News
Wright secures top secretariat job at Iosco
European Commission veteran David Wright is leaving academia to become the new secretary general of the International Organization of Securities Commissions
Central Bank of Ireland reveals enforcement priorities
Irish central bank tells financial service providers what it will focus on in terms of enforcement actions in 2011; warns reactive enforcement will also occur outside of set priorities
Kuwaiti governor resigns after 25 years as chief
Sheikh Salem AbdulAziz Al-Sabah resigns after a quarter of a century as governor of the Central Bank of Kuwait; reports point to political tensions as cause
Solomon Islands warns of counterfeits and announces new coins
Solomon Islands public warned about counterfeit banknotes in circulation; central bank also announces new coins to be issued
New South African banknotes will portray image of Mandela
First democratically elected president of South Africa honoured in currency redesign; new notes expected by the end of 2012
Central Bank of Iraq signs off plan for new headquarters
Central Bank of Iraq finalises agreement with Zaha Hadid Architects to design new office headquarters in central Baghdad
Central banks find novel uses for old banknotes
Central Bank of Ireland makes old notes into artwork; National Bank of Hungary offers the decommissioned banknotes to charities to burn for heating purposes
Shirakawa warns against renewed risk of spillover effects from Europe
Bank of Japan governor Masaaki Shirakawa says Asian banks should pay careful attention to deleveraging by European financial institutions; calls for further efforts to develop corporate bond markets in the region
Azerbaijan central bank deputy governors up for reappointment
Candidates for roles of first and two other deputy governors revealed as existing board members; appointments require full parliamentary support
EBA makes first assessment of banks’ capital plans
European Banking Authority receives recapitalisation plans from majority of banks highlighted in capital shortfall assessment; confirms no EU-wide stress test until 2013
ECB approves collateral eligibility criteria of seven Eurosystem central banks
European Central Bank leaves interest rates unchanged but confirms plans to relax collateral criteria for credit claims at seven Eurosystem central banks, including Banque de France
BoE boosts QE by £50 billion
Bank of England increases the size of its Asset Purchase Programme to £325 billion as forecasts show inflation in the UK is likely to undershoot its target in the medium term
Brazil deputy governor positive about economic future
Aldo Mendes says Brazil is prepared to face global economic deterioration; expects to see final growth figure of 3% for 2011 announced soon
SNB announces year-long delay on new banknotes
Problems with suppliers mean the new Swiss banknotes will not enter circulation until the end of 2013 at the earliest; latest hiccup in long process of renewing the currency
Ukraine deputy governor resigns
National Bank of Ukraine quietly replaces Volodymyr Krotiuk as deputy governor; offers no explanation as director of financial department takes over the role
EU vows fresh sanctions against Syrian central bank
European Union due to impose freeze on Central Bank of Syria's assets as part of efforts to strengthen sanctions against the Syrian government
Former BoE policy-makers discuss QE and financial repression
Andrew Sentance joins Fathom Monetary Policy Forum for the first time; joins Rachel Lomax and Ian Plenderleith to discuss quantitative easing and financial repression
EPC outlines new models for mobile payments
European Payments Council requests feedback on new model for contactless and remote mobile payments in Europe; focuses on the preferred type of secure-elements technology used in mobile phones
Malaysia and China extend currency swap arrangement
People's Bank of China and Bank Negara Malaysia renew and expand currency swap arrangement, designed to facilitate greater bilateral trade and investment
Norges Bank announces end date for public to exchange old banknotes
Norwegians have until November 2012 to exchange old series of banknotes before they are rendered worthless, 11 years after new currency series was introduced
RBA surprises markets with rate hold
Reserve Bank of Australia policy board leaves cash rate unchanged despite market expectation of 25-basis point cut in rates due to weak external outlook
SNB’s Jordan pledges to maintain Swiss franc’s currency floor
Swiss National Bank acting chairman, Thomas Jordan, preserves commitment of Sfr1.20 floor to euro; analysts expect the central bank to defend but not raise floor
Lithuanian central bank completes euro credit migration to Sepa
Bank of Lithuania says government institutions holding accounts with central bank will now be able to initiate and receive payments in euros through Sepa credit payments scheme
Tri-party repo taskforce to disband without delivering key reform
The New York Fed's concerns about intra-day credit should be tackled by JP Morgan, BNY Mellon and DTCC, an industry taskforce concludes