Ukraine
Swiss National Bank loans $200m to Ukraine
Switzerland’s central bank will loan $200m to its Ukrainian counterpart to replenish its reserves; move comes as political uncertainty clouds future of Ukraine’s IMF funding
Ukraine eases domestic currency and forex restrictions
Ukraine’s central bank loosens restrictions on foreign and domestic currency deposit withdrawals; Gontareva says Ukraine is on track to hit inflation targets but warns of political risks
Ukraine pushes for transparency on bank ownership
Ukraine’s central bank has closed one commercial bank and warned of potential for ‘enforcement measures’ against up to 29 others, as it pushes for transparency over ownership structures
Ukrainian central bank calls for parliament to pass consumer protection law
Ukraine’s central bank has called for the country’s parliament to pass two stalled laws aimed at protecting consumers of financial services as concerns grow over provision of foreign aid
Ukraine governor reveals move towards inflation targeting
Ukraine’s central bank is already setting policy with an eye on an inflation target while it awaits a formal mandate, its governor says; banking ‘cleanup’ is ‘near the finish line’
Ukrainian central bank faces ‘difficult balancing act’
Ukraine’s central bank has boosted its foreign exchange reserves but faces high inflation and unemployment, a ‘weaker-than-expected’ recovery and possible currency pressure
Ukrainian governor: banking system 'largely cleaned up'
Ukraine’s central bank governor says the country’s commercial banking system has been largely reformed; enhancing creditors’ rights key to resumption of lending, she argues
People: Ukraine names new first deputy governor; EBA announces host of appointments
Ukrainian deputy governor promoted to first deputy governor role; EBA makes appointments and reappointments to supervisory and management boards; and more
IMF expands lending rules around countries in arrears
Fund announces new approach to lending to countries in arrears with official creditors, moving away from focus on Paris Club agreements
Sveriges Riksbank strikes $500 million swap deal with National Bank of Ukraine
Sweden’s central bank could sell up to $500 million over the next six months under the agreement, despite one deputy governor objecting to its acceptance of the responsibility
Ukrainian governor declares victory in banking sector clean-up
Valeriia Gontareva says 54 banks were put into resolution as part of the National Bank of Ukraine’s efforts to put banks on a sounder footing
Ukraine central bank awaits wider regulatory powers
Ukraine’s central bank has achieved significant reforms of the banking sector, but needs a draft law to pass to gain the power necessary to regulate the non-bank sector, World Bank analyst says
Ukraine strikes debt restructuring deal with main creditors
Agreement would see creditors accept 20% nominal haircut on $18bn worth of debt; finance minister and IMF head hail agreement and stress need for support among bondholders
People: Chicago appoints first vice-president, Ukraine adds deputy to deposit fund
Chicago Fed announces Ellen Bromagen as first vice-president and COO; changes at Ukraine’s deposit guarantee fund result in appointment of new deputy managing director; and more
Ukraine central bank donates armoured cars to military
National Bank of Ukraine hands 90 vehicles to military, more than half of which are armoured cars previously used to transport cash, as part of project to dispose of ‘non-core assets’
People: Dallas Fed names interim president; Ukraine adds deputy governor
Helen Holcomb holds the fort at Dallas Fed after Richard Fisher retires; National Bank of Ukraine appoints another acting deputy governor; Cleveland Fed names new research head; and more
Key rate hiked to 30% in Ukraine to stop currency slump
Ukraine’s central bank hikes interest rate to its highest level in 15 years, as part of a set of measures to combat the slump in the currency and battle inflation
Hryvnia back from brink despite central bank U-turn
Central bank manages to stem Ukrainian currency’s free-fall despite adding to market chaos with volte-face on foreign exchange controls; two failed banks enter liquidation
Ukraine unveils nine-member MPC
Central bank reveals composition and meeting schedule of new monetary policy committee, a body created to help ‘streamline’ the decision-making process
Ukrainian hryvnia drops 30% after central bank action
Currency in freefall after National Bank of Ukraine scraps subsidised forex auctions and simultaneously increases its key discount rate by 550bp
National Bank of Ukraine to overhaul payments system
National Bank of Ukraine is upgrading its payments system with a view to widening its use; it is also exploring the use of mobile applications in making payments
Ukraine gets new deputy in leadership reshuffle
Vladyslav Rashkovan promoted to acting deputy governor after just seven months at the central bank; board membership expanded to include head of personnel
National Bank of Ukraine warns of FX trade restrictions
Ukraine's central bank has been forced to intervene to smooth currency volatility, and warns ‘administrative measures' may follow; rules on reserves have been relaxed, however
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