Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
MAS lends support to SMEs through new programme
Ravi Menon says banks are expected to make loans to small businesses at a lower cost
‘Step up to the plate’, New Zealand regulators tell banks
Council of regulators expects banks to deliver lending and affordable customer products
El-Erian on Covid-19 policy risks, ‘zombie’ markets and central bank capture
Former Pimco chief says Fed move into high yield is a step too far, new rules needed on leverage and false liquidity, and narrow window emerges for central banks to shed some of their policy load
HKMA cuts banks’ counter-cyclical buffers
Hong Kong’s central bank meets with lenders to increase SME funding as protests escalate
Kenyan High Court strikes down law capping interest rates
But court rules law did not infringe central bank’s mandate and says caps could be brought back
FSB seeks feedback on reforms’ impact on SME finance
Roundtable participants note considerable differences in how SMEs are treated across jurisdictions
Arab countries must improve funding of small businesses – IMF’s Lagarde
SMEs make up 96% of Arab world’s businesses but get only 7% of bank loans – IMF chief
RBI can remove barriers to micro-credit – Acharya
Central bank looking to solve information problems in a “fundamental way”, says deputy
Islamic finance is for everyone, Malaysia’s Zahid says
Bank Negara Malaysia assistant governor stresses inclusiveness of Islamic finance but says SMEs are still not taking advantage
The IFF China Report 2018: Chinese financial system reform
China is focusing greater effort in tackling the build-up of risks in its banking and financial system, while also seeking to ensure credit is more effectively distributed in the real economy. At the same time it is has embraced fintech but policymakers…
Kenyan central bank condemns interest rate cap legislation
Rules introduced in 2016 have restricted access to credit for small firms and impaired the central bank’s ability to conduct monetary policy
Time to ‘reignite’ SME development, says Zim governor
Mangudya notes importance of SMEs in supporting nation’s economy but acknowledges access to banking sector is currently poor; financial inclusion strategy aims to help