Banks
Turkish central bank steps in to calm markets in wake of coup attempt
Central bank promises banks unlimited liquidity as failed coup sends shockwaves through markets; economists say banking sector is holding up so far but has some vulnerabilities
NPLs down overall but progress is uneven – Kuwaiti report
Kuwaiti banks’ non-performing loans fell in aggregate in 2015 though they are on the rise in the household sector; banks well capitalised but asset growth slowing, financial stability report finds
CPMI digs into data on correspondent banking pull-back
Study based on Swift data and banking interviews sheds light on uneven pace of decline in correspondent banking; CPMI offers recommendations to help reverse direction of travel
IMF staff propose additional reforms to Italian banking sector
Directors at the fund “commend” the Italian authorities for reforms so far, while staff suggest a range of additional measures to tackle issues around resolution and NPLs
EBA says number of women in senior positions at European banks is ‘very low’
EBA says most European banks lack diversity policies for senior management despite legal requirements; senior managers are more diverse by age but not by “geographical provenance”
Banks coping with tougher environment – Omani stress tests
Central bank’s latest financial stability report says banks are well placed to weather shocks, as it builds regulatory capabilities and early warning indicators
Constâncio calls for ‘deep reflection’ on public support for banks
ECB vice-president Vítor Constâncio suggests European Union should consider relaxing its rules on state aid to banks; cites IMF concerns and example of US bail-out
EBA survey: Most European banks did not see Brexit as risk
European banks anticipated increasing most kinds of loan activity, results of an EBA questionnaire show; few bankers saw ‘Brexit’ as a major source of risk
Sarb faces tough job amid ‘sobering’ outlook, IMF warns
Capital flows, sovereign rating and financial sector health form dangerous links, fund says, though South African authorities stress they have made preparations
European banks suffer as regulators ban Monte dei Paschi short-selling
Banks hit by further shockwaves from UK’s vote to leave EU, while European authorities scramble to shore up crumbling Italian bank Monte dei Paschi di Siena
Nigerian regulator overhauls management of major local bank
Nigeria’s central bank enforced a change of management in a domestically systemically important bank due to liquidity and capital adequacy concerns; finance veterans appointed to top roles
Bank of England cuts CCB to 0% to support credit supply
In wake of Brexit uncertainty, concerns over supply of credit ‘taken off the table’ says Carney; new buffer rate to give confidence to UK economy that banks can lend in ‘challenging times’
EU exit vote throws up financial stability risks
UK plunged into uncertainty and markets hit hard, with bank stocks some of the worst affected, but more serious problems seem to have been avoided for now
Rajan says India should not change course, as he steps back from RBI
Governor announces his intention to return to academia after three eventful years at the helm of India's central bank, and urges policy-makers to stay strict on inflation
Basel Committee approves G-Sib frameworks
All five jurisdictions home to globally systemic banks have established frameworks in line with the Basel accord, first cross-jurisdictional study finds
Central Bank of Ireland to form analytical teams to improve ‘data architecture’
Governor Philip Lane encourages regulators to “embrace” technological advances, while stressing the balance between innovation and consumer protection
Research explores impact of Italian product market reforms on productivity
Authors find positive association between firm performance and deregulation of sector; correlation stronger in areas with 'more efficient’ public services
Flug sets out ‘change in philosophy’ on new banks
Bank of Israel governor sets out measures adopted by banking supervision department to make it easier to start a bank from scratch; part of broader competition drive in the country
Negative rates fail to dent Danish bank profitability
National Bank of Denmark concerned banks may be pursuing return targets too aggressively, as profits hit highest level since 2008 crisis; banks reshaping business models to avoid low-rate impact
RBI approves new method for restructuring stressed loans
Indian banks will be able to split some of their largest stressed loans in two; rules introduced as RBI looks to help banks achieve “clean and fully provisioned bank balance sheets” by March 2017
PBoC deputy Tao says China’s financial system is failing SMEs
China's financial system needs to improve if it is to support crucial supply-side reforms via a particular focus on SME funding; financial institutions must be allowed to fail, says PBoC deputy
China makes strong start on economic transition
The past year has been one of progress for China’s structural reform plans. Zhang Hongli, IFF Academic Committee member and vice-president of ICBC, examines the forward momentum
Deepening reform of the financial system
Governor of the People’s Bank of China Zhou Xiaochuan examines the Central Committee’s proposals set out in the Thirteenth Five-Year Plan of national economic and social development
Promoting China’s financial liberalisation agenda
Increased risks are an inevitable upshot of greater innovation and disruption in the banking sector, but they can be mitigated, writes Zhang Liqing of the Central University of Finance and Economics