Central Banks
Shirakawa slams inflation-targeting 'fixation'
Bank of Japan governor blames single-minded use of inflation targets for the growth of credit bubbles, says price levels alone do not show health of the economy
Poland succumbs to political pressure and pays more into state coffers
National Bank of Poland could pay almost twice the amount originally offered
US Senate finds rating agencies influenced by banks
Inquiry says conflict of interest between agencies and their customers did influence ratings of mortgage-backed securities
Initial optimism on Greek bailout may falter
Marco Annunziata, the chief economist at UniCredit, examines the reaction to, and implications of, the Greek bailout
Abandon your ‘furious’ lobbying: Obama to banks
Obama warns banks’ lobbyists off descending on the Hill; laments Republican attacks
Cross-border lending extends slump: BIS
Bank for International Settlements says international lending fell by $385 billion in last three months of 2009, figures reveal fifth consecutive quarterly drop
Elderfield: bank recapitalisation costs manageable
Central Bank of Ireland head regulator suppresses fears over banking costs
Plosser slams Senate proposals on Fed reforms
Philly Fed president Charles Plosser criticises recent Senate bill for politicising Fed appointments
BOE policy on hold on downside risks in Europe
Bank of England minutes shows its Monetary Policy Committee left rates on hold amid continued economic uncertainty in Europe
Israel flags speedy recovery
Bank of Israel Annual Report shows GDP grew 0.7% in 2009; outpacing other advanced economies
Fed profits leap by 50%
Federal Reserve's profits shoot to $53.4 billion allowing record transfer of $47.4 billion to US Treasury; value of Maiden Lane vehicles climbs $5.6 billion after 2008 loss
ECB annual report flags uncertainty over recovery
2009 report shows fiscal debt troubles weighed down on growth last year
BoJ's Nishimura: we can escape deflation
Deputy governor Kiyohiko Nishimura confident of dealing with chronic deflation
Hungary discovers further risks to economy
National Bank of Hungary report identifies stability threats
Don't raise rates too late, ECB's Bini Smaghi warns
ECB board member Bini Smaghi offers recommendations to policymakers on strategy towards tightening policy
US authorities reveal new souped-up $100 note
Tilt security features for first time; Benjamin Franklin still the face of hoarders' favourite
Swiss tighten liquidity rules for biggest banks
Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority and the Swiss National Bank clamp down on UBS and Credit Suisse through stricter liquidity regime
Fund calls for two taxes on banks
Leaked IMF interim report suggests a broad levy, and a profits and salaries tax as contingency against the risk of future government bailouts; rejects Tobin tax idea
France names top brass for new financial regulator
Deputy general secretaries for Autorité de Contrôle Prudentiel announced
Sovereign default the greatest threat: IMF
Sovereign default risk has soared and is the biggest threat to near-term stability, some segments of banking systems also present dangers
Weber denies mooting €80 billion figure for Greek bailout
Bundesbank president Axel Weber says the figure came from previous Greek estimates
The forces of darkness overwhelm bank reform
Banks’ lobbying and politicians’ arguments against the Dodd regulatory reform bill are lamentable, Robert Pringle writes
IMF: local currency lending cushioned crisis blow
IMF study shows increased domestic currency lending led to relatively strong access to credit in American countries following credit crunch
Caruana: integration essential to global framework
Bank for International Settlements general manager Jamie Caruana draws on importance of financial integration in forming new global framework for financial system