United States
IMF board laments US-induced impasse on quota reform
Executive board asks the IMF board of governors to adopt resolution calling for ratification of reform package that would double quotas and overhaul fund's governance ‘without further delay'
Household borrowing not caused by income inequality, Richmond Fed paper argues
Finds low-income households in high-inequality regions accumulated less debt relative to income than their counterparts in lower-inequality regions; rebuts 'wish to keep up' as driver of credit demand
Kohn says Fed's independence 'at risk'
Former Federal Reserve vice-chairman Donald Kohn argues the institution's autonomy has been undermined by recent policies; lists four explicit threats in paper published by the Brookings Institution
History likely to vindicate Fed's crisis policies, says Bernanke
The Federal Reserve has developed ‘all the tools needed' to manage monetary policy; costs of extraordinary measures exaggerated, Bernanke says
US Congress fails to sign off on IMF reforms
Sweeping modernisation package put together by G-20 in 2010 stopped in its tracks as House of Representatives declines to double quota increase and thus ratify changes to fund's governing structure
Stanley Fischer nominated Fed vice-chair
US President also nominates Lael Brainard, a former US Treasury under-secretary, to the Federal Reserve board, while Jerome Powell, on the board since 2012, is nominated for a second term
Disappointing jobs report raises questions over Fed forward guidance
US unemployment falls toward Fed ‘threshold' of 6.5%, but few new jobs are added; confusing result raises questions for how - or whether - the Fed will proceed with its 'taper'
Fed minutes reveal QE wind-down balancing act
Reduction in monthly asset purchases of $10 billion meant to signal slow rather than quick tapering; thresholds becoming less relevant as economy improves
People: Lautenschläger for ECB board; IMF's García set for Chile central bank
EU leaders nominate Bundesbank deputy, in charge of banking supervision, to take German spot on ECB executive; Chile's IMF director to join national central bank; and more
US community banks losing their edge with small businesses, paper finds
Fed discussion paper finds small, opaque businesses are just as likely to use a large banking corporation as they are a community bank; strong banking relationships remain important
US Fed heads debate slow growth ‘riddle'
Presidents of four regional reserve banks at odds over whether weak trajectory in wake of the financial crisis is inherently structural or cyclical
Two-thirds of US non-cash payments by card, but cheques persist
Payments by credit and debit cards grew nearly 8% annually between 2009 and 2012, according to new Fed data; 122.8 billion non-cash payments made in 2012, worth $79 trillion
New York Fed launches 'consumer expectations survey'
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York will launch monthly survey on consumer expectations early next year; project anchors newly inaugurated microeconomic research centre
Basel capital ratios lost credibility during crisis - Atlanta Fed paper investigates
Working paper says reliance of the Basel standards on overstated asset values in reported equity capital caused capital adequacy ratios to lose credibility with financial markets
Diminishing importance of US in world economy mutes knock-on effects, finds BoJ paper
Tightening monetary policy in the US in the 1990s had significant adverse effects in the rest of the world - but the following decade, despite increased global integration, the effects were less
Bank of Canada deputy discusses price divergence with US
John Murray says prices in Canada have been lower than those in the US for much of the past 30 years; notes the exchange rate 'seems to be driving prices in the two countries away from each other'
Departing Bernanke takes stock of Fed's unprecedented actions
Federal Reserve chairman discusses the ups and downs of the bank's asset purchases and attempt to guide market expectations; admits shortcomings but maintains policies are warranted
Moody's says big US banks no longer ‘too big to fail'
Agency cuts ratings of four systemically important US banks, including Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan, as Dodd-Frank believed to reduce prospects of future government bailouts
Yellen defends QE in congressional confirmation hearing
Prospective Fed chair says asset purchases have had ‘meaningful' impact on financial wellbeing of normal Americans; hints at further banking regulations ‘down the line'
Fall in OECD inflation highlights advanced economy monetary policy dilemmas
New OECD figures show lower annual inflation rates despite Japanese CPI turning positive; pressure mounts on ECB and Fed to counteract trend, but analysts unsure with what tools
US Senator vows to block Yellen nomination
Republican Rand Paul - son of long-time Fed critic Ron Paul - says he intends to fight confirmation of Janet Yellen as the next Fed chair unless monetary policy is subjected to Congressional scrutiny
FDIC inks MoU with China on bank resolution
The document, signed in Beijing yesterday, seeks to improve collaboration on resolution planning through the exchange of information and co-operation on risk monitoring
Fed’s Beige Book reveals ‘modest’ employment growth
Summary of the economic conditions across the 12 Federal Reserve districts finds both employment and economic activity were ‘modest’ in September, while price pressures were ‘limited’
New $100 bill the ‘most sophisticated piece of currency' to date, says Fisher
Most counterfeited US bill is embellished with new security features to 'deter bad guys' and protect consumers and businesses from losses