European Central Bank (ECB)
European Payments Council raises concerns over Sepa regulation
Representatives from Europe's payments industry say European Union proposals for Sepa regulation are an attempt to abolish preferred direct debit model in region
ECB threatens to stop trading swaps with US counterparties
ECB invokes US legal amendment providing it with broad immunities and says it might stop using US dealers unless granted exemptions from Dodd-Frank Act rules
Vatican calls for global central bank
Vatican social policy experts say global leaders should establish global central bank to address problems in international monetary system; says IMF failed to stabilise financial system
ECB announces new T2S start date
European Central Bank announces T2S project to launch in June 2015; key changes demanded by Advisory Group behind delays
Italy’s Visco wins governor nomination in surprise twist
Italian prime minister takes unexpected step by naming Bank of Italy deputy director-general Ignazio Visco as governor ahead of three frontrunners
Bini Smaghi in line for top Italian central bank job
European Central Bank executive board member Lorenzo Bini Smaghi is expected to be selected as the next governor of the Bank of Italy
Trichet calls for EU executive branch in farewell address
Outgoing president uses farewell speech to express personal opinion on the need for an EU executive branch; body would have powers in three key areas
Eurobonds not the solution for sovereign debt crisis: ECB’s Stark
European Central Bank executive board member Jürgen Stark says reforms to eurozone fiscal governance should come before introduction of common bond
Colleagues rate Trichet’s performance as chief as ‘good’
Trade union asks ECB staff how outgoing president handled European crisis; questions regarding internal management produce interesting results
Euro area must stand ready to bail out banks, says Liikanen
Bank of Finland governor Erkki Liikanen says euro area governments must be prepared to inject capital into banks if they are unable to raise their funds in market
ECB's González-Páramo says crisis liquidity measures must be temporary
European Central Bank executive board member José Manuel González-Páramo says permanent enforcement of non-conventional liquidity could trigger imbalances
Risk.net poll: CCPs should have access to central bank liquidity
The majority of respondents to an online poll support central bank liquidity access for CCPs, but critics argue this would be likely to lead to the break-up of multi-currency clearers
Euro area economic governance reform package inadequate: ECB’s Stark
European Central Bank executive board member Jürgen Stark says euro area economic governance reform package falls short of quantum leap
ECB paper reviews euro area credit card interchange fees
European Central Bank study calls for fresh look at credit card interchange fees in euro area
Video: Banks can arbitrage central bank liquidity provision
A conflict between new liquidity regulations under Basel III and existing central bank operations leaves a gap that banks may be able to exploit, warns financial stability expert
ECB’s Constâncio highlights challenges in measuring contagion risk
European Central Bank vice-president Vítor Constâncio says difficulties in identifying contagion risks requires policymakers to be more vigilant of spillover risks
Central banks shy away from euro reserves
New data from the IMF’s currency reserves database suggests reserves accumulation has slowed during 2011 and the appetite to hold euro reserves has also waned, particularly in emerging markets
ECB’s Constâncio favours single prudential rulebook for euro area
European Central Bank vice-president Vítor Constâncio says maximum harmonisation of prudential requirements will support financial integration and reduce costs
ECB celebrates Italian culture
European central bank announces 2011 cultural days will focus on Italian culture; events include classical and jazz music concerts, film screenings, literary and art events
Trichet bows out with new bond purchase scheme
Jean-Claude Trichet unveils a new covered bond purchase scheme; ECB governing council also agree to hold interest rates and support Jörg Asmussen for governing council post
ECB paper identifies rate-setting heterogeneity among policymakers
European Central Bank study finds differences in interest rate voting patterns within three monetary policy-setting committees
ECB’s Constâncio stresses commitment to T2S settlement platform
First ever Europe-wide platform for settlement of bonds and equities trades has ECB’s full support; will play a crucial role in future of the single market, says Vítor Constâncio
EU lawmakers agree on Stability and Growth Pact overhaul
Enhanced Stability and Growth Pact gets approval of European Council and Parliament; European finance ministers clear Asmussen for ECB executive board
ECB’s Bini Smaghi revisits Triffin dilemma
European Central Bank executive board member Lorenzo Bini Smaghi says tension persists between short-term domestic policy incentives and stability of international monetary system