Central Banks
Sarb fines five banks for weaknesses in ‘control measures’
Investec Bank fined largest amount at 20 million rand; local branch of Standard Chartered faces 10 million rand penalty a month after another branch was reprimanded by MAS
Regulation may be fuelling covered interest parity breakdown – BoJ economists
Authors link puzzling breakdown of CIP to regulations including liquidity constraints, as well as divergent monetary policies
BIS paper digs into complex spillovers from US rates
Authors find short-run US rates have little impact on long-term rates elsewhere, but transmission at longer maturities and via bond markets is high
Philippines central bank fines RCBC over Bangladesh heist
Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation ordered to pay one billion pesos, after stolen funds from Bangladesh bank were transferred to four accounts held at the institution
Sri Lanka releases trading stats as it seeks to develop market
First set of data shows 3.42 billion rupees traded, with transactions over 50 million rupees to be reported within 30-minute window
People: Philippines and Sri Lanka gain new monetary board members
Finance minister becomes member of Philippines’ monetary board; new joiner for Sri Lankan board; HKMA names executive director for financial infrastructure
Rise of services in advanced economies weakens transmission of monetary policy, paper argues
The transmission of monetary policy in advanced economies is weakened by the greater prominence of services, a Bank of Spain working paper argues; researchers use data from US
Colombian central bank should examine transmission in greater detail – paper
Colombian banks with higher levels of solvency “less sensitive” to changes in policy rate authors say; central bank should go into “greater detail” when examining policy transmission
Brexit a factor in BoJ’s decision to ease – deputy governor
Uncertainties from abroad, notably the UK’s vote to leave the EU, are weighing on the Japanese economy, and were a factor behind “enhanced” easing in July, Kikuo Iwata says
IMF’s response to self-evaluation report ‘very positive’
Engagement with evaluation "very positive", says IEO official, after it offered broad support to recommendations, with some qualifications
ECB begins gathering data on daily money-market transactions
ECB announces daily collection of data from four money-market segments; scheme gathers 35,000 transaction records per day
BoE launches broad Brexit response
Central bank wields all its main tools and some new ones as the effects of Brexit begin to appear; aims to support transmission mechanism amid extraordinary measures
Philadelphia paper explores drivers of bankruptcy decisions
Working paper examines the extent to which the structure of a household’s balance sheet and income statement influences its decision to file for bankruptcy in the wake of an income shock
Kenyan governor outlines three pillars for ‘new normal’ in banking
2016 to be a year of “transition” for banking in Kenya, says Patrick Njoroge; calls for greater transparency, stronger governance and new models
IMF paper offers alternative explanation for Venezuelan inflation
Working paper argues fall in oil prices combined with restrictions in foreign exchange best explains hyperinflation in Venezuela, rather than a self-reinforcing rise in expectations
Malaysia’s central bank toughens corporate governance standards
Boards must have a majority of independent members and promote ethical, prudent and professional behaviour, Bank Negara Malaysia says
EBA calls for binding 3% minimum leverage ratios
Central counterparties and central securities depositories should be exempted from leverage ratio, EBA says, as it recommends binding pillar 1 requirement
BoJ board members see hope in wages and oil prices – June minutes
Policy board members point to third year of wage rises and higher oil prices as hopeful indications of a turnaround in prices, though expectations are weak and consumer sentiment worsening
Proposal for calculating capital requirements for concentration risk
Working paper warns “inadequate reflection” on concentration risk can lead to banks holding too little capital; proposes technique for calculating appropriate levels
RBNZ stands by decision to end embargoed lock-ups
RBNZ commissions review into different options for providing key releases to journalists ahead of time; decides costs outweigh benefits, and reaffirms decision to scrap the practice
IMF urges Abenomics ‘reload’ as BoJ struggles
Fund tells Japanese authorities to be clearer and more systematic in setting policy, as government unveils new stimulus; working paper suggests alternative to helicopter money
Parliament keeps door open to monetary financing in Ghana
Parliament approves bill that removes government representative from central bank board, but government would still be able to borrow from central bank to finance deficit; IMF to discuss implications
Irish central bank forms macroprudential committee
Governor Philip Lane announced internal advisory committee on design of macroprudential policy; featuring senior officials, the group will convene for the first time in “early September”
Chilean minutes show widespread support for holding policy
Board unanimously votes to hold rates; one member sees tightening cycle ending, while another says lowering rates is “beyond reason”