Banks
HKMA end-of-year review says banking sector resilient
Hong Kong Monetary Authority end-of-year review says banking sector remains resilient; plans to step up regulation of banks in 2011
IIF’s Oudéa calls for G-20 taskforce for cross-border resolution
Institute for International Finance’s Frédéric Oudéa says G-20 taskforce will stir up political will for agreement on cross-border resolution
IMF uneasy on nagging weakness of eurozone’s banks
Fund’s Global Financial Stability Report and World Economic Outlook updates show concern over insufficiency of eurozone stress tests, links between banking and sovereign risks
Banking Commission chief makes case for ring-fencing retail operations
Independent Commission on Banking chief John Vickers rules out “radical narrow banking” but says some separation between investment and retail banks could help
Bank of Japan - Bank Lending Survey (January 2011)
Bank of Japan January 2011 bank lending survey reports little change in demand for loans by businesses
Anglo chiefs approached me before crash: ex-central bank director
Former Central Bank of Ireland director Alan Gray says chairman and chief executive of now state-owned Anglo Irish Bank approached him over liquidity stress in lead up to government guarantee, crisis
Basel bids to ensure all regulatory capital can be used to buffer losses
Basel Committee on Banking Supervision sets out rules to ensure instruments deemed Tier I and Tier II capital can be used to soak up losses; instruments issued after January 2013 must comply
Public expectations of banking supervision unrealistic: Netherlands Bank study
The Netherlands Bank study says high public expectations of banking supervision can adversely impact financial stability
Haircut fears push up bank CDS prices
Spreads on the credit index for senior European financials widen as EU releases burden-sharing consultation paper
Spain’s Aríztegui on savings banks mergers
Bank of Spain deputy governor Javier Aríztegui discusses institutional protection schemes
Accountability and risk management key to banking: Albania’s Fullani
Bank of Albania governor Ardian Fullani tells bankers how central bank is raising the standards against which they are judged
Ireland lifts lid on tough new enforcement approach
Central Bank of Ireland publishes first-ever enforcement strategy, detailing tough line on sanctions; publication accompanies penalties on Allied Irish Banks, NCB Stockbrokers
Norges Bank on links between marginal value of cash and firms’ behaviour
Norges Bank research points to impact of marginal value of cash on businesses’ decision making
Brussels forges ahead with Sepa end-date proposal, despite differences
European Commission proposes deadlines for national credit and debit transfers to migrate to Sepa system; move could divide stakeholders
Bank of Canada – Financial System Review (December 2010)
Canadian central bank says households’ debt levels pose risk
European banks could get slightly different version of Basel III: Basel Committee’s Wellink
Netherlands Bank governor and Basel Committee on Banking Supervision chairman Nout Wellink says “minor changes” possible to European version of Basel III
ECB points to securitisation, interest rate risk concerns
European Central Bank’s December Financial Stability Review stresses importance of more transparency in asset-backed securities market; highlights interest rate risk worries
Britain raises bank levy
UK government publishes final bank tax law that will raise the levy on liabilities higher than initial proposals set out in June
India’s banks prepared to meet Basel III: Subbarao
Reserve Bank of India governor Duvvuri Subbarao says India’s banks ready to meet Basel III requirements
CentralBanking.com panel: how pressing is the need for bank resolution regimes?
Commentators disagree on how urgently resolution regimes must be established; point to obstacles in crafting cross-border rules
ECB bucks market expectation with silence on further bond purchases
European Central Bank extends liquidity operations but does not commit to more bond purchases; move comes against market anticipation, dividing analysts
Nordea chief to head European banks' trade body
European banking lobby group appoints Nordea chief executive Christian Clausen as president; Clausen takes over from ex-UniCredit chief Alessandro Profumo
Portuguese banks’ reliance on ECB 'unsustainable', says central bank
Bank of Portugal Financial Stability Report says domestic lenders’ reliance on eurosystem funding has spiralled; sovereign’s declining prospects a key factor
Norwegian banks will meet Basel III ahead of schedule: Gjedrem
Norges Bank governor Svein Gjedrem says Basel III capital requirements will be implemented ahead of Basel Committee deadlines in Norway