Central Banks
European banks still exposed to US dollar funding risks, ESRB warns
European Systemic Risk Board issues recommendations to prevent build up in US dollar funding and liquidity risk; calls for single entity to be responsible for national macro-prudential policy
Eulex drops corruption charges against former Kosovo governor
Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo former governor Hashim Rexhepi freed after European Union prosecutors end case
IMF paper proposes new toolkit to monitor fiscal vulnerabilities
Fund study builds new toolkit to assess fiscal risks in advanced economies; framework contributes to IMF-Financial Stability Board Early Warning Exercise
Libya begins phasing out old banknotes
Banknotes depicting the late colonel Muammar Gaddafi being removed from circulation; new currency series on the way
Euro counterfeit banknote figure creeps up
Number of known fake euro banknotes hit 310,000 during in the second half of 2011, up 5% on the first half of the year
Pakistan forges ahead with mobile banking promotion
State Bank of Pakistan signs agreement with national telecommunication authority to further the development of mobile banking in the country
BoJ report warns of pause in economic activity
Bank of Japan’s Regional Economic Report for January 2012 shows signs that pace of economic growth is moderating
Duke favours more simple stress tests for smaller banks
Federal Reserve’s Elizabeth Duke says community banks can conduct general tests on bank loan portfolios to reduce cost burdens
CNB paper models domestic bank liquidity stress tests
Czech National Bank study shows the Czech banking system is resilient to stressed scenarios mimicking the 2008 and 2009 international liquidity crisis
Thailand’s Trairatvorakul calls for commitment to Asean community goals
Bank of Thailand governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul says success of Asean Economic Community will depend on members’ willingness to promote free flow of trade
EFSF rating in spotlight as speculation on eurozone downgrades emerges
Rumours that France and other eurozone sovereigns will lose AAA ratings spooks markets; move will place a question mark over European Financial Stability Facility's rating, say analysts
Chile lowers rates for first time since 2009
Central Bank of Chile announces 25-basis-point cut to benchmark rate; stresses commitment to maintaining 3% inflation target
IMF paper: High international reserves are not panacea for low-income countries
International Monetary Fund study measures economic impact of external shocks on low-income countries with different levels of international reserves; says reserves provide cushion not remedy
New chair for Basel Joint Forum
Basel-based Joint Forum on issues common to the banking, securities and insurance sectors selects new head
Gold and currency earnings secure profit for SNB
The Swiss National Bank expects to see annual profit of SFr13 billion ($13.6 billion); able to make the regular distribution to Cantons
RBI’s Sinha: Financial inclusion can be profitable for banks
Reserve Bank of India deputy governor Anand Sinha says universal financial inclusion is a prerequisite for inclusive growth with financial stability
Fed’s Plosser supports numerical inflation objective
Philadelphia Federal Reserve president Charles Plosser says Fed seeks to clarify longer-run goals and monetary policy decision-making process
Fed appoints new special adviser
US Federal Reserve board chooses Johns Hopkins University professor Jon Faust as a special adviser
Investigation into governing board could delay Swiss governor selection
Thomas Jordan firm favourite to succeed as governor; decision not expected soon as investigation into senior staff's finances continues
Japan nervous of implications of Volcker rule
Bank of Japan releases letter sent to US officials outlining impact of changes to speculative trading controls; fears Japanese government bond market will be hit
Fed expects $76.9 billion transfer to US Treasury
Federal Reserve estimates it will provide $76.9 billion of funds to the US Treasury after high returns from interest on income
ECB and BoE join other countries in rates hold
European Central Bank and Bank of England join the National Bank of Poland and Bank Indonesia in leaving interest rates on hold; ECB president welcomes U-turn on Greece private sector involvement
IMF paper measures the natural rate of interest
Fund study says the transformed money demand and observed output gap provides the best information about the natural interest rate