Feature/Financial Stability
Addressing the eurozone’s ‘lemons’ problem for NPLs
State-supported securitisation of the riskiest tranches of eurozone bank NPLs could tackle information asymmetries between buyers and sellers, and restore market function
All aboard the blockchain
The underpinning architecture of bitcoin and other crypto-currencies – distributed ledger technology – has the potential to revolutionise digital payments, with some central banks working out how to harness ‘the blockchain’
A CCP is a CCP is a CCP
The challenge of establishing standards for CCP risk management and resilience is even more difficult when policymakers view CCPs through the lens of banking regulation
New deposits backed by central bank money could solve public mistrust
New deposits backed by central bank reserves could address public fears about bank safety following the use of bail-in tools in the resolution of regional banks, argues Alessandro Roselli
Technology provider of the year (supervision): Vizor Software
Vizor Software has transitioned from a niche consultancy to a technology provider of choice for central banks in 30 countries, including Canada, the UK and Saudi Arabia
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
Reforming the Chinese banking system
China Banking Regulatory Commission chairman Shang Fulin explains how the banking system can evolve to safely support sound and sustainable development
The People’s Bank of China’s internet finance dilemma
China’s central bank faces a challenge encouraging the development of market-based internet financial services while regulating a business where a $7.6 billion Ponzi scheme recently blew up
Towards a more stable monetary world order
A global network of independent central banks could act as a manager of expectations for asset and foreign exchange prices to reduce the burden of future crises, argues David Harrison
The big data revolution and central banking
Central banks are increasingly turning their attention to the challenge of analysing very large datasets. But is ‘big data’ as revolutionary as some claim?
Harnessing network theory for more prudent bank supervision
Closer supervisory activities and data-sharing post-crisis offer the potential to harness network techniques to gain an improved understanding of financial risks
The Islamic liquidity facility conundrum
The rapid growth of Islamic finance could undermine both financial stability and monetary policy if central banks do not set up sharia-compliant facilities
Asia’s Basel III woes
New bank capital rules are bridling Association of Southeast Asian Nations banks with regulations tailored to European and American risk profiles, and may be contributing to a slowdown in growth
Cuba: coming in from the cold
The Central Bank of Cuba faces a number of challenges should the country press ahead with economic reform and reintegration in the global financial system
Managing financial stability, monetary systems and the economic order
If policy-makers fail to address the challenges presented by strong feedback loops between the economic and monetary systems, the next crisis could seriously damage faith in market-based economies
Greek lessons for central banks acting as lenders of last resort
Is it appropriate for a central bank that also acts as lead financial supervisor to act as a lender of last resort at a time when its actions are becoming quasi-fiscal in nature? By Ludek Niedermayer
BIS annual report launches new line of attack on old fears
Analysis of financial cycles creates a new opportunity to drive home fears about rates being too low for too long – but are central banks listening?
Eurozone central bank policy challenges and risks
ECB governing council member Ignazio Visco explains why Europe needed an expanded asset purchase programme despite potential issues associated with moral hazard and financial instability
The IFF China Report 2015: The Chinese economy at a crossroads
Policy-makers offer insights into the structural transformation of the Chinese economy, financial deepening, trade and development, and the role of the renminbi in the international monetary system
Justin Lin on fixing the fault lines of the international monetary system
Former chief economist at the World Bank, Justin Lin, explains why US, not Asian, policies caused the financial crisis and recommends how to fix endemic global imbalances
ICBC chairman on the overseas expansion of China’s banking industry
ICBC chairman and president of IFF, Jiang Jianqing, details the challenges Chinese financial institutions need avoid as they continue to expand their global operations
Future-proofing risk in the Chinese economy
Zhang Shenfeng, chairman of the China Financial Futures Exchange (CFFEX), argues that a multi-layered capital market must include an active financial futures to facilitate real-world risk management
Creating an effective equity market in China
Wang Jianxi, chairman of Shenyin and Wanguo Securities, sees the delicate balancing act of supervising the financial markets as key to developing a multi-layered capital market