News
Commentators sharpen knives ahead of Bank’s forecasts
Leading media outlets criticise Bank of England’s forecasting methods ahead of Wednesday Inflation Report; former Bank economists say new model welcome but will not remedy rate-setters unfounded optimism, which underpins off-target predictions
Sarb bill passes in parliament’s lower house
South Africa’s National Assembly approves package of amendments edifying central bank law against shareholder machinations
Israel’s Fischer starts search for new bank supervisor
Bank of Israel governor Stanley Fischer appoints committee to find replacement for departing bank supervisor Rony Hizkiyahu; hails Hizkiyahu’s leadership in a difficult time
Mauritania’s central bank releases new note
Central Bank of Mauritania note to be highest denomination in circulation
Nomura snares RBS's Melph as global head of central bank and sovereign wealth sales
Central banks and sovereign wealth funds have become an increasingly important source of revenue for derivatives dealers.
FSA exodus stokes fears of anaemic operations
Regulator revealed to have shed 121 personnel in second quarter of the year, 128% up on a year previous; insists it still draws top talent, but commentators worry resignations will weaken it
ECB flags concerns over new capital rules
New capital rules may incentivise banks to dump risky assets on central bank
Minister takes heat off BoJ, calls for Diet to do more against deflation
Senior vice minister Hideo Hiraoka says government must employ fiscal and industrial policy to quell deflation; comments add to growing body of support for Bank of Japan’s policy stance
Romania to review calls to ban coin featuring anti-Semite
National Bank of Romania to reconsider circulation of coin portraying religious leader who called for exile of Jews from country; move follows protests from Jewish community
Freddie Mac reports $6 billion loss in second quarter
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation shows a $6 billion loss as strenuous conditions persist in US housing market; agency asks for extra $1.8 billion in Treasury assistance
Basel III watered down by politics and not fit for purpose, says CLSA risk chief
The most recent draft of the Basel III proposals has been watered down by politics, according to an Asian risk officer
FDIC’s general counsel resigns
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation general counsel Michael Bradfield becomes second high profile figure to leave this week
Fannie Mae posts lowest loss since conservatorship
Fannie Mae reports a $1.2 billion loss, the lowest quarterly loss since its conservatorship
New Zealand mulls lightening banks’ reporting load
Reserve Bank of New Zealand seeks to remove doubling in reporting requirements and bring standards for Kiwi banks in line with international practice; mooted changes expected to reduce compliance cost
Top US economic adviser Christina Romer quits
Chair of US President’s Council of Economic Advisers Christina Romer resigns, citing family reasons; thought to be interested in Janet Yellen’s post at San Francisco Fed
Europe has turned a corner: Trichet
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet says economy back on track; slower growth expected despite positive figures in second quarter
New Turkish notes spark spike in printing costs
Central Bank of Turkey’s Annual Report shows improved lira notes caused banknote manufacture costs to leap by more than half; governor Durmuş Yılmaz praises inflation targeting framework
Greece passes first hurdle of bailout programme
European-IMF review of Greek economic programme says country is on track to receive second tranche of funds
CIC denies interest in UK football club: reports
Chinese sovereign wealth fund refutes suggestions that it is funding a bid to buy Liverpool Football Club
RBI drastically cuts deputy governor Chakrabarty’s role
Reserve Bank of India removes five of deputy governor Kamalesh Chakrabarty’s nine portfolios; move linked to Chakrabarty’s out-of-turn comments on monetary policy
Pakistan set to appoint new governor in coming weeks
State Bank of Pakistan says new governor must be in place by beginning of September, but no frontrunners yet
Singapore slaps biggest bank with extra capital requirements after technical glitch
Monetary Authority of Singapore censures DBS and imposes additional capital requirements after technical failure caused bank’s services to shut down in July; fault pinned on poor risk oversight
Bair’s senior adviser leaves FDIC
Senior adviser to markets Joseph Jiampietro departs FDIC after less than 18 months
NY Fed to start second set of reverse repo tests
New York Federal Reserve will conduct further tests of reverse repurchase operations tool in preparation for eventual exit from monetary support; tests will involve agency MBS, unlike previous trial