FMI
French central bank reveals details of blockchain experiment
Banque de France teams up with a fintech start-up to run distributed ledger tech through Sepa; the results of project expected to be presented at a conference in 2017
BoJ and ECB collaborate on distributed ledger tech
The project will examine the possibility of running central bank infrastructure platforms in a DL environment; research will focus on payments and securities settlement
Bank of Japan to launch new website in time for 2017
New responsive design will include information from the old site displayed in new format; central bank has set second launch date in case of “delays”
BoE’s Salmon seeks to fix deadline for delayed Libor replacement
Chris Salmon sets three-month target to finalise transition plan and reach decision on design for risk-free rate
UK’s PSR announces shake-up in provision of payment services
UK’s payment system regulator to open door to competition in national payment infrastructure; regulator sees benefits to Mastercard’s planned takeover of Vocalink
BoE’s Hauser praises plan for integrated retail payments scheme
Faster Payments, Bacs and Cheque Clearing to be integrated into one system, Hauser says; ISO20022 to make interbank payments “much easier” for the UK
Federal Reserve conducts in-depth study into distributed ledger technology
Central bank publishes first paper discussing the benefits of distributed ledger technology in the realm of payments, and clearing and settlement; use of DLT could address “financial frictions”
Malawi governor announces plans for central depository system
New system will provide security for transactions taking place in the market, Chuka says; governor hopes project will increase market liquidity in the long run
Bank Negara Malaysia’s new site draws on award-winning designs
Responsive new site launched after in-house team conducts benchmarking exercise on award-winning central bank sites; head of electronic communications explains the evolutionary process
Dealers urge further clarity on rules for ailing CCPs
New European rules stop short of defining resolution triggers
CCP default risks not correlated, CFTC finds
Timothy Massad: stress tests reveal “quite a bit of diversification” in CCP exposures
MAS launches blockchain experiment
Central bank to build a proof-of-concept model to conduct interbank payments; second phase could include foreign currency transactions
Global forex code is ‘on track’, says Debelle
Work on the code has been a “constructive and co-operative effort” by central banks and market participants, says RBA deputy; “on track” for launch in May 2017
First BIS survey data on central clearing shows gaps remain
OTC derivatives surveys capture central clearing for first time; data reveals marked differences between classes of derivatives and advanced vs emerging economies
RBNZ’s Spencer sees need for better approach to FMI oversight
The framework, if put into legislation, would give the central bank and markets authority new powers of information-gathering and oversight
BoE’s Andrew Hauser says RTGS needs to move with the times
Executive director speaks on the risks and benefits of upgrading the UK’s core payments infrastructure; central bank is working on new technologies, including distributed ledgers
Central clearing boosts welfare but margin matters – RBA paper
Study shows how central counterparties boost welfare by insuring against counterparty credit risk, but gains are sensitive to the level of margin
Payments changing fast but cash still in demand – Riksbank survey
Telephone survey finds cash use declining and mobile payments on the rise, though demand for paper money not likely to disappear any time soon
HKMA expands offshore renminbi liquidity scheme
List of banks provided with liquidity for offshore renminbi market-making grows, with extra measures designed to boost transparency
Fed raising bar for BNY Mellon – Powell
Fed working with treasury to ensure “smooth transition” as BNY Mellon becomes sole provider of government securities; bank must remain “robust”, says Fed’s Powell
RBI’s Gandhi hails ‘silent revolution’ in payments
Incremental growth has revolutionised payments, deputy says, with more initiatives such as unified mobile payments interface set to deliver further change
BoE plans could force change to Libor-Sonia swap payments
Reformed sterling overnight indexed average rate proposals may see floating-leg settlements delayed
Bank of Russia records decrease in fraudulent transactions
Central bank says decrease in cyber crime is a result of new centre for Cyber-Attack Monitoring and Response in the Financial Centre; official says Bank of Russia supports initiative for harsher punishment of cyber crime
Ghana drafts first electronic payment regulation
New regulation will apply to banks and other financial institutions wanting to provide electronic money services; draft to be passed to parliament after a period of consultation