News
Barclays shows interest in Maiden Lane II assets: reports
Reports that Barclays may consider an offer for residential mortgage-backed securities held in New York Federal Reserve’s Maiden Lane II portfolio could thwart AIG bid
Hungary revamps inflation report
National Bank of Hungary says enhancements will improve efficiency of monetary policy communications
SNB signs MoU on membership to Bank Council
Federal Department of Finance and the Swiss National Bank sign Memorandum of Understanding on criteria for appointments to central bank’s governing body
FSB criticises industry for lack of progress on risk disclosure
Financial Stability Board says more action needed on liquidity, counterparty, structured credit disclosure practices
ESRB discusses regulatory division of labour; names external experts
European Systemic Risk Board’s second meeting covers how regulatory responsibilities will be split; Balcerowicz, Brunnermeier and Wyplosz among external experts
US Treasury to offload $142 billion in agency MBS
US Treasury announces plans to wind down portfolio of agency securities bought from beleaguered Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac during crisis; move not expected to impact Fed policy
Basel Committee may adjust 'blunt' CCP default fund capital
Netting treatment in controversial current exposure method is up for discussion at an April stakeholder meeting, but regulators reject other criticisms
Risk officers concerned about regulators’ approach to branch liquidity
Some risk officers at international and domestic banks in the Asia-Pacific region are frustrated by the regulatory focus on country-by-country stress tests and a trend towards branch liquidity.
Hungary selects final two external rate-setters
Hungarian parliament selects two external rate-setters to National Bank of Hungary’s Monetary Council, taking it to full capacity
New York Fed enters the blogosphere
Regional Fed’s research and statistics group project aims for “direct dialogue” with web users
G-7 pledges intervention to stem yen appreciation
Finance ministers and central bank governors say they will cooperate to counter volatility of Japanese currency in aftermath of Tohoku earthquake
FSoC to take ‘flexible approach’ to identifying systemically important financial market infrastructures
US Financial Stability Oversight Council outlines criteria for what qualifies as systemically important financial market infrastructure
EBA stress tests: adverse scenario toughened up
Stress tests underway for European banks use harsher adverse scenario and tighter capital rules than tests carried out last year
CLS welcomes new Basel working group on FX settlement risk
Work between central banks and supervisors that was halted at the onset of the financial crisis is now set to continue
Norges Bank back in black; sovereign fund yields 9.6% return
Norway’s central bank makes a profit in 2010 following 2009 loss; sovereign wealth fund boosted by equity gains
S&P downgrades Bahrain
Standard and Poor’s downgrades Bahrain’s credit rating two notches to BBB amid continued political unrest
UK FSA’s Turner puts forth case for more discretion
Chairman of the Financial Services Authority Adair Turner argues discretion vital if regulators are to temper the excesses of credit cycles
Governor of Lesotho’s central bank dies
Governor of the Central Bank of Lesotho Moeketsi Pius Senaoana passes away
QE crystallised doubts surrounding dollar: US subcommittee speaker
US lawmakers and members of subcommittee on domestic monetary policy say Federal Reserve’s quantitative easing programme has reduced faith in dollar
UK inflation expectations rise
Bank of England survey on public attitudes to inflation show rise in inflation expectations
ECB opines on how euro crisis facility should work
European Central Bank proposes IMF involvement in order to ensure facility does not promote moral hazard
Moody’s Portugal downgrade sparks further speculation of bailout
Moody’s cuts Portugal’s credit rating by two notches to A3 on weaker growth prospects; analyst says bailout expected in coming months
Ireland unveils stress test scenarios
Central Bank of Ireland outlines macroeconomic scenarios for stress test exercise on four banks; results set to be published at end of month
S&P unconvinced by resolution regimes
Rating agency says sovereigns will continue to bail out banks