Central Banks
Lockhart backs ‘selective’ regulation of shadow banks
Atlanta Fed president argues for US authorities to ‘variably monitor and supervise’ all institutions with implications for financial stability, regardless of whether they are shadow banks
ECB forecasts ‘gradual’ increase in US inflation
Economic bulletin published by ECB agrees with FOMC that inflation will increase gradually as labour market conditions improve and impact of low oil prices and high dollar fades
RBA research suggests options for IMF to overcome governance issues
Analysis of constraints on IMF actions suggests seeking backup from other international organisations could add to political clout, but quota reform remains a problem
EBA proposes curbs on shadow bank exposures
Financial institutions will be expected to set their own limits, except in cases where information or internal processes are lacking; ‘fallback’ option may need adjusting, EBA admits
Hellwig and Wolf question efficacy of financial reforms
Martin Hellwig and Martin Wolf discuss flaws in financial reforms aimed at breaking the sovereign-bank linkage in book on country and political risk
Stevens says RBA has discussed further easing
Australian governor says central bank is trying to manage difficult mix of low inflation and rising asset prices against longer-term backdrop of falling terms of trade
Haldane warns expectations could drag down wages
Lower inflation expectations putting downward pressure on wages, and could contribute to greater persistence of low or falling inflation, BoE chief economist says
People: BoE appoints general counsel; Chicago Booth professor joins Slovakian board
Sonya Branch takes up top legal role at BoE; National Bank of Slovakia board now five-strong; Bank Negara Malaysia appoints debt resolution committee chairman; and more
ECB paper emphasises importance of time horizons for early-warning models
Working paper finds the selection of a particular time horizon can have ‘considerable implications’ for the performance of economic variables in predicting bank crises
Third TLTRO sees extra €98 billion borrowed from ECB
Latest allocation of cheap loans pushes total amount borrowed to €310 billion; measures aimed at repairing transmission mechanism and encouraging loans to real economy
Danish annual report highlights move into equities
National Bank of Denmark implemented new investment strategy in 2014, adding riskier assets including equities and lower-rated government bonds to reserves
Fed keeps options open as countdown to lift-off begins
FOMC drops the reference to being ‘patient’ before normalising policy, signalling a rate hike could arrive as early as June, but tempers expectations with more cautious economic assessment
SNB balance sheet could not have coped with peg defence, says Jordan
Chairman says decision to abandon Swiss franc ceiling avoided huge losses and monetary policy impairment; central bank slashes inflation forecast but does not follow Riksbank’s rate cut
New Australian banknotes to feature 'embossed bumps'
RBA to become second central bank to emboss polymer banknotes with 'bumps', making it easier to feel the difference between denominations
Banks could face fines of $4bn from US DoJ
The fines being hammered out would nearly double the total already paid to regulators during the currency probe
BoE minutes highlight risks from sterling strength
MPC members raise concerns over divergence of monetary policy and the resulting strength of the UK’s currency, which has the potential to hold inflation lower for longer
Denmark eases pressure on banks but stays tough on krone peg
National Bank of Denmark raises limits on current account deposits to ease pressure on banks after forex interventions, but stresses speculators will lose if they continue to attack the krone peg
RBA research finds CCP rules are effective in containing severe shocks
Paper tests central counterparties under extreme ‘tail of tail’ scenarios and finds new rules designed to promote their stability are effective
Sri Lankan governor ‘on leave’ during government inquiry
Arjuna Mahendran is taking a period of leave while the government investigates the practices around Treasury bond auctions at the central bank; only appointed in January
BIS charts ‘boundaries of the unthinkable’ as risks rise
Quarterly review flags growing vulnerabilities and signs of credit booms in some economies; research finds limited impact of deflation on growth, pointing to importance of financial sector
IMF paper warns against ‘overburdening’ LatAm central banks
Working paper studies evolution of central banks in Latin America, and warns against jeopardising the credibility they currently enjoy by handing them new mandates