News
Kenyan central bank concerned by proposed interest rate caps
The central bank warns of “adverse consequences” from a proposed cap on bank rates, including problems for monetary policy transmission; the measure is part of a bill awaiting presidential assent
People: Mongolia gets new first deputy; BIS names Financial Stability Institute chair
Erdembileg Ochirkhuu joins Bank of Mongolia as first deputy shortly after new governor takes office; Fernando Restoy to chair Basel-based body; World Bank names new chief economist; and more
Romanian deputy submits resignation following arrest
High court places Olteanu under 30-day house arrest; he resigns from post as deputy governor at National Bank of Romania following corruption allegations
All eyes on Italy as EBA prepares to release stress test results
Portuguese, Austrian and German banks may also be the possible subjects of market attention after tonight's publication
Sarb review calls for changes to payment frameworks
An enforcement committee is to be created in the next six months as part of Sarb’s payment system review; the report identifies a number of “inadequacies” with current framework
National Bank of Romania deputy arrested over corruption claims
Bogdan Olteanu to be held for 24 hours, with the potential for extension, following accusations of €1 million bribe; central bank says others will assume his responsibilities
IMF’s crisis performance criticised by internal review
Report evaluates IMF’s handling of eurozone crises from 2010 to 2013; work during programme design and implementation described as ‘uneven’ and concerns raised over political pressure
BoJ boosts ETF purchases in face of global uncertainty
The Bank of Japan nearly doubles pace of ETF purchases to ¥6 trillion per year, and introduces measures to smooth funding in foreign currencies; stock market and exchange rate rise on the announcement
Liberia in line for new largest banknote
Liberia to have first new banknote series in 16 years, including a L$500 for the first time; all notes to be printed on a “higher-quality substrate”
ESRB unveils methodology for mapping shadow banks
ESRB presents report on European shadow banking and identifies major risks in sector; says major gaps in data still exist
Report sees progress following UK market review but job ‘far from done’
Implementation report notes good progress, suggests responsibility must now fall to market participants; authors note ‘Brexit’ may delay some reforms
Singapore’s GIC warns of lower returns in coming years
High valuation of asset prices and modest growth outlook points to lower returns in coming decade or two, GIC says; 20-year annualised real rate of return fell last fiscal year
Fed holds as near-term risks ‘diminish’
FOMC says near-term risks to US outlook have diminished, while economic activity is expanding at a “moderate pace”; keeps policy unchanged, but statement sees increasing odds of a hike this year
Conflict of interest prompts managerial change at Bank of Jamaica
Deputy governor will leave the central bank after completing her term; Bank of Jamaica to now have three deputy governors
Viñals leaves IMF to chair Standard Chartered
Lagarde praises Viñals for “sharp intellect” and “analytical rigour” during seven years of service at the fund; he will join Standard Chartered Bank as chairman of the board
Malta’s deputy governor to remain in post, central bank confirms
Alfred Mifsud will continue as one of the Central Bank of Malta’s two deputy governors; allegations of corruption, denied by Mifsud, are ‘outside bank’s remit or competence’, spokesman says
Bank of Israel aims to boost construction credit with new regulation
Banking supervision department proposes reclassifying credit risk in wake of financial institution’s efforts to insure against it; suggests it would free up $2.6bn of finance
MAS adds cloud computing to guidelines on outsourcing risk management
Cloud services officially acknowledged in latest outsourcing guidelines as more financial institutions adopt the practice; despite improved security, banks should still be aware of the risks
Sri Lanka invites bids to mint 970 million coins
Central bank calling for four denominations of coin to be minted by end-March 2019; looking for mints with experience of supplying foreign countries with circulation coins
Turkish governor says monetary policy will be simplified at ‘reasonable’ time
Turkish governor emphasises need to address “structural” causes of inflation and says effects of recent coup attempt should prove “short-lived"
UK MPs urge separation of Financial Conduct Authority functions
Parliamentary committee suggests enforcement is separated from the FCA in a report on HBOS failure; the authority says this would inhibit its ability to act as a regulator
Irish central bankers take first look at effectiveness of macroprudential housing policies
Ireland’s central bank publishes examination of its first full year of operating macroprudential measures affecting the housing market; compares data on borrowers subject and free from limits
IMF changes method for calculating SDR currency amounts
IMF will switch to new SDR basket in October, including renminbi for the first time; calculation will use new rounding methodology aimed at minimising deviation from weightings
Nepal to introduce interest corridor in August
There will be an initial large ‘wedge’ between rates when first introduced, official says; policy rate and floor of corridors set in relation to interbank average