Regulation
Sants details new regulator’s approach
UK FSA’s Hector Sants says primary objective of new banking regulator will be to resolve failed institutions without disrupting financial system; outlines new risk model
European banks could get slightly different version of Basel III: Basel Committee’s Wellink
Netherlands Bank governor and Basel Committee on Banking Supervision chairman Nout Wellink says “minor changes” possible to European version of Basel III
ECB points to securitisation, interest rate risk concerns
European Central Bank’s December Financial Stability Review stresses importance of more transparency in asset-backed securities market; highlights interest rate risk worries
European Commission floats concept of investment bans in latest Mifid consultation
The European Commission has produced a consultation paper that suggests a basis for banning certain investments, with structured products making their usual appearance in the limelight
Britain raises bank levy
UK government publishes final bank tax law that will raise the levy on liabilities higher than initial proposals set out in June
CDSs did not hike eurozone states’ funding costs: European Commission report
European Commission taskforce finds credit default swaps were not responsible for inflating eurozone members’ funding costs, worsening crisis
India’s banks prepared to meet Basel III: Subbarao
Reserve Bank of India governor Duvvuri Subbarao says India’s banks ready to meet Basel III requirements
CentralBanking.com panel: how pressing is the need for bank resolution regimes?
Commentators disagree on how urgently resolution regimes must be established; point to obstacles in crafting cross-border rules
CoCos offer banks more hope than bail-in: CentralBanking.com panel
Contingent capital’s earlier trigger will set in before banks are on the brink of resolution, say panellists; reject narrow banking thesis
Market for CoCos could take years to develop, say Credit Institute panellists
Regulators may be sold on banks issuing loss-absorbing contingent convertible securities, but panellists at Credit Institute event question whether natural investor base for instruments exists
Anglo restructuring deal to be sealed in January: Ireland’s Honohan
Central Bank of Ireland governor Patrick Honohan says Anglo restructuring proposal will be approved by end-January; Irish banks face capital, liquidity assessments
Israel names Hizkiyahu successor
David Zaken named supervisor of banks; Zaken to replace Rony Hizkiyahu at the end of the year
Bahrain’s Al-Maraj calls for new Islamic finance business model
Central Bank of Bahrain governor Rasheed Al-Maraj says Islamic financial institutions should cover essential activities to generate more steady income stream
How to ease Basel III costs: BIS
Bank for International Settlements study says banks can increase lending spreads to recoup costs from higher capital requirements
Basel Committee sets out principles for deposit insurance
Basel Committee on Banking Supervision outlines principles on the scope, operation and legal dimensions of deposit insurance systems
Video: Japan FSA's Chikahisa Sumi talks about regulation's post-Basel III focus
The G-20 does not plan to sit still after its historic endorsement of Basel III. New targets include too-big-to-fail institutions, the shadow-banking system and commodity derivatives, according to Sumi.
Merkel's EU bailout plan threatens Basel’s sovereign zero risk weights
Discussions are already under way behind closed doors, knock-on effects for bank capital could be substantial
The dangers of relying on point in time
With Basel III, regulators have a chance to improve models used by banks to manage risk. However, they risk repeating past mistakes, says Patricia Jackson
Liquidity regulation and its consequences
The Basel Committee’s proposals for liquidity buffers could have some dangerous side effects, William Allen warns
Lord Turner: FSA break-up unnecessary
Financial Services Authority chairman Adair Turner supports Twin Peaks approach “in theory” but argues benefits could have been achieved without breaking up regulator