Israel
Israel’s Flug wants to shine light on ‘grey market’
The alternative financing market, composed of both law-abiding and criminal elements, needs to be shrunk and brought under the supervisory spotlight, says Bank of Israel's governor
Bank of Israel launches journalist briefings as part of transparency drive
Central bank begins quarterly briefings of journalists and adds new publications as part of ongoing efforts to improve communications; follows consultations with other central banks
Israel’s Flug calls for new financial stability committee
Bank of Israel governor wants to ‘institutionalise’ collaboration between financial supervisory authorities; offers advice to new government on budget
People: NY Fed names first vice president; HKMA promotes research head
Michael Strine succeeds Christine Cumming as first vice president at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York; Lillian Cheung becomes executive director for research in Hong Kong; and more
Bank of Israel studies economic damage from conflict
Latest hostilities between Israel and Palestine cost the Israeli economy around 0.3% of GDP, with effects stemming from falling tourism and lower consumption, annual report finds
Israel and Turkey cut rates, hinting at further easing
Bank of Israel eases with one eye on the appreciating shekel; Turkey stands by its ‘cautious’ stance on interest rate cuts with 25bp reduction
Israeli research finds monetary policy is ‘dominant factor’ on short-term yields
Paper published by Bank of Israel examines impact of monetary and fiscal policy on government bond yields; finds the influence of government debt has ‘strengthened’ in past decade
Bank of Israel researchers propose exchange rate-based forward guidance
Researchers say forward guidance has a mixed track record, especially in small open economies, but linking guidance to external factors would help improve credibility
Flug warns Israel is falling behind in productivity race
Bank of Israel governor sees country slipping behind its OECD peers and suggests policy changes to boost productivity growth
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
‘Flower power’ drives new Dominican Republic banknote series
The Dominican Republic is issuing upgraded banknotes to include the country’s new national flower; Israel and eurozone also introducing new notes in the market
Bank of Israel urges government to keep its fiscal discipline
Central bank, which cut interest rates to lowest level ever on Monday, warns exceeding deficit target could hurt country's fiscal credibility
Israeli officials look to remove obstacles to securitisation
Joint team of financial regulators renew efforts to promote securitisation; former deputy governor Zvi Eckstein backs proposed legislative changes
Bank of Israel expects 0.4% inflation for 2014
Low rates prompted by flagging domestic demand, appreciation of the shekel and low inflation environment worldwide, bank says in monetary policy report
Israel governor Flug appoints new chief of staff
Daniel Hahiashvili appointed as chief of staff to the governor today; incumbent Eddy Azoulay moves to represent Israel at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
Israel publishes first financial stability report
Bank of Israel repeats demand for new committee for setting macro-prudential policy in its first financial stability report since 2004
Highly indebted poorer households pose risk to Israeli banking system
Bank of Israel says lenders should look more carefully at ‘payment-to-income' ratio, which is highest for those households most exposed to macro- and micro-level economic shocks
Israeli banks' core capital ratio would fall to 7.5% in crisis, stress tests show
Banking system would show cumulative loss of three billion shekel, says Bank of Israel, but there would be 'no risk to stability'
MPCs can make good decisions despite economic uncertainty, says Israel's Flug
Israel governor stresses the need for up-to-date forecasts and 'broad range of indicators' when conducting monetary policy
'Normal environment' still far off, says Flug
Israeli governor says country's modern central bank law 'internalises global crisis lessons' and includes support for financial stability in mandate
Israel to announce rate decisions while trading floor is open
Move will bring Israeli central bank in line with its international peers but unlikely to make much practical difference, observers say
Bank of Israel cut rates despite 'rapid' increase in house prices
Four out of five members of the Bank of Israel's MPC backed last month's 25 basis point rate cut to 0.75% following weaker performance across range of indicators
Flug fears advanced economies will leave Israel behind
Bank of Israel governor notes gap between GDP per capita in Israel and US was close to 50% in 2011 and is expected to remain 'more or less the same' – a 'clearly troubling picture'
Bank of Israel staff get bump in wages
Recently struck deal raises salaries by 1.78% and also increases wages retroactively for 2012 and 2013; governor Flug recently recieved 50% pay increase after push by former governor Stanley Fischer