News
Swiss authorities ink deal on crisis collaboration
Swiss National Bank, finance ministry and regulator sign memorandum on supervisory cooperation
Euro counterfeits drop by 5.9%
European Central Bank statistics show 364,000 forged euro banknotes recovered in second half of 2010; €50 note remains most popular bill to fake
CIC to open Toronto office, wants more funds: reports
China Investment Corporation selects Toronto as location of first foreign office; CIC senior executive demands more capital from Beijing
Estonia joins third central bank gold agreement
Bank of Estonia signs agreement limiting central bank gold sales to 400 tonnes a year up to August 2014; follows country’s entry to the eurozone
SNB expects $21.7 billion loss for 2010
Swiss National Bank says loss relates to foreign currency positions; says loss highlights need for independent central banks to have capital cushion
Basel III will cause ‘financial Darwinism’: BaFin’s Sanio
Top German regulator Jochen Sanio says Basel III will squeeze weaker banks, spur formation of large banking groups that will pose more systemic risk
Anglo chiefs approached me before crash: ex-central bank director
Former Central Bank of Ireland director Alan Gray says chairman and chief executive of now state-owned Anglo Irish Bank approached him over liquidity stress in lead up to government guarantee, crisis
Basel bids to ensure all regulatory capital can be used to buffer losses
Basel Committee on Banking Supervision sets out rules to ensure instruments deemed Tier I and Tier II capital can be used to soak up losses; instruments issued after January 2013 must comply
PBoC allows Chinese firms to invest renminbi abroad
People’s Bank of China to allow domestic banks to settle investments abroad in renminbi as part of cross-border investment pilot
Bank of Japan to revamp website
The Bank of Japan to launch new site at the end of the month; says changes will make information more easily accessible
Gold could hit $1,600 in 2011, say analysts
Commentators say investor appetite for the precious metal will continue to soar as concerns over US economy, eurozone sovereign debt issues, persist
EBA plans new round of stress tests
New European Banking Authority announces second round of stress tests for European banks at opening meeting
Virtual art showcase centrepiece of Finnish website re-launch
Bank of Finland unveils renovated internet portal at new address, featuring virtual tours of building and extensive art collection
Argentina raises deposit insurance ceiling: reports
Central Bank of Argentina quadruples cap on bank deposit insurance to better reflect falling peso
Oberthur seeks equity house support in De La Rue takeover bid: reports
French banknote firm Oberthur reportedly in talks to issue private equity houses with convertible bond to fund De La Rue acquisition
Senior officials for new European regulators named
European regulators in Paris and Frankfurt appoint a number of new heads and board members
Portugal succeeds at auction but fails to sway analysts
Portugal sells $1.6 billion worth of government debt at auction, but commentators remain wary of fundamentals
Argentinean central bank okays $7.5 billion loan to state
Central Bank of Argentina approves loan of $7.5 billion of reserves to repay bondholders; move is central bank’s latest measure to bail out government
Fed uncooperative and audit insufficient, claims influential senator
US senator Bernie Sanders dissatisfied with Federal Reserve’s response to further questions on audit of emergency lending facilities
South Korea promotes use of SWF to acquire foreign businesses: reports
Korea’s Presidential Council on National Competitiveness head Kang Man-soo says Korea Investment Corporation can help expand mergers and acquisitions abroad
Fed profits soar to record $80.9 billion
Federal Reserve posts another record profit, trumping 2009 by $27.5 billion; paves the way for $78.4 billion transfer to US Treasury
Barclays’ Diamond argues case for universal banking
Barclays' chief executive Bob Diamond adamant bank’s model funds cheaper lending and is less risky
Oberthur given takeover deadline as De La Rue spat intensifies
French banknote printer told to “put up or shut up” by 7 February; ruling comes on the heels of efforts to force De La Rue to clarify relationship with RBI, failed November takeover bid
High inflation stirs banknote shortage in Argentina: reports
Inflationary pressures in Argentina create shortage of high-denomination banknotes forcing long queues at cash machines