Central Banking
Regulators need ‘stick and carrot’ to deal with NPLs – BoI paper
Optimal policy combines capital transfers and NPL disposals to wipe out owners’ rents – researchers
Trump lashes out at Libra
US president says Facebook’s system will need a banking licence if it wants to be a bank; Jerome Powell says Libra not likely to be allowed to launch in 12 months
People: Tombini to head BIS Americas office
Former Brazilian governor to implement new banking strategy; plus appointments in Europe
BIS paper looks at low returns on safe assets
Changing risk perceptions explain growing wedge between safe and risky assets, authors say
Are central bank digital currencies inevitable?
Launching a CBDC could protect the pre-eminence of public money, a new report argues
ECB paper presents new approach to modelling LTV caps
Agent-based model’s results show “subprime” segment to eurozone housing markets – researchers
UK to consider curbs on funds’ daily liquidity
Mark Carney says BoE officials are “disappointed” by limited global progress on issue
Mobile lending poses threat to financial stability – Kenyan governor
Njoroge says unregulated digital lenders could ‘bring down entire financial sector’
South African president reappoints Sarb governor
Ramaphosa gives second term to Kganyago, who has defended central bank’s independence
UK households may be too wary on inflation – BoE’s Tenreyro
External MPC member says low financial literacy may affect inflation perceptions
Bank of Canada holds rates despite stronger inflation
Central bank predicts higher growth in coming years but warns of possible trade conflict with US
Powell says Fed will keep US “in a good place”
Some FOMC members considering rate cut to cushion possible future shocks, minutes show
US regulators loosen Volcker Rule for small banks
Regulators resist political pressure to reduce regulation on larger banks’ investments
Local policy impact can be dispersed in currency unions – Bank of Spain research
Study analyses effect of large post-crisis fiscal stimulus implemented in Spain
West Africa announces ambitious new ‘eco’ currency plans
Single currency seems unlikely to be introduced by next year, despite updated launch plans
Mexican peso falls on finance minister resignation
Crisis complicates inflation outlook and fuels fear of political interference in independent institutions
Zimbabwe relying on central bank to keep lights on
$14 million needed to keep power flowing, and debts are piling up, says energy CEO
Three EU central banks hail success of Belarus project
Capacity-building project was first such EU mission in country noted for strong Russian links
Bulgaria a case study in effective prudential policy – BIS’s Carstens
Country was early adopter of macro-prudential policy, which helped manage capital flows, Carstens says
Fed weighs reforms to stress tests
Powell says tests must evolve; Quarles and Fed watchers present potential improvements
PBoC gets go-ahead from China’s cabinet to develop CBDC
China’s central bank is developing its own CBDC, as officials voice concerns over Facebook’s Libra
Purists lament as most cheer Lagarde as next ECB chief
Lagarde expected to adopt similar philosophy to Draghi at ECB, making the central bank the ‘only game in town’ – at least for a while
Bank of Spain paper examines post-crisis US bond markets
Volatility is less persistent but more frequent than before global financial crisis, researchers find
BdF paper models tax evasion’s impact on sovereign default
Widespread tax evasion can undermine austerity plans imposed by donors, argue researchers