European Central Bank (ECB)
Major central banks phase out dollar liquidity operations
ECB, BoE, BoJ and SNB will start scaling back the amount of dollar liquidity they offer to market participants in April in response to waning demand
Banks with more interbank relationships meet liquidity needs ‘more efficiently’, finds Bundesbank paper
Discussion paper examines the link between interbank relationships and liquidity needs, using data from German banks’ use of ECB main refinancing operations
Lautenschläger nominated as SSM vice-chair
The European Central Bank has nominated Sabine Lautenschläger as the vice-chair of the supervisory board; if appointed she will join Danièle Nouy at the top of the SSM
Cœuré wants to fast-track resolution fund
Benoît Cœuré calls for single resolution fund to be established within five years; Axel Weber predicts that some of the eurozone banks will fail the ECB’s asset-quality review
People: Zambian deputy retires; Lautenschläger appointed at ECB
Bank of Zambia and Bank of Nigeria lose deputy governors to the ministry of transport and retirement respectively; Sabine Lautenschläger will join the ECB executive board on January 27
ECB bulletin examines 'virtuous circle' in Chinese reforms
Research article published by the European Central Bank says there could be a ‘virtuous circle’ between reforms aimed at rebalancing China’s growth and those aimed at promoting the renminbi
People: Malta gets second deputy; Lautenschläger aces European Parliament test
Central Bank of Malta gets second deputy governor for first time; Lautenschläger wins overwhelming majority in European Parliament vote; and more
Mersch says ABS could help eurozone back to health
Addressing the Ifo Institute in Munich, ECB executive board member Yves Mersch said asset-backed securities have a bad reputation but a role to play in the European economic recovery
Trichet calls on Troika to ‘gradually disappear’
Former ECB president Jean-Claude Trichet defends the central bank’s role in the Troika; says the group should be phased out as policy-makers move away from curing crises and towards preventing them
Lautenschläger rejects German stereotypes as she closes in on ECB job
Sabine Lautenschläger tells the European Parliament she will not imitate either Weidmann or Asmussen if she is appointed to ECB’s executive board; calls for governing council to publish minutes
ECB unveils new €10 note
Yves Mersch presents the design of the new €10 banknote in Frankfurt; equipped with new security features to help keep rising counterfeit rates in check
Governor of the year: Mario Draghi
Unflappable conviction and outstanding leadership has enabled ECB president Mario Draghi to decisively restore confidence in crisis-hit Europe
ECB deflects parliament questions on troika
European Central Bank publishes response to a European Parliament questionnaire on the financial assistance programmes brokered by the troika; Irish governor praises ‘rigorous adherence’ to fiscal goals
ECB appoints four SSM department heads
New directors general include a former secretary-general of the BCBS and hires from the central banks of Spain and Finland; ECB endorses Sabine Lautenschläger for its executive board
ECB 'strengthens' guidance but keeps policy on hold
Mario Draghi says December’s inflation drop was ‘broadly as expected’ and did not warrant a knee-jerk response; places additional emphasis on governing council’s forward guidance
European Commission pushes for Sepa deadline extension
Michel Barnier defies the Eurosystem by pushing for a six-month extension to the February 1 deadline for migration to the Single Euro Payments Area
People: Lautenschläger for ECB board; IMF's García set for Chile central bank
EU leaders nominate Bundesbank deputy, in charge of banking supervision, to take German spot on ECB executive; Chile's IMF director to join national central bank; and more
Bank of Italy share capital revalued
Italian government revalues central bank’s share capital at €7.5 billion; ECB rebukes finance ministry for jumping the gun
2013: The year in review
The past year has seen growing acceptance of a new normal in central banking, and concrete progress on various elements of bank regulation – we look back at the biggest stories of 2013
ECB unveils new Euro Retail Payments Board
New board will be the driving force behind retail payments integration in Europe; will replace the Sepa council and take a more proactive approach than its predecessor
Credit ratings hit prices 'significantly' more in times of crisis, paper finds
Effects of rating actions on market prices not crucial during favourable market conditions but 'very significant' in times of crisis; analysis covers ratings and prices of 16,500 bonds over 12 years
Jörg Asmussen quits the ECB to return to politics
Executive board member leaves the bank after two years to become deputy labour secretary in new German government; Buba's Sabine Lautenschlaeger an early favourite to replace him
Danièle Nouy confirmed as chair of SSM supervisory board
Top French supervisor formally appointed after ECB nomination and European Parliament approval; first job will be to agree on her deputy, to be chosen from ECB executive board
ECB launches online competition to familiarise citizens with new €10 banknote
Players have to uncover four security features and also guess the number of euro banknotes in circulation in the euro area on December 31, 2013; new note unveiled on January 13