Central Banking
Political instability hampers growth: IMF research
Fund study shows political instability significantly reduces economic growth
Basel bids to ensure all regulatory capital can be used to buffer losses
Basel Committee on Banking Supervision sets out rules to ensure instruments deemed Tier I and Tier II capital can be used to soak up losses; instruments issued after January 2013 must comply
Research underestimates probability of reaching zero bound: San Francisco Fed
San Francisco Federal Reserve paper says probability of hitting the zero lower bound of interest rate is often underestimated in economic research
Trichet predicts positive momentum to carry through to 2011
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet says euro area economy outlook for 2011 expected to remain positive, identifies some downside risks
Central Bank of Barbados - Annual Economic Review 2010
Central Bank of Barbados’ Annual Economic Review 2010 looks at tourism-led recovery in Caribbean state
PBoC allows Chinese firms to invest renminbi abroad
People’s Bank of China to allow domestic banks to settle investments abroad in renminbi as part of cross-border investment pilot
Bank of Japan to revamp website
The Bank of Japan to launch new site at the end of the month; says changes will make information more easily accessible
Gold could hit $1,600 in 2011, say analysts
Commentators say investor appetite for the precious metal will continue to soar as concerns over US economy, eurozone sovereign debt issues, persist
Barbados’s Worrell on social impact of unemployment
Central Bank of Barbados governor DeLisle Worrell describes employment challenges of everyday Barbadians
EBA plans new round of stress tests
New European Banking Authority announces second round of stress tests for European banks at opening meeting
Virtual art showcase centrepiece of Finnish website re-launch
Bank of Finland unveils renovated internet portal at new address, featuring virtual tours of building and extensive art collection
Argentina raises deposit insurance ceiling: reports
Central Bank of Argentina quadruples cap on bank deposit insurance to better reflect falling peso
Federal Reserve – Beige Book (January 2011)
Reports from twelve districts identify slight improvement in labour markets
BoJ’s Nishimura warns of challenge population ageing poses on recovery
Bank of Japan deputy governor Kiyohiko Nishimura says population ageing can have prolonged effects on balance sheet adjustments following crises
Israel’s Eckstein backs new gas levy
Bank of Israel deputy governor Zvi Eckstein supports committee recommendations on natural gas levy
Oberthur seeks equity house support in De La Rue takeover bid: reports
French banknote firm Oberthur reportedly in talks to issue private equity houses with convertible bond to fund De La Rue acquisition
Senior officials for new European regulators named
European regulators in Paris and Frankfurt appoint a number of new heads and board members
Portugal succeeds at auction but fails to sway analysts
Portugal sells $1.6 billion worth of government debt at auction, but commentators remain wary of fundamentals
Argentinean central bank okays $7.5 billion loan to state
Central Bank of Argentina approves loan of $7.5 billion of reserves to repay bondholders; move is central bank’s latest measure to bail out government
Fed uncooperative and audit insufficient, claims influential senator
US senator Bernie Sanders dissatisfied with Federal Reserve’s response to further questions on audit of emergency lending facilities
Turkey’s Yilmaz says lost output recovered
Central Bank of Turkey governor Durmuş Yilmaz says growth in Turkey has returned to pre-crisis levels but weak exports continue to limit production
IMF paper identifies de-dollarisation drivers in South America
Fund study says de-dollarisation of deposits and development of local capital markets key factors in Latin American countries
IMF’s Lipsky calls for major US fiscal consolidation
IMF first deputy managing director, John Lipsky, says measures to ease debt burden in Unites States could have broader benefits for global recovery
Canada’s Côté on households' role in recovery
Bank of Canada deputy governor Agathe Côté discusses balance of risks in household spending and impact on economic recovery