News
RBNZ cuts OCR again in face of ‘softening’
Graeme Wheeler reiterates ‘some further easing in the OCR seems likely’ as he reveals the third consecutive rate cut; RBNZ notes importance of Chinese demand to commodity prices
Bank of England wary of China risks but UK outlook steady
The MPC’s view is not materially affected by recent volatility in the financial markets as it keeps policy on hold; domestically, an increase in wage growth is offset by higher productivity
People: Top EBA officials backed for new terms; Philadelphia Fed first VP to retire
Andrea Enria and Adam Farkas handed new five-year terms by EBA’s board of supervisors; Philadelphia Fed announces Blake Prichard will retire early 2016; and more
China to open up interbank foreign exchange market
Central banks will be granted access to China’s interbank foreign exchange market as part of ongoing reforms, Li Keqiang reveals
UK mobile payments growth continues as Vocalink eyes overseas projects
Report identifies factors that may be holding back growth in mobile payments in the UK; Vocalink ‘hoping to be involved’ in US work on faster payments
FX working group grappling with enforcement, says Debelle
Harmonisation of global foreign exchange codes is proving relatively straightforward, but 'adherence is our biggest challenge', says RBA assistant governor
BoE Court chair ‘uneasy’ about government audit plans
Anthony Habgood concerned by ‘potential threat’ to the Bank of England’s independence in setting policy from handing the National Audit Office the power to conduct ‘value for money studies’
BoJ’s Shirai explains why negative rates fit Europe better than Japan
Policy board member Sayuri Shirai says impact of rates varies according to market structure, noting differences in the type of investors and credit conditions in the jurisdictions
ECB concerned by impact of draft German law on supervision
European Central Bank suggests proposals could impact consistency across the banking union and its own supervisory discretion in response to Federal Ministry of Finance
CME guaranty fund cut could lure new clearing members
Regional banks and prop shops are eyeing direct membership, but the lower minimum guaranty fund contribution does little for existing FCMs
Former COO of BNP nominated as Banque de France governor
François Villeroy de Galhau picked by French president to succeed Christian Noyer as central bank head; past experience includes BNP Paribas and French treasury
EBA raises ‘significant concerns’ over bonus culture at European banks
Bonuses at many banks found to have little correlation with performance in last bonus round before cap; one banker paid over €18 million and largest bonus proportionally was 25 times base salary
Zhou says markets have stabilised as G20 meetings end
The central bank governor says the renminbi and Chinese stock markets have largely finished correcting; G20 policy-makers pledge to avoid competitive devaluation
Bundesbank's Weidmann to replace Noyer as chair of BIS board in November
The Bundesbank president will take over as chairman of the BIS board of directors when Christian Noyer retires from Banque de France next month
BoJ predicted to expand QQE, within limits
Analysts are predicting the Bank of Japan will increase asset purchases next month, but researchers are warning of speed bumps ahead
Riksbank is working on ‘big data’, says Skingsley
Deputy governor speaks to Central Banking about bringing together experts on big data, the possibility of leaning against the wind, risks in the housing market and more
Finland governor donates month’s pay to help refugees
Erkki Liikanen will donate €10,000 to the Red Cross to help refugees; Mario Draghi says any European should be ‘horrified by the tragic loss of life happening on our doorstep’
CPMI-Iosco launch next phase of data aggregation work
Standard-setters begin consultation on first batch of key data on over-the-counter derivatives, as part of work on data aggregation by trade repositories
ECB spruces up premises with tree sculpture
Italian artist creates 17.5 metre sculpture of a tree using bronze and granite to be displayed at the main entrance of the European Central Bank’s headquarters
Negative rates working as planned, says Riksbank’s Cecilia Skingsley
Transmission of negative rates is working well and there is room to ease further, deputy governor says, despite the possibility of unwanted side effects; changing inflation target a ‘bad idea’
MAS takes step to facilitate capital sourcing across Asean jurisdictions
Singapore central bank issues implementation handbook with Thai and Malaysian regulators for firms looking to raise capital in other Asean countries
US unemployment falls to 5.1% despite drop in jobs growth
Richmond Fed president describes it as a ‘right-down-the-middle-of-the-fairway’ unemployment report, as he spells out why the time is right to begin raising interest rates
Safe as houses: designing a more stable mortgage
A conference at the New York Fed earlier this year looked at some innovative mortgage designs that could boost financial stability. Central Banking approached some of the speakers to learn more
Draghi stresses willingness to act as ECB cuts inflation forecasts
Governing council holds policy as ECB staff cut inflation forecasts over the forecast horizon; Mario Draghi stresses QE could run beyond September 2016 if necessary