News/Risk management/Central banks
Bank of England’s Allsopp questions role of interest rates in bubbles
Christopher Allsopp, a member of the Bank of England’s monetary policy committee (MPC), has cast doubt on the effectiveness of using interest rates to head-off asset price bubbles.
Greenspan defends Fed’s role in tech bubble
The US Federal Reserve’s chairman, Alan Greenspan, claimed that it is far from obvious that a bubble, even if identified early, can be pre-empted by a central bank without inducing a substantial contraction in the economy, but conceded that better models…
Singapore harmonises risk-based regulation of financial firms
SINGAPORE – Singapore financial regulators said today they would integrate risk-based regulation of banks, insurance companies and investment firms under a new department from September 1.
Op risk floor removed to give flexibility
BASEL, SWITZERLAND - Global banking regulators have removed the operational risk capital floor previously proposed under the Basel II capital accord to give banks flexibility in developing op risk management systems.
Basel II could reinforce economic cycles more than expected, says BIS study
BASEL – The Basel II bank capital accord could reinforce economic cycles to a greater extent than expected, according to a working paper issued today by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), the so-called central bankers’ central bank.
Basel II could reinforce economic cycles more than expected
The Basel II bank capital accord could reinforce economic cycles to a greater extent than expected, according to a working paper issued today by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), the so-called central bankers’ central bank.
McDonough staying with Basel II, Crockett leaving BIS
BASEL, SWITZERLAND - New York Federal Reserve Bank president William McDonough said in July he would continue as head of the group of global banking regulators drafting the controversial Basel II bank capital rules until the job was done.
National regulators able to ‘opt out’ of Basel II maturity treatment
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, the architect of Basel II, has climbed down from its initial plans to force banks to include a full maturity adjustment on capital allocated against risk of defaulting loans, in its proposed mark-to-market…
Risk contributor Blejer steps down as Argentine central bank governor
Mario Blejer, a former senior adviser to the International Monetary fund (IMF), has resigned as governor of the Argentine central bank. The move could prove to be a blow to Argentine president Eduardo Duhalde's efforts to restore the country's battered…
Rates Markets Update: Swap activity dominated by interest rate speculation
Euro swap rates pushed up following increased expectations of an early European Central Bank (ECB) interest rate hike this week. Two-year swap yields rose by around 10 basis points on the week, five-year yields moved up 6bp, and 10-year to 30-year yields…
OTC derivatives volumes up 11%, says BIS
Outstanding notional volumes for the over-the-counter derivatives market stood at $111 trillion at end-December 2001 – an 11% increase from the end of June 2001, according to the latest statistics released by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS).
Risk managers leapfrog lending officers in bank hierarchy, says Greenspan
US Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan said risk managers are now overtaking loan officers in the decision-making hierarchy at financial institutions, with new quantitative risk management techniques a key factor behind this transition.
Volcker challenges the benefits of financial engineering
Paul Volcker, US Federal Reserve chairman between 1979 and 1987 and present chair of the Independent Oversight Board for embattled Enron auditor Arthur Andersen, has said he is "ambivalent" about the value of financial engineering to the US economy.
Dealing with the flak
With the final Basel Accord proposals due to be published later this year, the Bank of International Settlements’ new Asian head, Shinichi Yoshikuni, does not have much time to settle into his new role, writes Nick Sawyer.
Decline in OTC derivatives for Singapore
Over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives turnover in Singapore has fallen 44% in the last three years, the Singapore Monetary Authority (MAS) has reported to the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). Average daily OTC derivatives turnover was $6.3 billion…
Basel regulators put op risk charge below 15%
Global banking regulators will cut to below 15% from 20% the benchmark figure on which they intend basing the controversial operational risk capital charge they propose for large international banks from 2005.