FMI
Central bank support for CCPs and TRs
The wider use of central counterparties and trade repositories may pose challenges for central banks. Carlos León, Clara Machado and Ricardo Mariño explain the tactics central banks are adopting.
New Zealand securities settlement system could go private
Reserve Bank of New Zealand issues public consultation on future of two major settlement systems; NZClear could be separated from Esas and moved into private sector
ECB turns attention to single card payments area
Card payments are lagging credit transfers and direct debits when it comes to harmonisation across the eurozone; ECB calls for "considerable efforts" to rectify this
Bulgarian National Bank selling 64 tonnes of scrap coins
Bulgarian central bank set to sell 64 tonnes of defunct old coins to the highest bidder, who will melt them down for scrap
Predictive text: Bank of Lithuania prepares to announce euro adoption by SMS
The Bank of Lithuania strikes a deal with mobile operators to text their customers if and when the EU Council names the country as the 19th member of the eurozone
Hungary central bank buys interbank clearing company Giro
Central Bank of Hungary aims to buy out remaining minority shareholders in the country's provider of interbank settlement services over the next two months
Central Bank of UAE opens first ever discount window
The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates will introduce a standing liquidity facility next week, offering banks overnight loans at 100 basis points above official repo rate
Iceland prepares to phase out smallest banknote
Central Bank of Iceland hints at replacing the 500 krónur banknote with a coin, and scrapping the three lowest value coins altogether; introduced new 10,000 krónur note last year
St Louis Fed research chief calls Bitcoin ‘stroke of genius'
St Louis Fed vice president and head of research has raised some central bankers' eyebrows by encouraging them to ‘welcome the competition' from the virtual currency
Kenya's M-Pesa mobile money app launches in Romania
East European country is the first territory in Europe to get the mobile cash transfer technology, which also launched in India last year
Fed switches MBS purchases to proprietary platform
The New York Fed, which implements FOMC policies, will start using its FedTrade platform to buy mortgage-backed securities later this month
Bank of Namibia replaces ‘ageing’ banknotes one year after issuance
Central bank reissued the lowest denomination banknotes in its 2012 banknote series after they were found to be ‘ageing faster than expected’
Richmond Fed study shows 'dramatic crossover' in payment methods of US citizens
Study evaluates Fed data tracking 2,500 participants making close to 13,000 payments during three days in October 2012, shows many seniors sticking to mail as main payment method
Germany pips UK to renminbi clearing deal
Deutsche Bundesbank signs MoU with People’s Bank of China three days before the Bank of England; agreements pave way for first two clearing banks outside Asia
BoE and PBoC to ink deal on London RMB clearing bank
Central banks will sign memorandum of understanding next week that will pave way for London to establish the first offshore renminbi clearing bank outside Asia
Fed finds 75% of US citizens reluctant to pay by phone
While mobile banking continues to grow, many consumers are growing more sceptical of services and the security of the technology, according to a Fed survey
Bank of Canada deputy says Libor and FX scandals have damaged trust
Bank of Canada deputy governor Tim Lane says problems of benchmark rigging must be addressed through mix of 'reform and replacement'
East Africa takes more steps on path to integration
East African Community agrees to expand its relationship with a regional counterpart; implements new project to harmonise payment and settlement systems
Financial inclusion is prompting shift in ‘the landscape of central banking’
Reserve Bank of Fiji governor believes central banks have taken a ‘lead role’ in driving financial inclusion; points to new departments dedicated to the cause
RBA reveals details of ‘next generation’ banknote project
Quarterly bulletin gives insights into plans for the first Australian banknote change in 20 years, including new print methods, security features, stakeholder engagement and logistics
UK to introduce ‘world's most secure coin', claims the Royal Mint
New £1 coin first ever to feature banknote security technology; ‘could potentially change the way coins are made in the future', UK's Royal Mint claims
Danish central bank likens Bitcoins to 'glass beads'
National Bank of Denmark issues note highlighting the differences between Bitcoins and fiat currencies; stresses that virtual currencies have no inherent value
BoE praises implementation of new loss-allocation rules for clearing members
Bank's first annual report on supervision of financial market infrastructure since assuming oversight responsibilities for central counterparties last April
PBoC doubles reminbi trading band
The People's Bank of China announced this weekend it will double the renminbi's trading band to let it fluctuate 2% either side of the bank's daily reference rate