News
UBS teams up with other major banks in blockchain venture
‘Utility settlement coin’ to be backed by cash held at central banks; team of experts will keep an “open dialogue” with the banks and regulators throughout the testing process
Central Bank of Iceland changes course with 50bp cut
Reversal of tightening cycle reflects concern inflation is not rising as expected, in part because of the strength of the króna; growth still forecast to continue above trend
MAS unveils ‘Looking Glass’ fintech lab
New facility in MAS building was built as a space for fintech firms to test ideas with each other and the central bank; facility will also serve as venue for training and networking
Gibraltar to launch polymer £100 note
New note will be the first polymer banknote for Gibraltar; De La Rue to use ‘Safeguard’ substrate for new banknote, which will be issued “soon”
People: Irish market supervisor quits; Emefiele appointed president of AACB
Gareth Murphy resigns as head of market supervision at the Central Bank of Ireland, Nigerian governor appointed president of African Association of Central Banks, and more
Economists add to theory and empirics of economy’s non-linear dynamics
Paper by Bank of England economists finds “strong evidence” of non-linearity in UK data, while Markus Brunnermeier and Yuliy Sannikov expand theory of financial amplification mechanisms
Overhaul of Federal Reserve structure is needed, paper says
Former adviser to Bernanke co-authors paper stressing need to end private control of 12 regional Fed banks; diversity and transparency need improvement, authors argue
Capital outflows look manageable as Iceland moves to lift controls – central bank
A “stress test” of potential outflows implies the Icelandic financial system and central bank reserves will cope when capital controls are lifted; the government bill prepares to release funds
De La Rue boosts Africa presence with Kenya deal
Kenyan factory to be turned into production “centre for excellence”; printer hopes new equipment installed at site will increase banknote production by 50%
Urjit Patel to take over from Rajan at RBI
Deputy governor led work on India’s new inflation-targeting framework; appointment seen as signal of government’s commitment to current policy
More work needed to make case for GDP-linked bonds – BoE paper
The design of GDP-linked bonds needs to align macroeconomic need with investor demand, according to a paper authored for the G20 summit; clearer guidelines and principles could aid adoption
Nepal Rastra Bank broadens electronic payments oversight
Banks and financial institutions will have to re-register with the bank under new licensing law; central bank hopes reform will support more non-banking institutions and new payment transactions
CPMI-Iosco issues report on key data for future derivatives reporting
Report sets out working group’s proposals for how OTC derivatives products should be reported to trade repositories using unique identifiers
Federal Reserve Board seeks comms boost with Facebook page
Fed adopts its fifth form of social media in an effort to reach a greater audience, joining many other central banks expanding their communications in a similar direction
CFTC charges Deutsche Bank with reporting code violations
US regulator files legal complaint against Deutsche Bank for swap reporting violations; complaint is latest blow to German giant’s US operations
MAS looks to overhaul payment systems
City state already has access to some of the world’s most advanced payment systems, but cash and cheque use remains high; MAS hoping to improve governance, regulation and technology
National Bank of Denmark sells stake in cash-handler BKS
Central bank official says organisation succeeded in ending spate of violent robberies, so there is no longer a need for the National Bank to be involved
FOMC minutes show divisions on monetary policy
Kansas Fed president Esther George voted for an immediate rate rise at the FOMC meeting in July; other members were also hawkish but some preferred to keep monetary policy loose, minutes show
Data gaps hamper work on emerging market vulnerabilities – BIS paper
Large debt stocks, particularly in foreign currencies, point to vulnerabilities in some emerging markets, but gaps in the data are hampering analysis, BIS economists say
Mongolia’s central bank raises rates 450bp in bid to stop currency slide
Rate hike was prompted by fall in currency’s value since late June; central bank says it continues to see encouraging trends in currency flows
FSB fleshes out guidance on resolution
Reports add detail on emergency funding needs for global banks and maintaining the continuity of critical services during resolution; most standard-setting work expected to be finished in 2017
Bullard backs new approach to forecasting
Idea of economy converging to a single steady state has “likely outlived its usefulness”, St Louis Fed president says; instead reserve bank will now focus on regime-based forecasts
RBI should improve link between analysis and macro-prudential policy – FSB review
The Reserve Bank of India should consider regular financial stability meetings to set policy, and it needs to support its decisions with deeper analysis, a peer review finds
Belarus central bank reports ‘significant’ credit risk to country’s banking sector
A large proportion of Belarusian banks’ risky debts are owed as a result of financing government, central bank says; report echoes IMF call for major reforms to state-owned enterprises