News
Women still hold less than 10% of top jobs
Central banks continue to become 'more equal employers' in 2014, but only 18 of 189 institutions are led by women
Brazil’s central bank lowers expectations of further action
Brazil’s central bank says inflation will enter ‘a long period of decline’ next year, as it looks to guide inflation and interest rate expectations
Basel Committee tightens securitisation standards despite bank protests
Final standards for securitisations impose tougher capital requirements despite banks’ complaints that the rules are ‘punitive’; reduces reliance on external ratings
Norges Bank cuts interest rates as krone weakens
Low inflation gives Norway's central bank room to tackle the impact on growth of falling oil prices; governor suggests key rate will remain at record low for the next two years
Bank of England unveils sweeping transparency changes
Bank of England to publish transcripts of monetary policy meetings, cut number of meetings, revamp committee structures and more; Barry Eichengreen says benefits likely to ‘dominate’ costs
Weak TLTRO demand increases pressure on ECB
Banks borrow €129.8 through ECB's second operation; pressure increases on governing council to launch new measures in January or March 2015
Bank of Russia raises interest rates by 100bp
Central bank will continue to hike to stem double-digit inflation; growth expected to remain low "until import-substituting industries develop"
Davis Report reveals extent of FCA communications blunder
Report uncovers misguided comms strategy, poor supervision by senior managers and sluggish response as FCA ‘taken by surprise’
Central bank says macro-pru tools ‘crucial’ in Turkey
With the threat of a ‘spillover from global uncertainty to inflation’ in 2015, the Central Bank of Turkey highlights the importance of macro-prudential defences
Praet explores QE transmission channels
ECB chief economist considers scope of portfolio rebalancing and signalling effects for both corporate and sovereign bond purchases
Fed proposes tougher capital surcharges on biggest banks
US central bank aims to go beyond Basel framework on loss-absorbing requirements for GSIBs; Failure to comply would lead to restrictions on dividends and bonuses
Rohde mulls higher capital requirements if Denmark stays out of bank union
Danish governor wants country to join the European banking union in 2015; banks have lower capital buffers than counterparts in other non-member countries
Central Bank of Ireland urges households to spend 2.5bn copper coins on Christmas shopping
Bank warns local shops are running out of coins as people consign them to ‘jars and piggy banks'; says small change ‘better being spent or given to charity'
Bank of Mexico sells dollars to stop peso decline
Bank of Mexico will buy up to $200 million worth of pesos a day, after a currency depreciation that it fears could boost inflation and push the central bank into an interest rate hike
Euro Retail Payments Board warns of fragmented market for 'instant payments'
Stakeholder group sets up working streams on 'person-to-person' and contactless euro payments; chair Yves Mersch stresses importance of instant clearing services
People: Bank of Finland names administration head; NBU appoints new director for pension fund
Bank of Finland will have a new administration head from January 1; National Bank of Ukraine hires a securities expert to lead the corporate pension fund; and more
UK's FCA unveils reshuffle amid criticism
Conduct supervisor admits supervisory model for small firms has been "under strain" as three directors quit; critical report due to be published this week
Irish government looks to lift restrictions on central bank disclosure
New bill will, if passed, allow staff at the Central Bank of Ireland to reveal certain confidential information to parliamentary committees
HKMA launches new liquidity facility
Discount facility for government bonds aims to provide greater flexibility for banks in meeting liquidity needs; HKMA also moves to ‘streamline’ bond tenors
National Bank of Ukraine to overhaul payments system
National Bank of Ukraine is upgrading its payments system with a view to widening its use; it is also exploring the use of mobile applications in making payments
Bank for International Settlements sees danger lurking beneath exuberant markets
Recent rapid 'flip-flopping' by markets from risk-on to risk-off and back reveals fragility hidden beneath buoyant asset prices, and central bank interventions may make the problem worse
Central banks in SE Europe publish 19th century data
Institutions in Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Serbia and Turkey team up to shed light on ‘statistical dark ages’ going back to the Ottoman Empire in 1830
Basel Committee: US and EU capital rules still falling short
Basel Committee’s second assessment of compliance with Basel framework finds both EU and US are not complying in all areas, but both argue deviations are justified
Belarus central bank handed 12% inflation target
President of Belarus expects inflation to fall from 20% to 12%, while the central bank simultaneously reduces its policy rate by at least 500 basis points