Central Banking
RBI cuts benchmark rate as growth falters
Reserve Bank of India cuts interest rate for second time in 2013; struggling with falling growth rates but rising inflation
Korean paper says welfare cost of inflation is ‘underestimated’
Study contends that treating assets within M1 – the measure of cash and liquid assets in the economy – as non-interest-bearing in models fails to take into account full cost of inflation
BoJ researcher finds need for heterogeneous response to credit flows
Working paper shows global common factors account for a ‘quantitatively important’ portion of cross-border credit, but vary between regions; suggests need for tailored policy responses
RBI paper develops method for estimating counterfeit volumes
Researchers redesign inverse sampling statistical method, aiming to measure extent of counterfeiting in India with ‘credible precision’
T2S chief warns regulatory inaction could damage harmonisation process
Jean-Michel Godeffroy says CSD regulation must be passed this year to avoid harmonisation delays; conference panellists raise concerns over costs, limited participation and financial transaction tax
Largest banks $270bn below Basel III core capital limits
Basel Committee finds banks would have missed CET1 requirement under Basel III by $270 billion in June 2012; IMF’s Lagarde condemns ‘uneven implementation’ of rules
Robert Pringle’s Viewpoint: Wider lessons of the Cyprus bail-out
The clumsy attempts to resolve a banking crisis in Cyprus underline the need to make more rapid progress on wider issues afflicting much larger financial markets in Europe
Eurozone rocked by Cypriot depositor haircut plan
Markets take a hit, peripheral bond yields rise and commentators raise fears of contagious bank runs as Cypriot parliament debates plans to take 6.75% haircut from ‘insured’ depositors
Zhou Xiaochuan stays on as PBoC governor
People’s Bank of China governor Zhou Xiaochuan staves off retirement for another term at the top of the central bank; will target rising inflation and capital reforms
Fed pays $88bn in profits to US Treasury
Federal Reserve makes large profit on securities holdings in 2012; follows warnings from Ben Bernanke and Fed researchers that remittances are not likely to remain elevated
Central banks can help promote reference rate choice, says BIS report
Bank for International Settlements working group finds money market appetite for adopting overnight reference rate; says central banks can help promote transparency
Banque de France research proposes framework to address stress-test failings
Researchers use statistical tests for detection of outliers to characterise severity and duration of stressed periods; suggests length of shock depends on the initial variables
IMF paper says competition is a motive for forex intervention by emerging markets
Study examines activity of emerging market economies in foreign exchange markets; finds competitiveness can be a motivating factor
Icelandic paper finds country's response to banking crisis was optimal
Research by Central Bank of Iceland looks at various alternatives to Iceland’s handling of the 2008 banking collapse, but finds none yield better outcomes than the baseline scenario
MAS warns on fragmented clearing and reporting
Asian financial markets have made progress in setting up CCPs and trade repositories, but greater harmonisation is needed across borders, Singaporean central bank warns
BIS says fundamentals lagging behind market sentiment
Quarterly review identifies ‘renewed sense of optimism’ in financial markets; also sees move away from safe havens to riskier assets as central bank easing continues
People: Kuroda confirmed; Bulgarian deputy joins government
Haruhiko Kuroda will replace Masaaki Shirakawa at the BoJ after receiving approval from parliament; Bulgarian deputy joins finance ministry in temporary switch; and more
IMF urges ‘more forceful action’ to end Europe’s woes
Report on European financial stability says situation remains ‘tenuous’ in eurozone; calls on authorities to act fast to repair balance sheets and set up banking union
Central bankers split over whether 3% leverage ratio is enough
Majority of participants in CentralBanking.com poll support implementation of Basel III; readers divided over questions of raising leverage ratio
Nalm 2013: Sound central bank risk practices could choke off liquidity
Central banks are more activist in reserves management, with some looking to private sector for inspiration. But there are dangers with such a approach, say panellists at Central Banking conference
RBNZ’s McDermott backs simple forecasts over fan charts
Reserve Bank of New Zealand assistant governor says a simple policy projection can provide clarity to overall ‘forecast story’ and the relationships between different macroeconomic variables
BoE chief economist warns against inflation complacency
Bank of England’s Spencer Dale says he is concerned by ‘dangerous talk’ suggesting MPC should focus more on growth
CFTC's O'Malia: No progress on Sef rules in past two weeks
Mid-April next window for vote, but no reason for optimism, says CFTC commissioner
Shirakawa examines ways for Japan to hit 2% inflation target
Bank of Japan governor says inflation will only be beneficial if it is driven by the right factors; says improved expectations are key to restoring Japan’s growth potential