News
Bank of England promises diversity on new polymer banknotes
Public consultation revealed 87% of Brits in favour of switching to polymer banknotes; Bank of England also unveils a new system for selecting historical characters to feature on its notes
Bank of Tanzania launches financial inclusion framework
East African country is aiming for 50% formal financial inclusion by 2016, up from 22% today; strategy will tackle supply side, demand side and structural obstacles
Sudan names new central bank governor
Abdul-Rahman Hassan was appointed by president Omar al-Bashir last week; he previously served as director of a local bank, according to state news agency
IMF could help overcome ‘myopia' on international monetary policy co-operation
IMF deputy head of research Jonathan Ostry argues in new paper with Atish Ghosh that international macro policy co-ordination could bring global welfare benefits, with IMF playing a central role
Riksbank cuts rates on falling inflation, leaning less against the wind
Swedish central bank cuts interest rates by 25bp to 0.75% to counter falling inflation; household debt levels still a risk, says Ingves, but calls on ‘others' to do more to keep them in check
Jörg Asmussen quits the ECB to return to politics
Executive board member leaves the bank after two years to become deputy labour secretary in new German government; Buba's Sabine Lautenschlaeger an early favourite to replace him
Fed appoints five new regional reserve bank chairs for 2014
Fed board of governors has released the names of regional reserve bank chairs and deputy chairs for 2014; JC Penney CEO and Yale economics professor among new appointees, seven chairs reappointed
Danièle Nouy confirmed as chair of SSM supervisory board
Top French supervisor formally appointed after ECB nomination and European Parliament approval; first job will be to agree on her deputy, to be chosen from ECB executive board
ECB launches online competition to familiarise citizens with new €10 banknote
Players have to uncover four security features and also guess the number of euro banknotes in circulation in the euro area on December 31, 2013; new note unveiled on January 13
Peruvian Congress approves central bank board members after two-year delay
Depleted board expected to be back at full strength next week after three appointees finally get green light from the legislature; originally appointed in July, but sacked following street protests
EBA warns of Bitcoin risks
European Banking Authority tells Bitcoin users to invest only what they can ‘afford to lose’ as not much can be done about exchange failures or digital theft
Serbia completes ECB's 'most ambitious programme to date'
Three-year programme has prepared the National Bank of Serbia to take a lead role in negotiating the country's entry into the EU and the central bank's entry into the ESCB
Australia PM adds to RBA intervention momentum
Tony Abbott says central bank has sufficient reserves to 'intervene prudently and appropriately' in forex markets; Glenn Stevens 'suspects' the market will spare the RBA the need to act
Slovenian banks need €4.8 billion cash injection, government says
Public bailout expected to raise public debt burden by 20 percentage points; country's three largest banks in particular dire straits, according to recently wrapped-up external asset quality review
Chinese liberalisation could be ‘force for global stability', says BoE economist
Article in Bank of England quarterly bulletin says a more open capital account in China could be a force for growth and financial stability at home and abroad
EU bail-in to start two years early after Parliament and Council reach agreement
Bail-in rules, expected only from January 2018, will now enter force in January 2016; public bail-outs remain on the table as a last resort
Draghi says sovereign debt risk weights are a question for Basel Committee
Mario Draghi says it is up to the Basel Committee to assign different risk weights on sovereign debt ‘at the proper time’ and seeks to appease politicians' concerns over SME credit
India's counter-cyclical buffer proposals a 'tax on banks'
Government-linked think-tank claims India's counter-cyclical buffer focuses too narrowly on banks, and fails to address real issues in the country's finance system
Federal agencies finalise Volcker rule exceptions
The Federal Reserve, FDIC and other agencies agree on a final version of the Volcker rule to ban proprietary trading and investment fund activities, but with a series of exemptions
HKMA launches ‘hassle-free’ electronics payments platform
Hong Kong Monetary Authority says the platform will enable the general public to receive, manage and schedule electronic payments in three different currencies through one portal
IMF's Viñals says ESM should backstop ECB's comprehensive assessment
José Viñals says the European Stability Mechanism should be made available as a public backstop for the ECB’s forthcoming comprehensive assessment
Central Bank of Russia picks official rouble symbol
The Russian currency will now have an official symbol after an open design competition came down to a public vote between five designs
Basel Committee gives Brazilian capital standards the nod in new report
Standards are deemed overall compliant with Basel III, report published today concludes; Central Bank of Brazil's approach to market risk considered ‘more prudent' than the Basel standardised version
Lagarde calls for pre-emptive action on eurozone deflation
IMF managing director says the ECB should act to shore up eurozone inflation and find ways of getting credit to SMEs; Draghi says ECB must pursue price stability by all means necessary