United Kingdom
Glum findings in latest FSA report
Financial markets could be more vulnerable to external shocks in 2008, the latest risk outlook published by the Financial Services Authority (FSA), the British single regulator, finds.
The FSA Handbook: a Practical Guide and Update
With the focus of markets on the regulatory response to the current crisis, the launch of this tenth guide to the Financial Services Authority (FSA) handbook, to be held in London on 6 February, is expected to be a popular event.
UK regulator held responsible for bank run
The Financial Services Authority (FSA), the British regulator, failed in its duty to properly supervise Northern Rock, the beleaguered mortgage lender, an eagerly awaited report by lawmakers finds.
UK rates "restrictive", says dovish Blanchflower
David Blanchflower, the only member of the Bank of England's nine-strong monetary policy committee (MPC) to back a rate cut earlier this month, has said monetary easing is vital to avoid a recession.
European regulation event in London: 29 January
With the credit squeeze and banking crises like Northern Rock placing an increasing scrutiny on regulators, this practical guide to the latest regulatory developments is timely.
New SWF event to be held in London
Whether being portrayed as villains for their opacity and secrecy, or as saviours for shoring up the capital bases of some of the biggest investment banks, sovereign wealth funds have seldom been off the front page of late.
UK's King unlikely to take Fed tack on rate cuts
Mervyn King, the governor of the Bank of England, signalled he would prefer a gradual decline in rates on Tuesday in a speech that noted the risks to inflation as much as those to growth.
UK MPC voted 8 - 1 in favour of rate hold
David Blanchflower was the only member of the nine-strong Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee to object to the decision earlier this month to hold rates at 5.5%, opting instead for a 25 basis point cut.
Rock-bond plan could pay off Bank loan
The British Treasury underlined its commitment to finding a private sector bidder for Northern Rock on Monday, publishing details of a strategy that would require no upfront repayment of the £26 billion ($50.6 billion) owed by the beleaguered mortgage…
Banking risks must be considered together
The impact of credit and interest rate risk, the two most important dangers faced by commercial banks, must be measured jointly, research published by the Bank of England finds.
Fisher urges Fed to avoid "trigger-happy" cuts
Having an itchy trigger finger with monetary policy risks shooting everyone in the foot, said Richard Fisher, the president of the Dallas Federal Reserve.
British MPC faces tough choices warns deputy Gieve
The Bank of England's monetary policy committee (MPC) faces difficult decisions in the months ahead because of the dual threat of slowing growth and rising inflation, said Sir John Gieve, the deputy governor responsible for financial stability.
Fund manager knocks Bank's role in Rock saga
Philip Richards, the chief executive of RAB Capital, one of two hedge funds that are the biggest shareholders in Northern Rock, the beleaguered mortgage lender, attacked the Bank of England and its governor, Mervyn King, for its handling of the credit…
UK opposition party call for more power for Bank
David Cameron and George Osborne, two senior politicians from Britain's main opposition party, the Conservatives, are pressing for the Bank of England to take on more responsibility for financial regulation.
Stability not gradualism has influenced UK MPC
The relative paucity of rate changes at the Bank of England since the institution became independent in 1997 is down to the increased stability of inflation and output growth, rather than a rise in the degree of gradualism, research published by the Bank…
Rock repays Bank debt with JPMorgan sale
Northern Rock, the beleaguered British mortgage lender, is to pay back some of its Bank of England debt through the sale of a mortgage portfolio worth £2.2 billion to JPMorgan, the- American investment bank.
Rock action set for wider ambit
The scope of the regulatory response to Northern Rock will be much broader than originally anticipated, Alistair Darling, the British chancellor of the exchequer, said on Thursday.
UK rates held at 5.5%
The Bank of England's monetary policy committee (MPC) on Thursday voted to keep the benchmark bank rate at 5.5%.
UK chancellor blames Rock run on regulator
Alistair Darling, the British chancellor of the exchequer, admitted on Tuesday that the Financial Services Authority (FSA) was culpable in the run on Northern Rock, but said he still planned to grant the banking regulator more power.
UK chancellor outlines regulatory changes
In a bid to prevent another Northern Rock, Alistair Darling, Britain's chancellor of the exchequer, has pledged to make the government ultimately responsible for actions to counter banking crises.
Northern Rock shows fallibility of communication
The run on Northern Rock, a British mortgage lender, illustrates the potential downside of central bank communication around stability issues, says Gary Stern, the president of the Minneapolis Federal Reserve.
BoE credit survey shows crunch impacting lending
The Bank of England's credit conditions survey, published on Thursday, signalled a marked decline in lending to households and businesses towards the end of 2007.
Journalist defends Old Lady's "low morale" claims
Irwin Stelzer, the journalist who wrote last week that a senior Bank of England official had said the British chancellor and prime minister were blocking changes to banking regulation because of low morale, has described it as "a pity" that Mervyn King,…
Rate setters act on inflation not job location
Little evidence exists of any systematic differences in the voting habits of internally- and externally-appointed members of the Bank of England's monetary policy committee, research published by the Bank finds.