Regulation
Central banks key to financial stability-BOI, BOF
The internationalisation of institutions and financial activities has heightened the importance of national central banks in ensuring financial stability, the governors of the Bank of Italy and Bank of France said in separate speeches on Mar 9.
B-shares and China's monetary and banking systems
The removal of restrictions on the holding of B-shares should have a generally positive effect on the development of Mainland China's monetary and banking systems, says Joseph Yam, chief executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, in his weekly…
BOI Desario-Mergers not the only way to efficiency
The Bank of Italy director general Vincenzo Desario said Mar 8, 2001 that bank mergers were not the only way to achieve efficiency and competitiveness in the banking system.
China shareholding banks must reform further-PBOC
Shareholding commercial banks must be encouraged to further improve their corporate management structure and financial services to develop in a sound, steady way, said the governor of the People's Bank of China.
CBC gov favours listing of Taiwan firms in China
Perng Fai-nan, governor of Taiwan's central bank, said on Mar 7, 2201 that he personally endorses Taiwanese manufacturers that have set up companies in mainland China to get listed on the mainland's stock markets for fundraising purposes.
Does Europe want a single market?-Malcolm Levitt
The shortcomings of Europe's single market for financial services extend farbeyond securities markets. Consumers lose, and politicians seem to lack thestomach for reform. Radical change, including the swift adoption of AlexandreLamfalussy's…
The heavy hand of the SEC-Ed Waitzer
The SEC has concluded its campaign to stop auditors undertaking consultingwork for clients. Despite the cease-fire, the "rancorous, wasteful and damaging"fight has alienated the profession and undermined self-regulation, for littlediscernible benefit,…
Gemany's Hans Eichel's shock to the system-article
The decision of Hans Eichel, the German finance minister, to establish a unifiedfinancial services regulator came as a surprise to many, and a bitter shock to theBundesbank, which had lobbied to take over bank supervision itself. KlausEngelen reports.
The New Basel Capital Proposal -Fed Meyer speech
US Federal Reserve Governor Laurence H. Meyer gave a speech on "The New Basel Capital Proposal" at the Annual Washington Conference of the Institute of International Bankers on Mar 5. Meyer says that the Basel proposal may be complex and at times…
Financial crises in emerging markets-NY Fed paper
Terrence J. Checki and Ernest Stern from the New York Fed have written a paper "Financial Crises in the Emerging Markets: The Roles of the Public and Private Sectors" in Current Issues in Economics and Finance. This article examines some of the key…
EU committee on Lamfalussy report want 'call back'
The EU's Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee on Mar 6, 2001 adopted a motion for a resolution on the Lamfalussy report on securities regulation, which will be submitted to a vote in plenary session in Strasbourg on Mar 14.
Standards assessment puts pressure on IMF budget
The IMF's new role assessing how well member countries meet standards fordata dissemination, monetary and fiscal transparency, and bankingsupervision is starting to put pressure on the Fund's budget according to aself-evaluation released by the Fund on…
Determinants of problem banks in Indonesia-paper
Dr. Wimboh Santoso, senior researcher at directorate of banking research and regulations at Bank Indonesia, has conducted an empirical study on the "Determinants of Problem Banks in Indonesia". The main aim of this paper is to provide general information…
ECB official attacks German bank supervisor revamp
European Central Bank Directorate Member Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa was reported on Mar 4, 2001 as reiterating the ECB's objections to German government plans to strip the Bundesbank of its banking watchdog duties.
BIS -Turkey borrowed heavily before latest crisis
Turkish public and private borrowers drew large sums from foreign banks late in 2000 even as problems were starting to show up in the country's financial system, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) said.
S&P monitors impact of Malaysian financial plan
The Financial Sector Masterplan recently announced by Malaysia's central bank is expected to improve the global competitiveness of the country's financial services sector, but its benefits are unlikely to be immediate, said a Standard & Poor's press…
Bank watchdog quits as Turkey brings in outsider
The head of Turkey's banking watchdog resigned suddenly on Mar 3, 2001, casting a shadow over the appointment of an economic "superminister" to solve Turkey's woes.
Labuan IOFC to be further developed-Bank Negara
Bank Negara Malasyia, the Malaysian central bank, in its Financial Sector Masterplan has made recommendations to further develop the Labuan International Offshore Financial Centre (IOFC) in three main areas of activity.
Argentine cbank head called 'lax on control'
Argentine Central Bank President Pedro Pou opened the door for widespread money laundering with derelict financial controls, a member of a congressional committee investigating whether the banker should be dismissed said on Mar 2, 2001.
Financial Markets on the Mainland-HKMA Joseph Yam
Joseph Yam, chief executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, in his weekly viewpoint column published on the HKMA website, says that financial markets in emerging markets need careful sequencing in reforms. Recent developments suggest that the…
Information flows during Asian crisis-BIS paper
In a BIS working paper "Information flows during the Asian crisis: Evidence from closed-end funds" Benjamin H Cohen and Eli M Remolona look at the collapse of Asian stock markets that took place over several months in 1997 and ask what information was…
Malaysia bars new foreign banks until 2007
Malaysia's central bank said on Mar 1, 2001 no new foreign banks will be allowed to enter the domestic market until after 2007, giving local banks time to prepare for a decade of trade liberalisation.
Tanzanian banking sector to continue deregulation
Liberalization of Tanzania's financial institutions has set a strong basis for increased investments and economic growth, the country's Finance Minister Basil Mramba has said.
IMF establishing international capital market dept
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) will establish an International Capital Markets Department to enhance its surveillance, crisis prevention and crisis management activities, the Fund announced on Mar 1, 2001.