Governance
Tensions rise between Irish trade union and central bank over staff structure
Trade union says it will ballot members over strike action unless the central bank consults it over changes to staffing and salary structures; bank says a discussion will ‘commence in near term’
People: Ireland appoints first female deputy governor; Sri Lanka also names deputy
Irish central bank appoints first female deputy governor; Sri Lanka appoints deputy; change in leadership at Chinese foreign exchange regulator; and more
State Bank of Pakistan reveals first MPC members
Formation of monetary policy committee is part of a broader drive towards independence and inflation targeting; one seat remains unfilled
Andrew Bailey agrees to lead FCA
PRA chief executive accepts top job at UK’s other financial regulator after being asked to take the role, but may not make the move for some months
National Bank of Belgium closes scientific library
The National Bank of Belgium will close its research library in Brussels in March; diminished need for the facility due to more widespread access to electronic resources, bank says
People: Tombini takes FSB committee chair; Al-Wazir moves to IMF
Alexandre Tombini is appointed to chair budget committee; former PMA governor joins IMF; Kazakh sovereign wealth fund replaces its chairman; and more
Lane reveals string of transparency initiatives in first speech as Irish governor
Central Bank of Ireland discloses new details on salary structures as governor Lane reveals new minutes, reviews and website
IMF staff back Moldovan central bank response to crisis
Staff report supports many actions taken by the Moldovan central bank in dealing with the crisis caused by banking fraud; calls for bank to gain more powers and independence
Lagarde nominated for second term as IMF head
Christine Lagarde is backed by UK and Germany for a second term as managing director when her first expires in July; the International Monetary Fund launches the selection process
FCA officials grilled on second comms backlash
MPs accuse FCA of failing to recognise perceived importance of dropped bank culture review, leading to strong public backlash; chief executive says approach to communication will be reassessed
Independent review calls for major changes at Riksbank
Riksbank criticised for reliance on models, board members’ quarrels and ‘surreal’ monetary guidance, though King and Goodfriend say it is ‘clearly a success’ compared with past regimes
FCA review paints picture of institution rattled by setbacks
Independent review of UK watchdog reveals low morale and risk aversion in the face of comms scandal and loss of chief executive Martin Wheatley, plus fears of government meddling
Flurry of new central bank heads could continue into 2016
The past three months have brought 10 new central bank governors and a Fed president, after a period of relative stability; Central Bank Directory 2016 shows other terms expiring this year
Risk management services provider of the year: Wall Street Systems
A powerful real-time risk-calculation engine, consistent high-quality support and broad central-banking experience make this treasury management offering the best in class
Senate blocks proposal to conduct ‘full audit’ of the Fed
‘Audit the Fed’ bill fails to secure support needed to proceed to Senate floor; Bernanke joins ranks of current and former Fed officials warning of potential threat to independence
Venner’s successor: Grenada official named first new Eastern Caribbean governor since 1989
Grenada secretary to the ministry of finance named governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank after seven-month search; takes office on February 1
Economists say Rajan has good chance of staying as RBI governor – if he wants to
Raghuram Rajan is popular enough to be reappointed when his first term ends later this year, but he may have other appealing options, according to observers
Lagarde calls for ‘fundamental change’ in Nigerian policy
IMF managing director tells leaders to shore up the banking system, strengthen the external position and exercise ‘restraint’, during visit to Nigeria
Jean Baden Dubois named Bank of Haiti governor
The former director-general takes on the leadership of the Bank of Haiti; currency depreciation remains an issue for the central bank
Venezuelan president cuts congress out of key central bank matters
President ‘shields’ central bank from opposition interference, according to one observer, with changes effective on eve of national assembly meeting
Governor Craigg ends 37 years of service at the Central Bank of the Bahamas
Former finance secretary John Rolle succeeds Wendy Craigg, who takes up the role of adviser to the prime minister