Europe
EBA sees stability risk in Commission ratings proposal
European Banking Authority criticises Commission’s proposals on use of credit ratings’ agencies judgements by regulators; amendments would ‘increase risk to financial stability’, it says
Eurozone finance ministers hold extraordinary meeting over Greece
Finance ministers meet in Brussels over Greek debt; recent negotiations marked by public disagreements between IMF and Greek government
Paper examines credit risk spillover in the eurozone
Estimations of fair-value credit default swap values may give better picture of eurozone risk contagion than market prices for credit default swaps, ECB paper argues
Italian governor criticises bank resolution rules
Bank of Italy governor Visco says BRRD and European Commission policy may increase risk of financial instability
ECB sees ‘no clear upward trend’ in most inflation metrics
Inflation measures in the eurozone are subdued, the ECB says; several factors are slowing recovery, including balance sheet adjustments, downturn in emerging markets and slow progress on reform
Draghi points to savings glut in some eurozone countries
Germany and others are contributing to a global savings glut, Draghi argues; renews call for structural reform and rejects appeals to curtail monetary expansion
Draghi warns criticism of monetary policy may delay recovery
Mario Draghi says some politicians' criticisms of ECB policy might delay eurozone recovery; says easing policies are working but need time to bring about recovery
Italian deputy governor calls for fiscal expansion in eurozone
Some eurozone countries should follow fiscally expansionary policies, Bank of Italy deputy governor argues; policy so far has been “less expansionary” than other major economies
Asylum seekers at risk of financial exclusion, EBA warns
European countries must ensure asylum seekers are not excluded from financial services by anti-money laundering rules, EBA says; calls on some authorities to take action
Lower real interest rates may harm productivity growth, researchers say
Lower real interest rates may reduce productivity growth rates, researchers say; Italy and Spain have suffered low or negative TFP growth during existence of euro
Praet says ECB policy is working
Analysis shows that eurozone finances would be considerably tighter without ECB’s unconventional monetary policy, executive board member says
ECB had to act to forestall fall in inflation expectations, Praet says
The ECB had to expand its unconventional monetary policy to prevent a downward shift in long-term eurozone inflation expectations, Peter Praet says; inaction of others “no excuse”
Italian firms' leverage well above average, study finds
Italian non-financial companies’ leverage ratios are significantly above the eurozone average, a working paper shows
Eurozone monetary policies ‘virtually exhausted’, Dutch central bank head says
Eurozone monetary policy is “virtually exhausted”, Dutch central bank head warns; structural reforms are needed to restore growth rates
ECB clarifies national supervisory discretions
European Central Bank publishes a guide and regulation aimed at harmonising supervision of major banks within the eurozone
Villeroy de Galhau calls for eurozone finance minister
Banque de France governor calls for single eurozone finance minister to co-ordinate fiscal and structural policy; warns of dangers of “overburdening monetary policy”
Four largest eurozone economies show different reactions to monetary policy, paper finds
The economies of Germany, France, Italy and Spain show marked differences in responding to policy rate rises, researchers argue
Vítor Constâncio calls for macro-prudential tools to reach beyond banks
Authorities should be granted wider powers over alternative investment funds and shadow banking sector, including margins and haircuts on derivatives and securities financing, Constâncio says
Slovenia report simulates effects of structural reforms
Report by local institute, in co-operation with the central bank and OECD, argues the time is “ripe” for structural reform in Slovenia; suggests long-term benefits outweigh short-term costs
Stressed governments persuade banks to increase bond buying, paper finds
European governments under fiscal stress persuaded domestic banks to increase their holdings of sovereign debt, a paper from The Netherlands Bank finds
Macro-prudential policy must give guidance on how to deleverage, paper says
Different deleveraging methods have varying effects on the economy, ECB working paper finds; policy-makers must give banks concrete guidance on how they implement certain measures
European supervisors must improve consistency on capital requirements, Angeloni says
European regulators must take more consistent approach to capital requirements, Ignazio Angeloni says; authorities have to improve macro-prudential policy co-ordination
‘Substantial drawbacks’ remain in European supervisory colleges’ work, EBA says
European supervisory colleges still have ‘substantial’ drawbacks in key aspects of their work, despite making improvements in 2015, the European Banking Authority says
EBA unveils 2016 stress test methodology
European Banking Authority presents the methodology for 2016 stress tests; no single capital adequacy level, but results will inform regulators’ assessments under SREP