News
BoE opens door to May rate hike
MPC votes to keep current policy stance, but notes more positive inflation outlook; policy may now need to be tightened “by a somewhat greater degree”
Sudanese central bank weakens foreign exchange rate for banks
Official rates remain well above black market prices, local reports say
Banks running out of time to make post-Brexit eurozone applications
Banks looking to relocate should apply “by the end of the second quarter” – ECB supervisor Lautenschläger
ECB increases role of corporate debt in QE
Fall in sovereign bond purchases could allow extension of stimulus
Singapore and Malaysia to set up stock market link
The two markets have a combined market capitalisation of more than $1.2 trillion and 1,600 publicly listed companies
Taxes putting pressure on investment in India – RBI’s Patel
Reserve Bank of India leaves interest rates on hold, expressing concerns that latest budget threatens to push inflation out of target zone
Court orders former Sri Lankan governor to report to police
Former governor’s son-in-law arrested over allegations of central bank insider dealing
Plunging shares may be another sign of economic strength
The sell-off may be a reaction to stronger economic indicators and expectations of a hawkish Fed, say analysts
Bank of Japan increases bond purchases amid global sell-off
Both the prime minister and the governor see no rush to withdraw stimulus
Venezuela’s new forex auction sees bolivar plummet
Latest auction sees currency devaluate by 99% from heavily subsidised exchange rate
BIS’s Carstens calls for cryptocurrency clampdown
Bitcoin has become “a combination of a bubble, a Ponzi scheme and an environmental disaster”
Saudis deposit $3 billion to build up Yemeni central bank
Saudis are also training central bank staff, and say US and UK are supporting capacity-building
Fed imposes growth cap after ‘consumer abuses’ at Wells Fargo
Troubled lender is not allowed to expand its assets further until it improves governance and controls
Central Bank of Malta seeks closer ties with North Africa
Malta is well-placed to link the north and south sides of the Mediterranean, says board director Philomena Meli
Yellen to join former Fed colleagues at Brookings
Janet Yellen returns to her research roots with position at Brookings Institution
Seychelles’ rusty rupees to be replaced
Prolonged exposure to salt water has led to rust and erosion of previous series of coins, released in 2016; UK’s Royal Mint to produce new composite coins
Fed unveils 2018 stress tests for big banks
The severely adverse scenario would take the unemployment rate to 10% from 4.1%
CCP stress tests have found capital shortfalls – Esma
Small increases to stress-test scenarios would have left ICE Clear Europe “in material breach”
Riksbank renews its website to address user demands
New design preserves original structure, but makes the most demanded content more accessible
Thailand eases foreign exchange rules to encourage outflows
Central bank seeks to cool down the baht, one of the fastest-appreciating Asian currencies
People: FCA creates Brexit role; new Uzbek deputy
UK FCA creates new senior role to oversee Brexit work; Adham Islamov joins Central Bank of Uzbekistan; Swedish and French regulators join Esma board
EBA to test banks’ resilience in adverse Brexit scenario
Stress tests offer glimpse of how a crisis related to UK’s withdrawal from the bloc might emerge
Markets should not panic over reserve levels – Bajan governor
Haynes says level of reserves has reached new all-time low at 6.6 weeks of imports, but central bank is not considering a devaluation
Potential ATM closures will be PSR’s first ‘major test’ – Morgan
Treasury select committee chair says Payment System Regulator should not hesitate to intervene should closures threaten financial stability; market calls for independent review