Central Banking
Exports decline ‘worrying’ as Bank of Israel holds
Monetary committee cites "intensifying decline" in exports as it holds the policy rate at 0.1%; inflation dips to –0.9%, as growth figures disappoint
Nakaso: BoJ should play leading role in global stability discussions
Greater co-operation needed among central banks to maintain global financial stability, says Japanese deputy; cites need for engagement and close monitoring
Arab countries must improve macro-prudential arrangements – IMF paper
Many Arab countries need to improve their macro-prudential policy frameworks, an IMF working paper argues; regulators need policy mandates and better information
Regulators must improve co-operation in monitoring shadow banks – Irish governor
Regulators must develop better systems for managing and sharing information on shadow banks, Ireland’s central bank governor says; better understanding of “geography of risk” needed
Further tightening may be needed in Colombia, IMF says
Staff in Washington, DC, welcome “resolve” of central banking in latest tightening cycle; current account deficit and inflation expectations may call for further action
Same factors can have different effects on bank risk profiles, ECB staff say
Factors that increase default risk for large and complex eurozone banks can decrease it for smaller banks, ECB staff say; results are based on new model of bank risk
BoE economists map current account dangers across OECD
Treating the current account as equivalent to the balance of trade could blind economists to the risks posed by large deficits, say Kristin Forbes, Ida Hjortsoe and Tsvetelina Nenova
Kenyan central bank sets out Imperial Bank progress
Several court cases to be heard in coming weeks regarding central bank’s handling of receivership; one matter sees two depositors seeking 1 billion shillings
China appoints new deputy governor
Former IMF official Zhang Tao appointed to deputy governor role at People's Bank of China; local media speculates he may return to the IMF as deputy managing director
Norges Bank reveals methods used to monitor banknote quality
Central bank to conduct ‘fitness surveys’ twice annually, analysing a host of variables to define which banknotes are suitable for circulation
Fischer: improve estimates of long-run equilibrium rate
Fed vice-chair speaks at conference honouring US economist Michael Woodford; stresses need for "faster potential growth" as US nears full employment
Central Bank of Bahrain launched range of initiatives in 2015 – annual report
Last year the bank set up a Sharia supervisory board, launched Islamic liquidity facilities, set to work on Basel III and upgraded its IT systems
Bank of Italy creates secondary market for trading in its own shares
Italy’s central bank has created a secondary market for dealings in its own shares as part of a plan to limit individual firms’ holdings to 3% of total shares
Embracing digital tech could reduce systemic importance of banks – RBNZ article
Bulletin discusses risks surrounding digital disruption in the banking sector; if unregulated entities provide "significant portion" of banking services, new risks may emerge
Denmark outsources coin minting to Finland
Mint of Finland wins tender to produce krone coins, as National Bank of Denmark seeks to cut costs by closing down its coin and banknote operations
Haldane admits BoE communications can be ‘impenetrable'
Chief economist notes ever-longer publications have not tallied with better understanding among the UK public, suggesting the message needs to be clearer and simpler
Researchers propose new measure for US fixed-income market liquidity
Authors say it is the first index to apply financial stress indicator methodologies to both US government and corporate debt securities
ECB governing council welcomes markets' increased risk appetite
Governing council members happy with increased risk appetite in eurozone and global markets, minutes show; worried by slow pace of structural reform and no clear trend of rising inflation
June hike an option but Fed officials split on prospect
Minutes from FOMC meeting in April show “most” participants happy to hike next month if incoming data continues to improve, but some suspect gains may not come fast enough
Sarb ‘pauses’ hiking cycle on improved inflation outlook
South African monetary policy committee votes five-to-one to leave rates on hold; governor stresses central bank is not reversing policy
HKMA prepares cyber security ‘fortification’
Monetary authority seeks to build a framework for assessing cyber risks as well as providing training and building infrastructure for sharing “threat intelligence”
Riksbank’s Skingsley sees potential in helicopter money
Small, open economies will have limited room for manoeuvre if global real rates stay low, so central bankers should be willing to consider more radical options, deputy says
Colombian paper sees role for international co-ordination of housing policy
This may be needed where national policies have “important” cross-border effects; discusses macro-prudential policy and capital controls
People: Turkey gains a deputy as Brazil loses one
Kilimci promoted to deputy governor at Turkish central bank; Hamilton set to leave Brazilian central bank for role in new finance ministry; and more