Reserves
China seeks outside help to develop debt markets
China has contacted the World Bank and Asian Development Bank to gauge their attitude toward helping develop fledgling Chinese debt markets by launching the first renminbi-denominated bonds to be issued by a foreign institution.
China needs to free up gold mkt - Gold Council
China needs to free up its gold market further to give locals an alternative form of investment, the World Gold Council has said. Recently CentralBankNet reported how the WGC had welcomed the successful launch of trading in physical gold on the new…
Central Bank of Sri Lanka signs RTGS deal
Logica announced Wednesday that it has signed a deal worth US$9 million to implement the Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) System and the Scripless Securities Settlement (SSS) System for the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL).
Argentine government eases banking freeze
President Eduardo Duhalde eased a 1-year-old partial banking freeze on Monday, allowing Argentines unfettered access to their checking and savings accounts.
BOJ to start releasing data on stock buying policy
The Bank of Japan said on Tuesday it will begin periodically releasing data on its purchases of shares from banks, a move that could indicate the effectiveness of its efforts to stabilise the financial system. The Bank began its unprecedented policy on…
Bundesbank may sell some of its gold
The Bundesbank may sell some of its US$35 billion of gold to buy more profitable assets, executive board member Hans-Helmut Kotz said. In April we reported that Bundesbank President Ernst Welteke said that the international agreement limiting gold sales…
Reserve Management in an Era of Low Returns
RESEARCH - Although central banks have traditionally conducted their reserves management in a conservative and risk-averse way, the very low interest rates we see now have caused central banks, like other fixed income investors, to search for higher…
Greenspan on Int'l Financial Risk Management
SPEECH - In the speech 'International Financial Risk Management' Alan Greenspan of the Federal Reserve said episodes such as September 11 indicate that the ability of economies to absorb unexpected shocks has increased over the past two decades. He also…
Argentina defaults on World Bank loan
ARGENTINA - The Argentine government on Thursday took the extraordinary step of defaulting on a loan repayment to the World Bank, in a sign of its intense frustration over negotiations with the bank's sister institution, the International Monetary Fund.
Indian banks cautioned on risks in e-banking
INDIA - The Reserve Bank of India has cautioned Indian banks about the inherent risk factors that accompany the introduction of high-tech electronic delivery system in the banking sector.
European Central Bank Working Paper No 194
RESEARCH - ECB Working Paper, "Sensitivity analysis of volatility: a new tool for risk management" by Simone Manganelli, Vladimiro Ceci and Walter Vecchiato, November 2002.
New mandates for management of equity portfolios
PRESS RELEASE - Norges Bank Investment Management is today announcing new external active mandates for the Government Petroleum Fund. The new mandates are within the consumer staples, consumer cyclicals, media and services sectors, 12 November.
Total of bad loans understated by Y13,000bn - FSA
JAPAN - Japan's Financial Services Agency has revealed for the first time that it believes bad loans at the country's banks are Y13,000bn (£68bn) greater than the banks say.
Argentina and IMF at odds over payment
ARGENTINA - Argentina and the International Monetary Fund remain some distance apart in negotiations over an agreement that would make it easier to make a $805m debt payment due to the World Bank next week.
International Monetary Fund Working Paper
RESEARCH - International Monetary Fund Working Paper 'Transparency and International Investor Behavior' by R Gaston Gelos and Shang-Jin Wei. The paper looks at whether country "transparency" affect international portfolio investment and finds that…
Korea's foreign ex reserves over $116 billion
KOREA - The Bank of Korea said Saturday the nation's foreign exchange reserves as of the end of October amounted to $116.9 billion, up $305 million from the end of the preceding month.
World Gold Council welcomes Shanghai gold trading
CHINA - The World Gold Council has welcomed the successful launch this week of trading in physical gold on the new Shanghai Gold Exchange. Trading started on Wednesday, October 30, and in the three days since more than 790 kilos of gold bullion has…
Importance of risk management stressed
ARTICLE - The risk management in Islamic banking is vital in the rapidly growing segment of the global economic industry, Mahnaz Bahrami, the senior economist for research and policy at the Central Bank of Iran, has said.
Argentina: World Bank extends loan deadline
ARGENTINA - World Bank President James Wolfensohn said the due date for a debt payment to the World Bank has been pushed back to 14 Nov from 9 Nov, Argentine Economy Minister Roberto Lavagna said in a Sunday newspaper interview.
MAS Guidelines on Sound Risk Management Practice
REPORT - On 30 October the Monetary Authority of Singapore published its Guidelines on Sound Risk Management Practices. This set of guidelines aims to provide banks, merchant banks, finance companies and insurance companies (referred to collectively as …
Santomero on Process & Progress in Risk Management
SPEECH - In the speech 'Process & Progress in Risk Management' made on 28 October, Anthony Santomero of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia said the financial sector has come a long way in its risk management efforts. Basel II offers an unusual…
China's first gold exchange opens for trade
ARTICLE - The opening of China's first gold exchange on Wednesday in Shanghai signals the end of 50-plus years of government monopoly over the gold market.
Argentina: IMF deal mooted for Friday
ARGENTINA - A deal between Argentina and the IMF rescheduling US$14bn falling due to the multilateral agencies between now and the end of next year could be announced as soon as Friday of this week, according to a number of sources in Buenos Aires.
Swiss-'Give central bank gold reserves to schools'
SWITZERLAND - Non-governmental groups in Switzerland have called for more funds to boost schools and research. They even make the audacious suggestion that Swiss National Bank reserves could be used as part of these funds.