News
Route ahead unclear for Italian banks
At least one bank faces major loan book problems; European law may present difficulties with recapitalisation and “bad banks”
Carney hits back at critics of monetary policy’s distributional impact
Monetary easing has disproportionately benefited the poor, BoE governor says; loss of open markets “would be a tragedy, but is a possibility”
Tajik central bank launches consumer protection push
Plan could create stability and growth if it is successful, but resource constraints are a challenge, National Bank of Tajikistan says
Venezuela central bank launches new banknotes amid soaring inflation
The bolivar has weakened to unprecedented levels as inflation soars and political instability engulfs the nation; new note series’ highest denomination is 200 times larger than current highest
BoE unveils database of macro-prudential policies
Researchers attempt to classify the myriad forms of macro-prudential policy, compiling panel data on when policies were tightened and loosened in different countries
Singapore fines two foreign banks for 1MDB-related breaches
Investigations continuing into Goldman Sachs’ role, the regulator says
Bank of Korea embarks on ‘coinless society’ project
Central bank wants to eradicate use of coins by 2020; first stage of the project to use electronic travel passes to pay for goods and services
Bank Negara Malaysia’s new site draws on award-winning designs
Responsive new site launched after in-house team conducts benchmarking exercise on award-winning central bank sites; head of electronic communications explains the evolutionary process
Norges Bank recommends higher equity share for oil fund
Declining global growth and lower volatility suggest a larger equity share is both desirable and manageable, central bank says
Carstens to succeed Caruana at BIS
Bank of Mexico governor will step down in 2017 to take on top job at the Bank for International Settlements
Ukrainian central bank proposes abolition of forex restrictions
The central bank’s multi-stage plan includes a draft law, despite political disputes
EU could impose negative rate shocks via IRRBB rules
EBA guidance on shocks is “outdated”, says ECB official
Brazil cuts interest rates amid US economic uncertainty
Uncertainty around the rate of disinflation prompts committee to reduce rates with caution; pace of disinflation may “intensify”, says Copom, dependent on strength of economic recovery
Tallow controversy forces Innovia to look at alternatives
Innovia to seek alternative to tallow as traces of animal extracts in the Bank of England's new ‘fiver’ sparks global review; Canadian and Australian banknotes also contain traces in guardian substrate
Deal on output floors and op risk approach likely – Ingves
Revised standardised approach to credit risk will be “capital neutral” and more compatible with IRB
New Zealand central bank asks for more macro-prudential powers
Capital’s housing prices "among the highest in the world", report says; heightened debt levels among farmers leave sector "vulnerable to future shocks"
Austrian central bank gives award to two young economists
Papers study responses to shocks in structural funds and effects of trade on business cycle
Bank of Zambia closes fourth bank this quarter
Commercial bank deemed insolvent by the regulator; Bank of Zambia takes over control of the institution to “safeguard” depositors
RBS falls short in latest Bank of England stress tests
Three banks show signs of “capital inadequacies” in the latest round of tests, with RBS forced to review its capital plan; Carney says global and domestic risk remains “elevated”, prompting the FPC to leave its buffer unchanged
People: Tobias Adrian to replace Viñals at IMF
New York Fed economist to take over IMF’s monetary and capital markets department; Malaysia appoints new financial stability board; vice-chair picked for FinCoNet
‘Significant’ housing market risks in eight EU states – ESRB
UK outlook “highly uncertain”, while regulatory mandate in Sweden is “not clear”
Dealers urge further clarity on rules for ailing CCPs
New European rules stop short of defining resolution triggers
Seychelles issues first full banknote series in 18 years
The central bank spends around $2.6 million producing new series; SCR10 note transformed into coin in the new series, while the SCR500 note gets a facelift
Bundesbank unveils blockchain settlement system
Prototype system able to transfer digital coins or securities as well as settling “basic corporate actions”; Deutsche Bundesbank to continue working on project to create a test concept