FMI
Canada unveils polymer banknotes
Canada unveils new polymer banknotes; changes to combat counterfeiting
China ups gold coin production
People’s Bank of China more than doubles issuance of gold panda coins for 2011; demand outstripping minting
BoE paper on development of central banks' lender-of-last-resort function
Bank of England study looks into evolution of clearing and settlements systems and central banks' progression as providers of liquidity
Bulgaria attempts to speed up and streamline payments
Addition of third settlement cycle designed to 'speed up and streamline' payments
Thieves seize 500,000 pesos from Argentina coffers: reports
Central Bank of Argentina robbed of 500,000 pesos' worth of withdrawn bills, say reports; central bank declines to comment
Finland to close two cash distribution offices
Bank of Finland says it will shut its Tampere and Kuopio offices as cash distribution services are outsourced to private sector
BoE outlines risk of higher intraday liquidity buffers
Bank of England study says new measures to enhance intraday liquidity risks jeopardising payment and settlement operations; recommends tools to mitigate banks’ incentive to delay settlement
Ex-De La Rue chief decamps to rival
Oberthur Technologies snaps up former De La Rue chief executive James Hussey; shares in UK banknote producer slump as Oberthur ends interest in rival
Hong Kong strengthens security for ATMs
Automatic teller machines will use chip-based technology to help cut fraud; magnetic strips on cards will still work for foreign transactions
RTGS usage climbs: Bank of Israel survey
Bank of Israel 2010 Payment and Settlement Systems survey shows Zahav transactions increased by 20% in 2010
BIS paper on regulating mobile banking providers
Bank for International Settlements study calls for bespoke approach to regulating mobile money service providers
Tanzania jails two over central bank corruption scandal
First court cases heard after 2008 corruption scandal; two businessmen jailed
De La Rue profits nose-dive
UK banknote printer De La Rue reports 63% decline in operating profits after racking up large costs from a “single customer”
Malaysia announces new banknotes and coins for 2012
Bank Negara Malaysia to issue new banknotes and coins; design will be “distinctively Malaysia”
Bankruptcy does not exclude consumers from credit markets: Fed paper
Federal Reserve study finds evidence that bankruptcy filers are not excluded from unsecured credit markets but usually pay a higher premium for finance
ECB - Target2 Annual Report (2010)
European Central Bank Target2 2010 Annual Report says transaction values rose 7.6% for the year
Namibia introduces interbank lending rates
Bank of Nambia launches the country’s first-ever official short-term interbank lending rates; gives full endorsement and encourages further developments
ECB’s Tumpel-Gugerell: self-regulation hasn’t worked for Sepa
European Central Bank executive board member Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell acknowledges banks’ progress “has not achieved the required results”
Bank of Namibia to issue new banknotes in 2012
New security features will be added to notes; old notes will still be legal tender
Cash has a future: Sweden’s Nyberg
Riksbank deputy governor Lars Nyberg predicts cash will continue to be used for payment despite decline in usage
Overdraft surveys reduce balances in the red: Philly Fed paper
Philadelphia Federal Reserve study examines impact of overdraft surveys on bank balances
Singapore challenges Hong Kong over global yuan hub status
Singapore agrees to open Chinese bank to clear yuan trades; Hong Kong’s plans to become centre for offshore yuan trade at risk
Russia launches Olympic coins
Bank of Russia launches Sochi 2014 coin series to “promote Olympic values in Russia and abroad”
IMF praises PMA as Palestine bids for statehood
Palestine Monetary Authority “now in a position to carry out functions of a central bank” as the territory bids for statehood recognition as of September