Central Banking
Differing sovereign debt haircuts to be included in EU stress tests: reports
Reports quote German banking officials as saying that extreme scenarios will apply steep haircuts to PIIGS sovereign debt, but none to bunds or French paper
Azerbaijan to move to DSGE model
National Bank of Azerbaijan will switch to consolidated DSGE framework by year-end; deputy research director says model valued for overall coherence and ability to factor in irrational behaviour
Ukraine President in bid to strengthen central bank independence
Ukraine’s President Viktor Yanukovych submits draft bill to enhance central bank’s independence; measures lengthen governor’s term, increase number of deputies and prohibit party membership
ECB attacks Bucharest over central bank pay cuts
European Central Bank criticises Romania’s decision to impose wage cuts on central bankers after its government failed to consult Frankfurt
National Bank of Slovakia – Monthly Bulletin (May)
Monthly Bulletin shows economic recovery remains on a steady path in Slovakia
Abandon pure inflation targeting: India’s Subbarao
Reserve Bank of India governor Duvvuri Subbarao says central banks should not persist with single focus on inflation targeting
Iceland’s Sighvatsson offers guidelines on how to apply new Supreme Court law
Central Bank of Iceland deputy governor Arnor Sighvatsson introduces guidelines to financial institutions on non-binding clauses linking loans to exchange rates
Zambia’s Fundanga: MoU will scale up research efforts on economy
Bank of Zambia governor Caleb Fundanga hails effort to improve research on country’s economy
Founding MPC member leaves UK fiscal watchdog after three months
Office of Budget Responsibility head Sir Alan Budd steps down after barely three months on the job
Bangkok names new central bank governor
Thailand’s cabinet selects former Securities and Exchange Commission chief Prasarn Trairatvorakul to take over as central bank head; markets, analysts welcome announcement
Microfinance not a silver bullet for Africa: Nigeria, Ghana governors
Nigerian governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and Ghanaian chief Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur say credit issuance is constrained by factors other than just access; requires deeper change
FROM THE ARCHIVES: new MPC member criticises Greenspan put
In this article, taken from the August 2003 edition of Central Banking, Martin Weale, on Monday named the Bank of England’s new rate-setter, argues against the Federal Reserve keeping rates at low levels following the bursting of the dotcom bubble
Protests at Icelandic central bank on car loan rules
Several hundred demonstrators congregate around central bank in peaceful protest against delinking of car loans from foreign currency exchange rates; rule change could see up to 10% of Icelanders hit with higher repayments
Central Bank of Brazil: inflation tax risked hyperinflation
Brazilian central bank study shows the country risked weak hyperinflation in the past due to high income tax elasticity
BoE data shows May rise in lending levels
Bank of England data on lending shows moderate gains in amount of loans issued to individuals and households; lending still remains below pre-crisis levels
Malaysia’s Ibrahim calls for greater harmonisation in Islamic finance
Bank Negara Malaysia deputy governor Dato' Muhammad bin Ibrahim says companies can make efficiency gains through greater cooperation within Islamic finance industry
Cleveland Fed: Fed’s abandonment of FX controls justified
Cleveland Federal Reserve study says Fed was right to stop intervening in foreign exchange markets as it helped stabilise prices in long term
Governors gloomy on outlook for pan-African currency
South African, Nigerian and Ghanaian central bank governors say path to regional and continent-wide single currency littered with obstacles; single currency will not correct underlying problems
Greek debt crisis sparks widening of almost all global CDS spreads
Cost of protecting against a Greek default up 190% in three months to mid-June as CDS spreads widened for 93% of sovereign debt on back of sovereign debt crisis in Europe
NIESR director to succeed Kate Barker on MPC
Martin Weale set to join Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee in time for August meeting
IMF resumes financial aid to Ukraine
Fund approves new application for loans after funding was cut off in dispute over its burgeoning fiscal deficit
ECB handled Greek crisis well: CentralBanking.com readers
CentralBanking.com poll shows more than 40% approval rating for European Central Bank’s handling of the Greek debt crisis
Foreign holdings of US Treasuries rise as supply for agency securities runs dry
Fed data show official-sector holdings of US agency securities fell after 12 straight weeks of gains
Netherlands’ Wellink survives resignation calls
Calls for Netherlands Bank governor to quit followed damning report into the central bank’s handling of failure of DSB