News
Estonia gets final nod to join euro
Europe's finance ministers fix conversion rate at 15.6466; preparations begin for January 2011 changeover
South Africa’s Gordhan stands up for inflation targeting, flexible rand policies
South African finance minister defends central bank’s key frameworks, lauding benefits to credibility and stability
Chinese ratings agency yanks triple-A ratings from US, UK
China’s Dagong Global saddles developed world safe havens with lower ratings on grounds of inability to repay debt; gives China three notch upgrade to AA+
ECB would have refused assets for Anglo loan
Collateral used by Anglo Irish to access central bank funds would not have been accepted by European Central Bank
Bank’s Bailey: creditors must pay for bank bailouts
Bank of England’s Andrew Bailey says idea of using debt restructuring as means to solve too big/ important to fail warrants “serious investigation”
Brussels will drain London banking sector: top bankers
HSBC chair Stephen Green warns that European legislation will eradicate London’s competitive edge as a financial centre; says Basel III will curb trade finance
Taiwan’s Perng calls on banks to curb housing boom
Taiwanese central bank governor Perng Fai-nan demands lenders tighten rules in order to stifle exuberance in housing market; real estate loans worth more than half the island’s GDP
Bank of Japan appoints first female branch manager
Tokiko Shimizu becomes first woman to head regional branch of central bank
Richmond Fed raises the curtain on the “Fed Experience”
Richmond Federal Reserve gears up for opening of its new permanent exhibit; features interactive displays and commentary on major economic events from Ben Bernanke, Paul Volcker
HKMA issues incident response and management procedures
Hong Kong Monetary Authority reminds firms of their requirements in response to incidents affecting customers
NY Fed attacks article on AIG debacle
New York Fed general counsel Thomas Baxter takes issue with New York Times article which says Fed ignored advice from advisers on AIG counterparty CDS issue
Hikes in Asia as region shrugs off euro sovereign debt concerns
South Korea and Malaysia raise rates on inflation fears, Australia signals intent to continue tightening; elsewhere Riksbank tightens
Monetary aggregates remain about price, not financial, stability: ECB’s Stark
ECB Executive Board member Jürgen Stark says critics-cum-champions of monetary analysis are wrong once more about the true purpose
Four former governors join Central Banking’s advisory board
Joseph Yam, Y.V. Reddy, Don Brash and Ludek Niedermayer join Central Banking Publications editorial advisory board
Europe hikes capital rules, slashes banker bonuses
Legislation adopted by European Parliament requires banks hold up to four times more capital to protect against trading risk; half of bankers’ bonuses to be paid in contingent capital
Trichet on World Cup: I don't mind who wins
Jean-Claude Trichet refuses to declare favourite as two eurozone members vie to scoop soccer's top prize
Temasek Holdings’ portfolio hits record high
Singaporean sovereign wealth fund Temasek Holdings says portfolio has hit record of $135 billion; fund chief credits increased exposure to Asian emerging markets
Cebs unveils details of EU stress tests
Committee of European Banking Supervisors names 91 banks that will be subject to stress tests; vague on methodology
ECB bond purchase effect wearing off, warns IMF
Fund cautions that stability risks are on the rise again as effect of European Central Bank’s foray into bond markets loses bite; southern eurozone to face refinancing contest with US, UK and Japan
Ireland’s bad bank forced to slash profit forecast
Ireland’s National Asset Management Agency says €4.8 billion profit estimate was based on exaggerated figures from banks; chairman Frank Daly “disappointed and disturbed” by banks’ distortion
Differing sovereign debt haircuts to be included in EU stress tests: reports
Reports quote German banking officials as saying that extreme scenarios will apply steep haircuts to PIIGS sovereign debt, but none to bunds or French paper
Azerbaijan to move to DSGE model
National Bank of Azerbaijan will switch to consolidated DSGE framework by year-end; deputy research director says model valued for overall coherence and ability to factor in irrational behaviour
Ukraine President in bid to strengthen central bank independence
Ukraine’s President Viktor Yanukovych submits draft bill to enhance central bank’s independence; measures lengthen governor’s term, increase number of deputies and prohibit party membership
ECB attacks Bucharest over central bank pay cuts
European Central Bank criticises Romania’s decision to impose wage cuts on central bankers after its government failed to consult Frankfurt