Opinion/Financial Stability
A troubling lesson of Northern Rock
The Northern Rock crisis has revealed a fundamental change in the nature of bank runs, says Robert Pringle, the editor of Central Banking journal.
Central Bank News defends "boring central bankers"
The Financial Times on Wednesday published Central Bank News's response Wolfgang Munchau's piece in Monday's newspaper, "Boring central bankers got us into this mess", which blamed central bankers for the current credit crisis.
Why King lacks allies
Just when Mervyn King, the governor of the Bank of England, was hoping for a respite from the battering he has received from the Treasury Select Committee and others over his handling of the Northern Rock debacle, along comes a heavyweight in the shape…
Mini-crises stretch ahead: UK economist
Instead of a sharp but swift adjustment, the prospect now is for a series of mini-crises stretching for years ahead, says the City economist Stephen Lewis in his commentary on the latest developments in the UK banking crisis.
Launch the lifeboats? Not likely!
The closest parallel to the rescue of Northern Rock is the secondary banking crisis which erupted at the end of 1973 and which brought down a whole string of so-called "secondary" banks. That financial crisis, like this one, was preceded by a long period…
Deadlock in the inter-bank markets
The continuing difficulties in the global inter-bank markets, which started on 9 August, have already given rise to a mountain of speculation about the possible causes and what central banks should do about the problem.
Useful statement from Jean-Claude Trichet
CentralbankNews.com is pleased to see the ECB making constructive use of its website in the current crisis. On Tuesday August 14 its home page featured prominently a statement by Jean-Claude Trichet, the president, about the current financial market…
Central banks' use of websites in the crisis
Central banks have been using their websites in novel ways during the crisis. On 13 August, the New York Fed put the following notice up:"The Desk will evaluate whether it needs to inject additional cash into the banking system at its normal operating…
Why is market volatility so low?
According to this article from MoneyWeek, published Wednesday 14 March, the recent so-called drama around the world is more likely a long overdue reaction to months of relentless appreciation in global stock markets.
Interview with SWIFT's Campos
In this recent interview with The Asian Banker, Lazaro Campos, head of the banking industry division at SWIFT says that SWIFT will become part of the domestic securities world before it picks up in payments.
A huge blow to Thailand's financial credibility
According to this article from The Nation, published Friday 22 December, the Bank of Thailand and Finance Ministry have shot themselves in the foot this week.
Is Swift living in the past?
This recent article from The Banker asks whether Swift is destined to become a relic of a bygone age, or if it can move into the modern era after its launch three decades ago.
Where did market volatility go?
In this editorial, published Thursday 5 October by The Korea Herald, former IMF chief economist Kenneth Rogoff says an uneerie calm has engulfed virtually every major asset class, from stocks to bonds.
Comment: Noyer takes Kroes to task
The Bank of France governor, Christian Noyer, said on 18 July that the European Commission is "playing a very dangerous game" in attempting to break open the European credit card market. How legitimate are his concerns?
Comment: Rethinking financial stability reporting
The Bank of England recently unveiled its revamped Financial Stability Report. Starting with the title of the publication, the Bank has taken a new approach to both the presentation of report and its content. The changes are an effort to focus the report…
Comment: Will McCreevy's approach work?
The European commissioner for internal market and services, Charlie McCreevy, has called for an industry-driven "code of conduct" to reduce the costs of European cross-border settlement and clearing, rather than propose a directive. Will his famous light…
Comment: Dutch banks lose on payments
A recent report by McKinsey, a consulting firm, finds that Dutch banks are losing money on processing payments. Moreover, the report suggests that margins will be under even greater pressure as banks have to implement a plethora of new regulations.
Comment: LCH.Clearnet chief departs
After months of speculation that his days were numbered, David Hardy resigned as chief executive of LCH.Clearnet on 5 July. The announcement was met with an air of inevitability. The episode raises some fundamental questions about the European clearing…
ANALYSIS: The irresistible rise of e-trading
Technological innovations are making electronic trading the method of choice - even in assets where floor-based trading looked set to dominate. Resisting technology can prove costly for the world's more established exchanges.
Comment: Passing the buck
The current outcry over American intelligence officials' access to private information linked to international money transfers has raised some thorny issues over who regulates the international messaging and financial telecommunications group, SWIFT.
Comment: Sharing the cost of banking crises
The need for an ex-ante commitment to sharing the cost of cross-border banking crises in Europe is suggested in a speech by Eva Srejber and a paper by Charles Goodhart and Dirk Schoenmaker. But is it feasible?