Credit conditions
Bank of Greece abandons 9% core capital requirement
Central bank suspends plans to raise core Tier I capital ratio as banks struggle to raise equity and data show contraction in lending continues
Early-warning indicators useful in emerging markets, says Finland paper
Bank of Finland study applies advanced economies' asset price indicators to emerging markets, saying they can be effective with only slight adjustment
Fed paper estimates impact of more stringent bank supervision
Discussion paper studies changes in the stringency of the US bank ratings system ‘Camels’; finds although variation is small, closer supervision leads to a significant decline in lending
Fed’s beige book reveals increased economic activity
US Federal Reserve economic summary reports expanding economic activity in the US; credit conditions said to be improving
Central Bank of Ireland highlights tight credit conditions for SMEs
Economic letter shows rejection rate for small and medium-sized enterprises in Ireland is second highest in eurozone; identifies slight improvement since Q4 2011
Central Bank of Barbados notes strong but static banking sector
Financial stability update shows domestic banking system has sufficient capital to withstand significant losses; says overall credit to private sector remained flat in past year
Bank of Thailand statistics show ‘resilient’ banking system
Figures for second-quarter 2012 indicate strong growth of lending and profits in Thai banking sector; results boosted by continued decline in non-performing loans
Croatian National Bank identifies increasing risks to financial stability
Financial stability report says contagion from eurozone, deleveraging by European banks or collapse of confidence in fiscal sustainability could push Croatia into deeper recession
Cleveland Fed researchers find fault with BoE’s Funding for Lending
‘Economic Trends’ research from the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland identifies possible flaws in the Bank of England’s Funding for Lending Scheme; warns of risk to independence
BoE statistics indicate slight improvements in UK lending
Lending statistics show decline in lending to UK businesses lessens slightly while loans to individuals increase; overall M4 lending shows slight increase
Central Bank of Colombia paper develops early warning model of credit booms
Working paper tests model of credit booms that includes macroeconomic indicators in addition to credit growth; finds the model performs well across a number of Latin American countries
BoE reports mixed credit conditions
Bank of England’s quarterly ‘Trends in Lending’ shows lending to UK businesses contracted but consumer credit flows rose over the second quarter of 2012
Bank of Israel unveils proposals to increase banking competition
Interim report sets out numerous measures to increase competition in Israel’s banking sector; says banking suffers from high concentration and low efficiency
Bangladesh Bank chief highlights efforts to encourage entrepreneurs
Atiur Rahman discusses role of central bank in promoting financial inclusion of micro and small and medium enterprises; says poverty has seen 'sharp' decline
ECB paper models endogenous credit risk
Working paper discusses models of credit risk; authors argue that “feedback effects” have major implications for regulatory reform
IMF paper models wholesale funding impact on credit supply
Working paper looks at effect of bank wholesale funding during financial crisis; finds use of wholesale funds negatively impacted credit supply during the crisis
BoE’s Tucker discusses credit market lessons
Bank of England deputy governor Paul Tucker considers lessons learned from credit boom and bust; urges careful assessment of policies by monetary authorities
Central Bank of Brazil offers boost to auto industry
Reserve requirements for loans on automobile projects reduced; move releases R$18 billion for use in offering credit for vehicle purchases
IMF paper studies credit growth in the Philippines
Research analyses determinants of credit growth and interest margins in the Philippines and Asia; finds factors such as higher growth and lower inflation reduce net interest margins
IMF paper investigates capital inflows relationships with other factors
IMF researchers study determinants and inter-relationships between capital inflows, financial development and domestic investment in developing countries
Bernanke says stronger banks will lead to 'robust' economy
Fed chair outlines progress made by financial sector; says improved credit conditions will play a part in creating a robust economy in the US
ECB survey finds worsening borrowing conditions for SMEs
European Central Bank survey finds borrowing conditions for SMEs have ‘worsened considerably’ in past six months
IMF sounds warning over European deleveraging
Lagarde hopes to ‘significantly’ increase resources available to the IMF during spring meeting; Financial Stability Report also recognises need for increased firewall as deleveraging rages on in Europe
BIS working paper focuses on Asian credit booms
Bank for International Settlements research finds international credit booms foster domestic credit surges in developing Asian economies