Central Banking
Eurozone lending gathers steam: ECB
European Central Bank figures show growth of bank lending in single currency area increased in July; data follow signs of pickup in loan demand
New Basel proposals threaten bank sub debt, investors warn
Bond investors voice concerns over freedom given to national regulators to determine trigger events for conversions or haircuts
BoK minutes: herd mentality cause of jittery won
Bank of Korea's Monetary Policy Committee keeps watchful eye on political tensions with North; blames won volatility on investors’ pack mentality
SNB appoints new media spokesman
Swiss National Bank names broadsheet economics deputy editor Walter Meier as new media spokesman; Meier to start in early 2011
Decomposing the education wage gap
Atlanta Federal Reserve paper adds to plethora of research on link between education and wages
IMF investigates spread of Islamic finance
Fund research uncovers five factors influencing diffusion of Islamic finance
Atlanta Fed on dual labour markets
Income inequality may be exacerbated by firing costs, Atlanta Federal Reserve research argues
Philippines’ Tetangco on effective governance
Central Bank of the Philippines governor Amanda Tetangco stresses importance of effective governance for growth
India and China set to drive global demand for gold
World Gold Council says demand for gold jewellery in India and China will ensure robust gold market in 2010
RBI’s income plummets on low returns
Reserve Bank of India’s Annual Report shows income in past fiscal year dropped as rates of return fell worldwide; central bank expects temporarily weakened output path
UK FSA revisits trading regulation in comprehensive review
Financial Services Authority identifies valuation, capital framework coherence and risk management as key problem areas; issues 15 recommendations to revitalise standards
Standard & Poor’s downgrades Ireland
Standard & Poor’s downgrades Ireland’s sovereign credit rating on fears over fiscal burden imposed by banking sector rescue
Basel Committee to rethink CVA capital charge
Regulators might adapt the bond-equivalent approach amid claims the methodology will lead to perverse incentives
IMF: central bank independence unrelated to politics
Fund study shows that political factors do not figure in central banks’ independence and effectiveness, but key for budgetary institutions
Central Bank of Luxembourg: banks pass stress tests
Central Bank of Luxembourg study shows local banks’ tier one capital buffers are sufficient to weather macroeconomic shocks
BoC: contingent capital must supplement counter-cyclical capital buffers
Bank of Canada study says contingent capital more effective in providing liquidity to banks in a crisis
IMF: East African countries have divergent financial barriers
Fund study finds more advanced members of East African Community have lower financial barriers than others
Southern Sudan on the brink of collapse: deputy governor
Central Bank of Sudan deputy governor says Khartoum has starved south of foreign currency, leaving it two weeks shy of economic crisis; oil spat thought to be linked to independence referendum
Indian officials to probe De La Rue plant
Reserve Bank of India says government officials due to visit De La Rue plant; trip follows paper fault which forced De La Rue chief executive to quit
Payments providers split over Sepa end dates
Comments released by the European Commission show that European institutions and banking associations disagree over Sepa proposals to seperate end dates
Impact of pledge to keep rates on hold unclear: Bank of Canada
Canadian central bank research says conditional commitment to keep rates low has had mixed effect; study shows pledge lowered interest rates on government bonds, but findings not statistically strong
Fed loses appeal to protect names of bailed out banks
Federal Reserve appeal to withhold names and details of banks it bailed out in crisis dealt a further blow; central bank must now petition Supreme Court
IMF: commodity shocks explain variation in Latin American fiscal positions
IMF study finds impact of commodity price volatility on government revenue in Latin America linked to fiscal standing
Jamaica’s Wynter: financial literacy programme long overdue
Bank of Jamaica governor Brian Wynter says financial literacy programme will enhance economic development