Central Banks
Developing countries focused on financial inclusion are reshaping central banking
Efforts in developing and emerging economies to promote financial inclusion for the world’s 2.5 billion unbanked population offer lessons to their developed world peers
Crisis showed need for ‘more and better' stats, says IMF
Forum on improving statistics held in Washington in the same week as Myanmar joined the GDDS initiative; Argentina remains in the doghouse over inadequate GDP and inflation data
BoE economists build model to assess CCP backstop
Bank of England financial stability paper presents a ‘top-down’ statistical model for assessing the risk CCPs are exposed to, and the likely adequacy of their default resources
Moody's says big US banks no longer ‘too big to fail'
Agency cuts ratings of four systemically important US banks, including Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan, as Dodd-Frank believed to reduce prospects of future government bailouts
Central Bank of Aruba 2012 annual report highlights drop in inflation
Average annual inflation in the Caribbean territory dropped from 4.4% in 2011 to 0.6% last year; says international reserves 'remained adequate'
Irish central bank to track 'hostile' social media comments
The Central Bank of Ireland is looking for an online platform that will keep tabs on the general public’s social media conversations and flag up consumer complaints
ECB's Mersch touts securitisation of SME loans as way of boosting EU economy
Executive board member says second priority after assessing banks' balance sheets is to support lending to SMEs by strengthening capital markets
Banks respond differently to capital target deviations, ECB paper shows
Working paper finds banks tend to reshuffle risk-weighted assets or increase holdings when above Tier I ratio, but more inclined to increase equity levels when below target
Riksbank policy-makers differ 'fundamentally' on role of central bank, says deputy governor
Sveriges Riksbank deputy says policy approach is marginally beneficial at best and risks undermining 'public confidence' in central bank's targeting of inflation
Bank of Spain deputy on what banking union will mean for national lenders
Spanish banking system will not face more complex challenges than those posed in other jurisdictions, says Fernando Restroy; capital levels for sector as a whole will be above 10% by year's end
Yellen defends QE in congressional confirmation hearing
Prospective Fed chair says asset purchases have had ‘meaningful' impact on financial wellbeing of normal Americans; hints at further banking regulations ‘down the line'
Reserve managers diversifying due to rise in risk, not a search for return, say CBP panellists
Central bank reserve managers are moving into new assets due to concerns about rising risks in traditional currencies, rather than in a search for yield, say Central Banking On Air panellists
SEE region must face financial challenges together, says Macedonia deputy
Macedonia's financial system, like others in the region, has suffered thanks to international regulation leading local subsidiaries of European banks to deleverage in southeast Europe
Bundesbank warns on ‘moral hazard' from low interest rate environment
Bundesbank's latest annual financial stability report fears insurance companies and banks are losing out in the low interest rate environment; deputy says ‘primary law' must change for SRM to work
Flug takes up Fischer's mantle on Israeli economy
New governor Karnit Flug proposes financial stability committee in conjunction with ministry of finance; repeats predecessor's calls to expand labour force participation and build more homes
Leaning against the wind does more harm than good, warns Svensson
Former Riksbank deputy Lars Svensson argues higher interest rates to combat asset bubbles and financial instability have the opposite effect by raising the real debt burden of households
Norges Bank deputy discusses institutional underpinnings of central bank activities
Jan Qvigstad highlights the importance of institutions in facilitating payments in an era when money lacks intrinsic value; chides Argentinian government for meddling with statistics
New central bank mandates raise operational challenges
Central bankers face a raft of policy and operational challenges as their institutions take on new mandates and expanded responsibilities. By Martina Horáková, Tristan Carlyle and Arvid Ahlund