Feature
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank – Raising expectations
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank embodies international co-operation and innovation – the spirit of modern China. Strict management, openness and transparency have won the bank wide recognition and acceptance, says Jin Liqun, the bank’s president
The IFF China Report 2018: Post-financial crisis – A decade on
The Global Financial Crisis sparked Group of 20 countries to introduce tough new regulations on financial institutions and instruments. Yet the architecture of the global monetary, economic and financial system has many flaws. What lessons can China…
Canada’s polymer versus paper substrate cycle
Empirical evidence indicates the switch to a polymer substrate has improved the lifespan of Canadian banknotes, write Ramesh Paskarathas, Lynne Graaskamp, Erik Balodis and Theodoros Garanzotis
Reserve manager of the year: Bank of Korea
The South Korean central bank has revamped its reserve operations, and adopted a proactive approach to managing risks and returns that is matched by few of its peers
Implementing a holistic and dynamic risk budget
The National Bank of Denmark has implemented a dynamic risk budget that takes the bank’s unavoidable policy risks as the point of departure. The new approach has led to a reassessment of investment exposures and how they are rebalanced over time and…
A dangerous unknown: interest rate risk in the financial system
Urgent action is needed to tackle the little-understood build-up of interest rate risk in the global financial system; macro-pru tools still inadequate to tackle the issue
Governor of the year: Lesetja Kganyago
Kganyago has defended and enhanced the Sarb’s reputation as an independent and well-governed institution against all threats – despite a turbulent political and economic backdrop
Global custodian of the year: BNY Mellon
The US asset specialist has made strong progress in its effort to offer a seamless overlay of its disparate legacy systems, while also providing improved training to official institutions
Securities lending services provider of the year: Northern Trust
Official institutions praise the Chicago-based firm’s excellent coverage, operational smoothness and good returns
Website of the year: Bank of Lithuania
Bank of Lithuania has built a website around the principle of making the most relevant information as accessible as possible for all of its audience
Asset manager of the year: BlackRock
BlackRock delivered some innovative new products and a highly regarded training scheme to build on its already strong foundation in reserve management services
Central bank of the year: Bank of Canada
The Canadian central bank has stood out for its ever-improving levels of transparency, forward-looking management and best-practice review of its policy mandate
Economics in central banking: Alberto Cavallo and Roberto Rigobon – Billion Prices Project/PriceStats
Through a vast and ongoing data-collecting exercise, PriceStats has helped central banks overcome many of the drawbacks inherent in traditional inflation series
Consultancy and advisory provider of the year (currency management): De La Rue
The UK-based company is helping central banks monitor the lifespan of banknotes in a bid to improve stock management and cost-effectiveness of currency operations
Payments and market infrastructure provider of the year: Perago
The software company is helping central banks around the world implement reliable and highly adaptable RTGS and retail payments systems
Technology consultant of the year: Vizor Software
The Dublin-based company continued to grow its client base in 2017, proving its mettle in emerging markets, with the addition of Brunei’s central bank and the Zambian pensions and insurance regulator
Risk management services provider of the year: Openlink
Openlink’s central bank and state agency client base continues to grow, with the addition of a number of new clients, including Queensland Treasury Corporation
Initiative of the year: Bank of England’s FinTech Accelerator
The UK central bank has embraced fintech service providers in a controlled manner to bolster its cyber-security and payments capabilities
Banknote and currency services provider of the year: Landqart
The leading hybrid substrate provider offers the durability and increased security of polymer combined with the security features and customer familiarity of paper
Lifetime achievement award: Perng Fai-nan
Pre-emptive financial reforms combined with flexible monetary and forex policies have enabled Taiwan’s veteran governor to provide economic stability, even during turbulent times
Innovation in reserve management: HSBC
The global bank stepped in during Egypt’s economic crisis, arranging a private funding package that proved instrumental in turning around the country’s fortunes
Consultancy and advisory provider of the year (data and regulatory management): BearingPoint
BearingPoint’s expertise in data and reporting has informed a number of high-level bodies over the past year, including the Basel Committee and the IMF, following groundbreaking work in Austria
Banknote and currency manager of the year: Norges Bank
The Nordic central bank has redefined how its banknotes are designed, incorporating top-notch security and an innovative awareness campaign
Home truths on Europe’s NPLs
Europe needs to overcome fears of a hypothetical crisis, and impose more intrusive supervision and greater provisioning on its banks