News/Regulation
Ageing and financial stability
ARTICLE - Population ageing might involve major shifts in financing, which may give rise to financial turbulence and systemic risk. Philip Davis, professor of economics at Brunel University, has prepared a paper on this subject for a Bundesbank…
India's c.bank sets stiffer bank investment norms
INDIA - The Reserve Bank of India said on Apr 23 it had set more stringent guidelines for banks' exposures to the stock market following recommendations made by an expert panel.
China's cbank drafts e-banking regulations
CHINA - China's central bank is drafting regulations concerning e-banking and guidelines for e-banking risk management, which are expected to be promulgated soon, a top bank official announced.
Caruana warns savings banks over shareholdings
SPAIN - the Bank of Spain governor Jaime Caruana on Apr 18 warned the annual assembly of savings banks that being stable shareholders in industrial companies, with influence on the management, could conflict with their status and objectives.
Chile central bank eliminates 'encaje' rule
CHILE - Chile's Central Bank on Apr 16 eliminated its "encaje" rule, which requires foreign investors to deposit an amount equivalent to a percentage of their investments with the central bank at no interest.
RBA supervises credit card payment systems
AUSTRALA - The Reserve Bank of Australia took supervisory control of Australian credit card service fees on Apr 12, putting under threat A$600 million in fees the banks earn from Bankcard, MasterCard and VISA schemes.
Malaysia Citibank's Noorazman to head LOFSA
MALAYSIA - Citibank's vice-president Noorazman Abdul Aziz has been appointed the new director-general of Labuan Offshore Financial Service Authority, or LOFSA, replacing Mohd Razif Abdul Kadir.
Eichel sets out vision for financial regulation
GERMANY - The German finance ministry unveiled on Apr 11 draft legislation to shake up the structure of the country's central bank and supervisory agencies in response to the arrival of the euro and changes in financial markets.
Parliament re-elects BNB vice governor
BULGARIA - The Bulgarian parliament reelected Emilia Milanova as vice governor of the central bank in charge of banking supervision.
Ex-central bank official to lead Ito-Yokado bank
JAPAN - Ito-Yokado Co Ltd, Japan's biggest retail group, said on Apr 10 it would appoint central bank veteran Takashi Anzai, 59, as president of its new IY Bank.
Ecuador appoints Davila as top bank supervisor
ECUADOR - Ecuador's Congress ended a nearly five-month search for a banking superintendent on Apr 5, appointing former central bank head Miguel Davila to the post after rejecting several other candidates.
Slovakia approves central bank law amendment
SLOVAKIA - The Slovak parliament said on Apr 6 it had approved an amendment to the law on the central bank, aimed at harmonising the act with the European Union legislation.
FSA hosts major Basel conference-Apr 10-11
UNITED KINGDOM - The UK's Financial Services Authority is organising a two day conference in London on April 10-11 which will be a key milestone in the UK consultation on the revised Basel Capital Accord and the European Commission's proposals for…
Sri Lankan cbank amends finance firm rules
SRI LANKA - Finance companies in Sri Lanka will now be allowed to accept deposits from the public for up to five years instead of three years, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka said in a statement on Apr 5, 2001.
India's SEBI chairman likely to be replaced-paper
INDIA - The chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) D.R. Mehta is likely to be replaced as part of government changes after a recent stock market crisis, a financial daily said on April 3, 2001.
Canadian regulator fakes website to warn investors
The Ontario Securities Commission, regulator of Canada's largest stock market, has established a fake website (www.NoRiskWealth.ca) as a cautionary demonstration to gulable online investors
New bill strengthens NBS supervisory powers
SLOVAKIA - The new bill on banks, which was approved by the Slovak government on Mar 28, 2001, should boost the powers of the National Bank of Slovakia to carry out banking supervision.
Oman central bank to host supervision seminar
OMAN - The Central Bank of Oman will host a regional seminar on banking supervision organised by Switzerland's Financial Stability Institute of the Bank for International settlements.
HKMA to buy office space rather than rent
HONG KONG - Hong Kong's quasi central bank on Mar 29, 2001 defended a plan to buy 14 floors in a building in the city's center for its new offices, saying the move will be cheaper than to continue renting.
Bank of Greece searches for Milosevic millions
GREECE - The Bank of Greece is investigating several Greek banks suspected of receiving funds laundered by Slobodan Milosevic, the former president of Yugoslavia.
Asian forum Manila Framework Group meets in China
CHINA - The Manila Framework Group regional financial forum started a two-day meeting in Beijing on Mar 28, 2001 to discuss a range of issues including the impact of the slowing U.S. economy, organisers said.
Fed survey: US banks growing wary of lending
UNITED STATES - A special survey conducted by the Federal Reserve reveals that credit terms from US banks have continued to tighten since January
Kerstin Hessius to be Stockholm Bourse head
SWEDEN - OM Gruppen AB on Mar 26, 2001 named former Riksbank Deputy Governor Kerstin Hessius as the new president of the Stockholm stock exchange, officially known as Stockholmsboersen.
China's cbank-no timetable to open capital market
CHINA - People's Bank of China Governor Dai Xianglong said China's capital markets will eventually be opened to the outside world but there is still no timetable for such a reform, state media reported Mar 26, 2001.