Regulation
Basel Accord set to be softened
COMMENT - Discussions are under way within the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision on how to lessen the impact of their new capital rules after complaints that the new accord would create impossible demands on banks during recessions.
Bank of Estonia OKs takeover
The Estonian central bank today indicated that it would allow Swedish-owned Hansapank to take over Lithuanian Taupomasis Bankas.
Roles of Thai central bank likely to be separated
THAILAND - Thai Finance Minister Somkid Jatusripitak said on 14 May that the central bank of Thailand will likely be separated into two independent organisations under a revised restructuring plan that he drafted.
The "too-big-to-fail" policy in Japan
RESEARCH - Mark Spiegel and Nobuyoshi Yamori of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco analyse evidence from market equity values of the too-big-to-fail" policy in Japan in a working paper for the economic research department of the Federal Reserve…
Former Bank of Thailand governors face prosecution
According to Thailand's deputy finance minister, senior former officials from the Bank of Thailand my soon face prosecution for their role in the 1997 currrency crisis.
Financial Stability and Central Banks
BOOK - This book is published by the Bank of England and includes papers presented at the banks 7th annual Central Bank governors' symposium in June 2000. The 2000 symposium considered financial stability and the role of central banks.
MAS to welcome more foreign banks
Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the new managaing director of Singarpore's monetary authority, has indicated that the authority plans to issue more banking licenses to foreign banks.
European Central Bank - Annual Report 2000
REPORT - The European Central Bank released its 2000 Annual Report on May 2. A press release can be read here and there is a link to the full report.
Gerashchenko gloomy on Russian banks
Interviewed in The Banker magazine (May 2001 edition) Viktor Gerashchenko, head of Russia's central bank painted a gloomy picture of the state of Russia's banking system.
Polish govenor scores low in poll
Poll: Poland's central bank governor not trusted according to a poll of Polish adults
Lamfalussy reforms in jeopardy
Proposals designed to speed up European securities market regulation are in trouble after the European Commission rejected a deal proposed by the European Parliament.
China CBank criticises IMF supervision remit
Speaking at the IMF/World Bank meetings, Li Ruogu, vice-governor of the People's Bank of China argued that the IMF's supervision remit should not include anti-money-laundering
Former BI governor interviewed over graft case
According to a report in the Jakata Post, former Bank Indonesia (BI) governor Adrianus Mooy was interviewed by the Indonesian Attorney General on Monday 1 May over a graft case involving state-owned investment company PT Bahana Pembinaan Usaha Indonesia …
IMF reinvents itself - latest
At their Spring annual meetings in Washington DC, the IMF has released a paper "The IMF in the Process of Change" on the Fund's progress in reinventing itself as a financial sector crisis manager.
Cross-sector financial disclosure (update)
An international regulatory working group has released a set of guidelines to prompt all financial institutions to reveal more information about the risks they are running.
Financial Regulation in South Africa 2000
Book - The South African Reserve Bank has published a book on the theory and practice, goals, trends, and instruments of financial regulation. It is titled "Financial Regulation in South Africa 2000" and is co-authored by Hans Falkena, Roy Bamber, David…
HKMA gets green light on HK deposit insurance
HONG KONG - Hong Kong's Executive Council has approved in principle a deposit insurance scheme proposal aimed at protecting depositors in the case of bank failures, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority said on Apr 24.
Ageing and financial stability
ARTICLE - Population ageing might involve major shifts in financing, which may give rise to financial turbulence and systemic risk. Philip Davis, professor of economics at Brunel University, has prepared a paper on this subject for a Bundesbank…
India's c.bank sets stiffer bank investment norms
INDIA - The Reserve Bank of India said on Apr 23 it had set more stringent guidelines for banks' exposures to the stock market following recommendations made by an expert panel.
China's cbank drafts e-banking regulations
CHINA - China's central bank is drafting regulations concerning e-banking and guidelines for e-banking risk management, which are expected to be promulgated soon, a top bank official announced.
Caruana warns savings banks over shareholdings
SPAIN - the Bank of Spain governor Jaime Caruana on Apr 18 warned the annual assembly of savings banks that being stable shareholders in industrial companies, with influence on the management, could conflict with their status and objectives.
Chile central bank eliminates 'encaje' rule
CHILE - Chile's Central Bank on Apr 16 eliminated its "encaje" rule, which requires foreign investors to deposit an amount equivalent to a percentage of their investments with the central bank at no interest.
RBA supervises credit card payment systems
AUSTRALA - The Reserve Bank of Australia took supervisory control of Australian credit card service fees on Apr 12, putting under threat A$600 million in fees the banks earn from Bankcard, MasterCard and VISA schemes.
Malaysia Citibank's Noorazman to head LOFSA
MALAYSIA - Citibank's vice-president Noorazman Abdul Aziz has been appointed the new director-general of Labuan Offshore Financial Service Authority, or LOFSA, replacing Mohd Razif Abdul Kadir.