Introduction The European Stability Mechanism (ESM) will now be backstop-of-last-resort to the Eurozone banking system, in addition to backstopping the Eurozone member states and the currency itself. Its resources have…
Bob Lyddon
The European Stability Mechanism hangs by a thread – on France’s credit rating
Introduction The European Stability Mechanism (ESM) backstops the euro. Its nominal size is €705 billion but its lending capacity is lower at €500 billion, and the main condition attached to…
UK inflation is a threat to financial stability – time to conceal that with Eurozone techniques
UK Consumer Price Inflation remained at 8.7% in May. The Bank of England has raised the cost of overnight money to 5% via increases in its Base Rate, and has…
Central banks should be wobbling in their drive towards Central Bank Digital Currencies
Introduction Central banks have undertaken many investigations, pilots and proofs-of-concept into Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), proving little beyond the lack of a convincing case in their favour, but unearthing…
Introduction How resilient is the global banking system? Are banks’ capital buffers now much larger than they were going into the Global Financial Crisis of 2007/8, as authorities claim? The…
Bank Resolution Is Dead: Authorities Dare not Use it – and instead Risk Destroying Capital Markets
The template created after the Global Financial Crisis of 2007/8 to shield taxpayers from direct bailouts of failed banks has already folded – authorities dare not use it. The template…
What are the lessons for Europe from the demise of Silicon Valley Bank?
Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) has gone from hero-to-zero in 48 hours. From established bankers to start-ups in the tech, fintech, and biotech industries and to Napa Valley’s premium wineries on…
Croatia has Joined the Eurozone. Let’s Look at the Upside, with also a little Caution
Introduction – Recent ECB Policy Developments Croatia became the 20th Eurozone member on January 1. Regular readers know our often expressed view that the euro is a deeply flawed currency…
Digital Payments Leave Major Debris for Customers and Legislators to Clear Up
Cost, inconvenience and fraud have been increased for consumer and business users on their ‘digital payments journey’.1 Current plans for the introduction into the UK of a Central Bank Digital…
FTX Could Be ‘Game Over’ for Central Bank Digital Currency and for Other Dominos
Up until recently, the proponents of the cluster of financial developments around the Great Re-Set, Decentralized Finance, Central Bank Digital Currency, Financial Inclusion, Fintech, Open Banking et al have had…