News
RBNZ takes next step towards replacing settlement systems
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand is seeking registrations of interest from potential vendors to replace its current payment and settlement systems, NZClear and Esas
IMF: Uganda cut policy meetings to improve forecasts
Bank of Uganda now sets policy once every two months in an effort to base decisions on "firmer" data; the ECB will hold eight meetings in 2015 with the BoE set to follow suit in 2016
Kocherlakota announces Fed departure
Minneapolis Fed president and FOMC dove to step down when his term draws to a close in February 2016
Fijian authorities tackle religious worker fraud
Financial Intelligence Unit urges religious organisations to conduct financial transactions under own name to prevent overseas remittances from ending up in the wrong hands
Argentina’s central bank denies being an ‘alter ego’ of the government
Central Bank of Argentina lawyers look to dismiss a complaint from the holdout funds in New York, rejecting the notion the institution is an ‘alter ego’ of the Argentine government
Poloz warns regulation could stifle credit to SMEs
Bank of Canada governor says new financial regulation likely to reduce the availability of credit to small companies by discouraging financial innovation
Women still hold less than 10% of top jobs
Central banks continue to become 'more equal employers' in 2014, but only 18 of 189 institutions are led by women
Brazil’s central bank lowers expectations of further action
Brazil’s central bank says inflation will enter ‘a long period of decline’ next year, as it looks to guide inflation and interest rate expectations
Basel Committee tightens securitisation standards despite bank protests
Final standards for securitisations impose tougher capital requirements despite banks’ complaints that the rules are ‘punitive’; reduces reliance on external ratings
Norges Bank cuts interest rates as krone weakens
Low inflation gives Norway's central bank room to tackle the impact on growth of falling oil prices; governor suggests key rate will remain at record low for the next two years
Bank of England unveils sweeping transparency changes
Bank of England to publish transcripts of monetary policy meetings, cut number of meetings, revamp committee structures and more; Barry Eichengreen says benefits likely to ‘dominate’ costs
Weak TLTRO demand increases pressure on ECB
Banks borrow €129.8 through ECB's second operation; pressure increases on governing council to launch new measures in January or March 2015
Bank of Russia raises interest rates by 100bp
Central bank will continue to hike to stem double-digit inflation; growth expected to remain low "until import-substituting industries develop"
Davis Report reveals extent of FCA communications blunder
Report uncovers misguided comms strategy, poor supervision by senior managers and sluggish response as FCA ‘taken by surprise’
Central bank says macro-pru tools ‘crucial’ in Turkey
With the threat of a ‘spillover from global uncertainty to inflation’ in 2015, the Central Bank of Turkey highlights the importance of macro-prudential defences
Praet explores QE transmission channels
ECB chief economist considers scope of portfolio rebalancing and signalling effects for both corporate and sovereign bond purchases
Fed proposes tougher capital surcharges on biggest banks
US central bank aims to go beyond Basel framework on loss-absorbing requirements for GSIBs; Failure to comply would lead to restrictions on dividends and bonuses
Rohde mulls higher capital requirements if Denmark stays out of bank union
Danish governor wants country to join the European banking union in 2015; banks have lower capital buffers than counterparts in other non-member countries
Central Bank of Ireland urges households to spend 2.5bn copper coins on Christmas shopping
Bank warns local shops are running out of coins as people consign them to ‘jars and piggy banks'; says small change ‘better being spent or given to charity'
Bank of Mexico sells dollars to stop peso decline
Bank of Mexico will buy up to $200 million worth of pesos a day, after a currency depreciation that it fears could boost inflation and push the central bank into an interest rate hike
Euro Retail Payments Board warns of fragmented market for 'instant payments'
Stakeholder group sets up working streams on 'person-to-person' and contactless euro payments; chair Yves Mersch stresses importance of instant clearing services
People: Bank of Finland names administration head; NBU appoints new director for pension fund
Bank of Finland will have a new administration head from January 1; National Bank of Ukraine hires a securities expert to lead the corporate pension fund; and more
UK's FCA unveils reshuffle amid criticism
Conduct supervisor admits supervisory model for small firms has been "under strain" as three directors quit; critical report due to be published this week
Irish government looks to lift restrictions on central bank disclosure
New bill will, if passed, allow staff at the Central Bank of Ireland to reveal certain confidential information to parliamentary committees