Russia
Swift resists ‘political pressure' to disconnect Russian and Israeli banks
Brussels-based cooperative says calls for exclusion undermines ‘systemic global character' of its services; previously condemned EU parliament resolution in September
Bank of Russia-owned Sberbank hit with EU sanctions
EU list of sanctioned state-owned banks includes central bank-owned Sberbank, despite the US leaving it off its list this week
Bank of Russia ready to act to cushion bank sanctions blow
US and EU sanctions are aimed at state-owned banks and could cover central bank-owned Sberbank - but sanctioning the Bank of Russia itself remains unthinkable
Brics nations launch development bank and reserve fund
Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa launch new institutions to fill the gaps left by the World Bank and IMF; Observers see challenges ahead
People: Sri Lanka promotes Samarasiri to deputy; Russia picks card system head
Central Bank of Sri Lanka promotes assistant governor Samarasiri to deputy; Russia appoints Vladimir Komlev to head up national payment card operator
Expanding SWF forum to fly IMF nest and land in London next month
International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds welcomes new members ahead of relocation from the IMF's headquarters to its own premises in London in July
Russia returns to floating ruble strategy as Ukraine pressure cools
Bank of Russia has reduced the amount it will intervene to prop up the ruble, signalling an easing of geopolitical pressure on the currency
CLS says it will adhere to US sanctions on Russia
The ruble looked set to become the 18th currency to be settled through CLS, and while both the CBR and the industry utility are committed to the deadline, political uncertainties remain
Bank of Russia hikes interest rates amid growing signs of stagflation
The Bank of Russia raised its suite of interest rates by 50 basis points after one percentage point inflation increase since mid-March; says ‘persistently high' oil prices have ‘stabilising effect'
Crimea establishes its own central bank
Crimea, which voted yesterday to leave Ukraine to join the Russian Federation, has established a central bank to see it through a transitional period of independence
Russia boosts forex firepower as ruble weakness shifts inflation risks to upside
The Bank of Russia has quadrupled the amount it will spend to keep the ruble steady; inflation expected to stay low but central bank is alive to upside risks
Russia hikes rates as Ukraine crisis brings financial volatility
The Bank of Russia raised rates by 150bp today in an emergency measure aimed at taming currency volatility; Ukraine brings in tighter forex controls
Belarussian presidential decree sets out 2014 forward guidance
Belarus central bank's key refinancing rate will average between 14% and 16%, according to monetary policy guidelines approved by the president; exchange rate will be based on market forces
Russian interbank market lacks discipline, Bofit paper finds
Investigation into levels of market discipline in the Russian interbank market finds some discipline was present during the financial crisis, but even then it was insufficient to curb risk-taking
Central Bank of Russia picks official rouble symbol
The Russian currency will now have an official symbol after an open design competition came down to a public vote between five designs
Bank of Russia sees inflation out of monetary policy control
Improvements to the transmission mechanism should enable the Russian central bank to target inflation more effectively, but prices will be influenced predominantly by non-monetary factors
Bank of Russia raises inflation target for next year to 5%
Hike is prompted by anticipated increase in regulated prices; central bank argues prior target of 4.5% would force tightening of monetary policy and risk stifling growth
Central Bank of Russia simplifies interest rate policy
New measures will streamline the interest rates that the central bank targets; changes brought in two days after the appointment of a new deputy governor for monetary policy
Segmented structure of Russian interbank market leads to volatile interest rates
Liquidity-absorbing and liquidity-provision operations are conducted by the biggest banks, reducing credit risk but also restraining market development, according to Bank of Finland discussion paper
Central bank insider selected to run Russia's new ‘mega-regulator'
As head of the FMS, Sergey Shvetsov, a Bank of Russia deputy, will be in charge of ‘controlling, regulating and supervising' the country's financial markets from September 1
Bank of Russia overhauls organisation as it prepares for expanded remit
Responsibility for financial regulation will shift from a government body to the central bank in September; the bank has also created new departments of monetary policy and statistics
Russian central bank introduces new instrument for cheaper funding
New Bank of Russia governor brings in policy to auction 12-month loans to banks with a starting price 150bp under the standard 12-month repo rate
Bank Russia to become ‘mega-regulator' with mandate for growth
New law set to be enacted in September will hand the central bank responsibility for almost all of Russia's financial system, and give monetary policy a broader mandate to support ‘sustainable growth'
People: Bank of Russia deputy joins government; Bank of Lithuania appoints deputy chair
Bank of Russia's first deputy chairman appointed as economic development minister; former Lithuanian finance minister moves to central bank as Darius Petrauskas departs; Kevin Feldman joins WGC