Regulation
HKMA urges Hong Kong banks to go green
Hong Kong's quasi central bank Wednesday called on the city's banks to sign a United Nations environmental awareness statement, and to consider producing their own formal environmental policy statements.
UAE central bank counters money laundering
The United Arab Emirates central bank has issued a list of regulations and procedures to all financial institutions to prevent money laundering through the country's financial system.
Vietnam bank governor answers inquiries
Vietnam's state bank governor Le Duc Thuy answered inquiries of National Assembly deputies related to bad debts, restructuring the joint-stock commercial bank system, and the use of cash.
Financial crises in the emerging markets
A new paper just published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York about financial crises in emerging markets and the role of the public and private sector.
Philippine central bank counters money laundering
The Philippine central bank said Tuesday it will create a special unit to look into possible money laundering transactions. The central bank said its policy-making monetary board authorised the special body to maintain a database of suspicious…
Bank of Thailand considers sale of two state banks
The Bank of Thailand said Monday it will hold meetings to consider the sales of two nationalised banks - Siam City Bank (H.SCB) and Bangkok Metropolitan Bank PCL (H.BMB) on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.
HKMA says maintains open mind on deposit insurance
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) said on Monday it still has an open mind on whether Hong Kong needs a deposit insurance scheme, and will not rule out extending a consultation period on the issue.
Russia govt proposes to amend banking legislation
The Russian federal government and the central bank have submitted amendments to banking laws to the Duma. The government proposed these same bills back in 1999, on the insistence of international financial organisations.
Turkish central bank eases liquidity squeeze
Turkey's central bank and treasury held two purchases of government bonds on Monday as part of a package of measures to ease a liquidity squeeze that shook markets last week.
Nepal's central bank reforms financial institution
Nepal's central bank has worked out a reform program to speed up the reformation of the 121 financial institutions in Nepal that are mired in managerial problems, according to the bank's statement issued on Friday.
Heavy interest in seized Turkish banks
Turkey's banking watchdog on Friday said there is significant foreign and domestic interest in purchasing some of 10 banks with bad debts of $7bn that it has taken into receivership.
Vietnam central bank agrees on bank merging plan
Vietnam's central bank has agreed in principle to the merger of two commercial banks but a final decision will be announced after merging procedures are completed, a bank official said on Friday.
India's RBI advocates cautious pension reform
The Indian government needs to move cautiously before letting the private sector manage pension funds, a top central bank official said on Friday.
IBRA speeds up sale of Salim corporate assets
The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) is speeding up the sale of corporate assets once owned by the Salim Group even as the two sides prepare to face off in a test of wills that could have severe ramifications for the country's economic…
Thai bank chief calls for focus on banking bills
Thailand's central bank governor Chatu Mongkol Sonakul on Friday urged the next government to treat as a priority the passing into law of pending banking legislation.
BoT governor calls for more transparency in banks
Thai central bank governor Chatu Mongol Sonakul Thursday urged for more transparency and stricter supervision in the banking sector to help control the amount of non-performing loans in the system.
SAMA introduces sliding brokerage fees
The Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency has introduced a new sliding scale of brokerage fees taking effect from 1 January 2001.
IMF mission leaves Russia with no agreement
Russia is likely to get a frosty reception from the Paris Club of sovereign creditors after an International Monetary Fund mission left Moscow this week without reaching agreement.
Norges Bank supports MeritaNordbanken's buy
The Norwegian central bank, Norges Bank, said Thursday it recommends to the Norwegian banking and insurance authority that Nordic Baltic Holding and its unit MeritaNordbanken (S.MNB) be allowed to acquire Christiania Bank og Kreditkassen (Y.CBK).
Manila c.bank sets body to check money laundering
The Philippines central bank said on Thursday it would set up a six-member committee to evaluate reports on suspicious bank transactions as part of its efforts to fight money laundering.
Indonesia regulators seek banking consolidation
Indonesia might close or merge more than 100 banks within three years in its battle to create a strong financial system, the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency said.
Fraga welcomes BSCH bid for Banespa bank
Spain's Banco Santander Central Hispano was the surprise high bidder for Banespa yesterday, claiming Brazil's state bank for an unexpectedly high US$3.6bn. Arminio Fraga, Brazil's central bank president, welcomed the bid.
Second Nicaraguan bank collapses
Nicaragua is facing a crisis in its fragile financial system after the regulator moved to take over the second bank to fail in the past 100 days, and attacked the government for refusing to guarantee its customers' deposits.