News
Central banks are now ‘market makers of last resort’, says Fischer
Bank of Israel governor Stanley Fischer says central bankers have learnt a lot about the liquidity trap and expansionary monetary policy since the advent of the global financial crisis; explains thinking behind Israel’s rate rise in July 2009
Video: Bank of Mexico’s Duclaud says new rules will hit sterilisation costs
Javier Duclaud explains Mexico’s problems in 2008, why the country has increased reserves by $70 billion and how Dodd-Frank and Basel III are causing sterilisation problems for central banks
IMF sounds warning over European deleveraging
Lagarde hopes to ‘significantly’ increase resources available to the IMF during spring meeting; Financial Stability Report also recognises need for increased firewall as deleveraging rages on in Europe
Brazil slashes benchmark rate again
Central Bank of Brazil again cuts benchmark rate by 75 basis points; new 9% rate close to country’s all-time low rate
Iranian central bank escapes Swiss sanctions
Swiss authorities stop short of freezing assets of Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran; note the institution's importance to the country's economy in reaching the decision
BoE's Tucker: FPC capital powers 'won't be popular'
Attendees at ACT conference raise concerns about increased lending costs after Bank of England’s Tucker argues for powers to raise sectoral capital levels
Bank of Lithuania warns of stained banknotes after ATM theft
Bank of Lithuania advises against accepting banknotes stained with ink; fears raised that such notes could be result of ATM theft in the country
Bank of Canada strikes positive note in policy report
Latest Monetary Policy Report from the Bank of Canada sets out better than expected economic momentum; inflation risks balanced and stimulus withdrawal ‘may become appropriate’ says report
City’s top brass throws weight behind London RMB initiative
London will become the next offshore centre for RMB trading, vows UK chancellor George Osborne; BoE's Bailey supportive of initiative
Spain's Ordóñez renews call for government action
Bank of Spain governor urges government to stick to target of reducing budget deficit to 5.3% in 2012; highlights work done on banking reform
SNB unveils new governing board
Swiss National Bank confirms Thomas Jordan as chairman of the governing board; plans for stricter rules governing private financial transactions by SNB staff are also revealed
BoE’s Posen causes stir with vote switch
External MPC member abandons pro-QE stance; inflation concerns high among rate-setters, with Paul Tucker taking vocal lead
India slashes benchmark rate
Reserve Bank of India drops repo rate to 8% in first cut in years; governor references slowing growth and declining inflation in announcing decision
Hoenig joins FDIC board
Former Kansas City Fed president Thomas Hoenig joins the board of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Norway set to shift investment strategy after poor SWF performance
Norway sovereign wealth fund to focus on emerging markets following third-worst performance in history last year
IMF warns of 'full-blown panic' eurozone break-up would cause
Latest IMF World Economic Outlook discusses possibility of a break-up of the eurozone; says disorderly exit of one member country would have untold knock-on effects
Central Bank of Iran reacts to major debit card security breach
Central Bank of Iran urges debit card users to change personal identification codes after hacker publishes security details of millions of accounts on internet
Reserve managers cling to the dollar but shun the euro, CBP survey finds
Central banks have reduced their euro reserve holdings and looked to diversify into non-traditional currencies due to ongoing eurozone tumult finds annual Central Banking Publications survey
CPSS and Iosco set out central bank responsibilities for FMIs
CPSS and Iosco issue new standards for financial market infrastructures; include core responsibilities for central banks and other supervisory bodies
Bernanke defends Fed’s response to financial crisis
Fed chairman defends actions taken before and during global financial crisis; offers justification for Fed response to struggling systemically important firms
PBoC decision to widen trading band welcomed
Chinese central bank announces “enlarged” floating band of renminbi trading prices against the US dollar; analysts and IMF welcome decision
Bank of Korea to invest in renminbi in 2012
Head of reserve management Heung Sik Choo confirms Bank of Korea will make first investments in Chinese renminbi this year
Sarb investigation finds low-quality proof Krugerrand coins
Investigation into SA Mint Company uncovers low-quality proof Krugerrand coins may have been casted between April 2011 and May 2011; dealers offered chance to return coins
Reserve Bank of India writes to banks about electronic payments
Indian central bank asks banks to accept electronic transfers for credit to loan accounts, following complaints from customers