusion
Committee comprising central bank governor and finance minister is tasked with coordinating national strategy; will meet three times per year and approve annual reports
Fed’s Tarullo casts doubt on counter-cyclical tools
Daniel Tarullo questions ability of macro-prudential tools to temper booms and busts, and calls for a new ‘prudential market regulation’ to tackle shadow banking risks
Irish central bank steps up macro-pru communication
Central Bank of Ireland finalises restrictions on mortgage lending; measures feature some relief for first-time buyers following consultation process
Oman central bank toughens rules for systemic banks
Central Bank of Oman unveils framework for regulating domestic systemically important banks, including capital surcharges, stress testing, crisis management and resolution planning
IMF paper examines sensitivity of house prices to global liquidity shocks
Researchers find prices in emerging markets respond ‘much more’ to a shock in the international supply of credit than in advanced economies
BCBS paper reviews how accounting may fuel crises
Basel Committee paper surveys research into how accounting rules may have contributed to financial crisis, with implications for the design of disclosure rules
Fed’s Powell: Virtual currencies ‘not ready’ for role in payments reform
Governor Jerome Powell says virtual currencies could play a ‘bigger role’ in the future, but are not yet ‘mature enough’ to contribute to the Fed’s faster payments initiative
IMF report says ‘time has never been more right' to reform securitisation markets
Staff report emphasises need to make securitisation practices more robust while spurring demand; calls for standardised classifications of underlying risk characteristics
Average debt ratio for Swedes with mortgages rose to 315% in 2014
New data from the Riksbank shows Swedish households, especially wealthier ones, increased their debt burden between July 2013 and July 2014
ECB warns banks over dividends and bonuses
Danièle Nouy tells banks to take a ‘conservative’ approach to paying out dividends, while ECB announces probe into variable remuneration
Basel Committee issues enhanced disclosure standards
Revised standards aim to improve the comparability of banks’ risk-weighted assets, shedding light on internal model-based approaches
HKMA to introduce 'maximum' countercyclical capital buffer next year
Hong Kong will introduce Basel III tool at 0.625% of CET1 capital in January to guard against property market fallout; could raise it further in coming years if risks do not subside