News
Lithuania may squeeze past eurozone’s asymmetric convergence criteria
The asymmetric nature of the EU’s convergence criteria means that Lithuania, with 0.6% average annual inflation, may only scrape into the eurozone next year
Central Bank of Hungary adopts new constitution
The ‘internal constitution' reinforces central bank's ‘extremely broad range of competencies' and stresses cooperation with government to promote growth
Senior Estonian central bankers to sit on fiscal watchdog
Bank of Estonia deputy governor and chief economist will sit on an independent body tasked with assessing the government’s fiscal policy
Bush adviser appointed to Bank of England MPC
Kristin Forbes second woman to be appointed to the all-male committee of nine in two months; former member cautions over lack of labour economics experience on MPC
Canadian dollar holdings could be twice Cofer estimates – Bank of Canada
Study suggests IMF may have underestimated Canadian dollar's rise as reserve currency; growing global demand for government bonds has liquidity implications at home
Bowles turns down ECB invite to join Supervisory Board
Sharon Bowles, who is stepping down from the European Parliament this month, fears the ECB is eyeing an expansion of its influence through macro-prudential policy
Fijian deputy out, governor could be next
The deputy governor at Fiji’s central bank announces his retirement, while the president hesitates over whether to hand the governor a second term
Carney says UK's 3% growth is not ‘escape velocity'
Bank of England governor suggests rates likely to remain at current levels for another year or until recovery is underpinned by productivity pick-up and real wage growth
Central banks must grasp opportunity to shrink balance sheets safely
Central bank purchases of government bonds have turned traditional dogma on its head - but dangers lurk in the unwinding, warns Philip Turner
Central American central bank losses smallest in 25 years
However, capital positions remain weak and would even be negative if claims on governments were valued according to cashflow, IMF study finds
CLS says it will adhere to US sanctions on Russia
The ruble looked set to become the 18th currency to be settled through CLS, and while both the CBR and the industry utility are committed to the deadline, political uncertainties remain
De Larosière decries world monetary ‘anti-system’
Central bankers need to work together to identify and address macro-economic imbalances; system of co-ordinated currency boards could help absent functioning monetary system, says former IMF chief
Newspaper spat puts ‘serious dent in credibility' of Central Bank of Barbados
A spokesperson for the bank declined to comment on claims The Nation has been banned from attending press conferences; newspaper is considering legal action
Tetangco looks to promote financial inclusion on Asian research agenda
Philippines governor Amando Tetangco to encourage studies on the interaction of financial inclusion with monetary policy and financial stability as part of the research agenda at BIS Asian office
Maldives Monetary Authority denies knowledge of terrorist funding
MMA rejects statement in US department of state report that the central bank is aware of funds being raised on the islands to support terrorism abroad
FSB issues peer review on ‘uneven' progress to end credit ratings reliance
Basel-based Financial Stability Board says its members must not replace mechanistic reliance on credit rating agencies with an equally narrow substitute
BoE's new international head among senior appointments expected this month
The Bank of England has three weeks to fill seven senior positions as part of a structural overhaul that goes live on June 1
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
New York Fed launches ‘more engaging’ website
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York leads a host of central banks overhauling their websites; redesign features new emphasis on social media
Cyprus finance ministry to publish SWF framework this year
Cypriot finance minister Harris Georgiades says he will finalise plans for a sovereign wealth fund this year, but monetising the country’s gas deposits remains a distant prospect
People: BoK appoints new reserves chief; Fed staffer returns to head up Riksbank research
Chae Sun-Byoung new head of reserve management at Bank of Korea; Jesper Lindé returns to head up Riksbank's research department; Linette Field put in charge of SSM deputy directorate
FX lending in China tops $1 trillion, new BIS figures show
BIS's Robert McCauley estimates FX loans to China hit $1 trillion last year, though the recent renminbi depreciation may now cause lenders to think twice
EBA stress tests prove contentious: have your say
Market analysts raise concerns over the lack of a deflationary scenario in the forthcoming EU wide stress test; CentralBanking.com poll asks if the tests are strict enough
Bank of Zambia moves to quarterly MPC meetings
Central bank reduces number of planned MPC meetings each year in an effort to produce ‘more meaningful’ analysis with a ‘longer time perspective’