Central Banking
St Louis Fed paper finds cause of slope changes in rates term structures
Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis working paper explores the links between total factor productivity news shocks and the slope of the term structure of interest rates, finding the two are closely related
Bank of Lithuania survey shows improvement in mortgage arrears
The level of mortgage arrears has improved in Lithuania as debtholder sentiment improves, according to central bank survey
BIS research finds greater data sharing needed to monitor systemic risk
Bank for International Settlements working paper says more data sharing is needed at individual bank level to better monitor systemic risk
IMF sounds warning over European deleveraging
Lagarde hopes to ‘significantly’ increase resources available to the IMF during spring meeting; Financial Stability Report also recognises need for increased firewall as deleveraging rages on in Europe
Brazil slashes benchmark rate again
Central Bank of Brazil again cuts benchmark rate by 75 basis points; new 9% rate close to country’s all-time low rate
Iranian central bank escapes Swiss sanctions
Swiss authorities stop short of freezing assets of Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran; note the institution's importance to the country's economy in reaching the decision
Shirakawa says central banks not responsible for structural issues
BoJ governor Shirakawa says the structural reforms that must accompany refinancing operations cannot be achieved by central banks
Kansas Fed Economic Review discusses barriers to mobile payments in US
Kansas Fed’s latest economic review discusses supply- and demand-side issues limiting the use of mobile payments in the US
BoE's Tucker: FPC capital powers 'won't be popular'
Attendees at ACT conference raise concerns about increased lending costs after Bank of England’s Tucker argues for powers to raise sectoral capital levels
Constâncio calls for 'co-operation' on data sharing by Eurosystem institutions
Vítor Constâncio says co-operation needed between Eurosystem institutions on data sharing; adequate security measures needed to safeguard interaction
Norges Bank working paper studies sovereign risk contagion
Norges Bank working paper researches sovereign risk contagion using CDS spreads in major euro area countries
Bank of Lithuania warns of stained banknotes after ATM theft
Bank of Lithuania advises against accepting banknotes stained with ink; fears raised that such notes could be result of ATM theft in the country
Bank of Canada strikes positive note in policy report
Latest Monetary Policy Report from the Bank of Canada sets out better than expected economic momentum; inflation risks balanced and stimulus withdrawal ‘may become appropriate’ says report
City’s top brass throws weight behind London RMB initiative
London will become the next offshore centre for RMB trading, vows UK chancellor George Osborne; BoE's Bailey supportive of initiative
Spain's Ordóñez renews call for government action
Bank of Spain governor urges government to stick to target of reducing budget deficit to 5.3% in 2012; highlights work done on banking reform
SNB unveils new governing board
Swiss National Bank confirms Thomas Jordan as chairman of the governing board; plans for stricter rules governing private financial transactions by SNB staff are also revealed
BoE’s Posen causes stir with vote switch
External MPC member abandons pro-QE stance; inflation concerns high among rate-setters, with Paul Tucker taking vocal lead
BoJ’s Nishimura says strengthening growth 'crucial' for Japanese economy
Bank of Japan deputy governor emphasises central bank’s role in achieving growth potential; signals unease at the global economic impacts for future of Japanese economy
IMF working paper examines China’s current account imbalances
IMF working paper concludes that total rebalancing has not occurred in Chinese economy as domestic imbalances increase and external imbalances fall
BIS working paper draws lessons from Asia on price stability
Bank for International Settlements working paper studies price stability in Asia; concludes that monetary policy frameworks have been effective
Draghi outlines importance of statistics at ECB
European Central Bank president discusses expanded role for statistics in helping bank achieve its mandate
India slashes benchmark rate
Reserve Bank of India drops repo rate to 8% in first cut in years; governor references slowing growth and declining inflation in announcing decision
Hoenig joins FDIC board
Former Kansas City Fed president Thomas Hoenig joins the board of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Norway set to shift investment strategy after poor SWF performance
Norway sovereign wealth fund to focus on emerging markets following third-worst performance in history last year