Central Banking
RBI launches tougher rules on non-performing loans
Overhaul of framework for dealing with stressed assets is latest step in central bank’s push to clean up financial sector
Angolan banks given new forex responsibilities amid shortage
Requests for foreign currency now must be submitted to commercial entities instead of central bank, with the exception of large imports of food and medicines
Brexit ‘surprises’ could delay rate hikes, IMF says
If negotiations affect wage growth or “depress demand”, the BoE could make monetary policy more expansionary, staff say
Eurozone needs structural reforms to realign real exchange rates – Italian paper
Real exchange rate misalignments persist for longer in eurozone, researchers say
Powell faces balancing act as normalisation proceeds
New Fed chair likely to continue policy normalisation even as market volatility tests his resolve
World Gold Council launches gold accounting framework
Guidance aims to help central banks harmonise the treatment of gold in their accounts in a way that meshes with broader reserves accounting
President names governor for one of Yemen’s two central banks
Saudi Arabia likely to be a key influence in appointing the new figure, says expert
Norway’s SWF puts forward anti-corruption recommendations
Fund says investing in firms with strong anti-corruption credentials helps preserve its asset value
UK inflation refuses to budge from 3%
Despite a decline in oil price pressure, UK inflation remains above target; latest figures increase the likelihood of the Bank of England raising rates in May
Australia’s real-time payment system goes live to the public
System built by Swift will process payments in less than a minute and will utilise new PayID technology; Osko is first application launched on new platform
BoJ’s Kuroda in line for second term
Haruhiko Kuroda looks set to be the first governor to be reappointed in over 50 years, but the choice of deputies is unclear
Lacklustre recovery down to pre-crisis factors – research
San Francisco Fed article says weak recovery in the US due to long-running factors, and not the immediate impact of the global crisis
BoE’s Cunliffe sees liquidity risk in rise of investment funds
Investors have poured money into less liquid instruments at a time when market liquidity has been falling, warns the BoE deputy governor
BIS and IMF offer joint course for financial supervisors
Lagarde and Carstens say the two organisations will increase joint efforts at capacity-building
European authorities warn of dangers in cryptocurrency markets
Spanish and Dutch central banks warn of “misleading” data and unregulated markets
UK regulators unveil rules for algo trading
PRA and FCA outline their approaches to supervising the ultra-fast trading methods
New York Fed economists unconvinced on crypto’s viable uses
Cryptocurrencies would work in dystopian world, economists say, but current environment means advanced economies have no need for them
Aruban central bank needs mandate to regulate payment system – report
New mandate would require creation of central bank payments department; stakeholders agree on need for modernisation
US real GDP growth accelerating in 2018 – Atlanta Fed
The real-time index GDPNow forecasts an annualised expansion of 4% in the first quarter
China’s shadow banking market dominated by banks
BIS researchers map the Chinese shadow banking system and its evolution over time, finding it contrasts with the market-based shadow banking of the US
Bank of Russia cuts policy rate as inflation reaches historic low
Balance of risks has shifted from inflation to economic growth, central bank says
Nordic and Baltic states reinforce regional financial co-ordination
Banks operating across the region require common macro-prudential measures
World does not have to be ‘hostage’ to technology – Wilkins
Finding a way to control the market power of tech giants will be important, the Bank of Canada deputy says
Bank of Mexico hikes again as inflation remains high
The prospect of tighter policy in the US affects the monetary decisions in its major southern trading partner