News from May 2024

Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President discusses monetary policy communications in Tokyo

President Mester delivered remarks for a panel discussion at the Bank of Japan in Tokyo on May 28, 2024. The speech, titled “Forward Guidance and Monetary Policy Communications: Use Your Words and Connect the Dots,” focused on the importance of clear communication in monetary policy.

Effective communication key for enhancing forward guidance during extraordinary times

On May 28, 2024, a comprehensive discussion on forward guidance and monetary policy communications was presented, emphasizing the importance of clear communication from the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC). The effectiveness of forward guidance as a policy tool in extraordinary times can be significantly enhanced by improving monetary policy communications during normal times.

NCUA grants first provisional charter under new pilot initiative

The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) has granted a federal charter and Share Insurance Fund coverage to Tribe Federal Credit Union in Minneapolis. This marks the first federal credit union to receive a charter under the NCUA’s provisional charter pilot initiative.

Richmond Fed names Anna Kovner as director of research

The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond announced today that Anna Kovner has been appointed as the new Director of Research. She will join the Richmond Fed's Management Committee in mid-June.

Cleveland Fed President discusses role in enhancing public understanding of economic conditions

Reuters recently conducted an interview with President Loretta J. Mester of the Cleveland Federal Reserve. In her nearly 40 years with the Federal Reserve, Mester has witnessed significant changes in how the U.S. central bank communicates about economic conditions and monetary policy.

Report finds high flood risk for basement apartments in low-income NYC neighborhoods

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York released a report titled “Flood Risk and Basement Housing in New York City: The Impact of Extreme Weather on Vulnerable Housing Stock” on May 22, 2024. The report indicates that approximately 10% of low-income and immigrant New Yorkers reside in census tracts with basement apartments at high risk of flooding.

Federal Reserve releases FOMC meeting minutes from April 30–May 1, 2024

The Federal Reserve, the central bank of the United States, released the minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting held on April 30–May 1, 2024. The minutes were made public on May 22, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. EDT.

New York Fed examines veteran labor market disparities in new podcast episode

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York has released a new episode of its "Bank Notes" podcast, titled "Veterans in the Labor Force." This episode features experts discussing the labor force participation gap between veterans and nonveterans. A previous Liberty Street Economics blog post from May 2023 indicated that veterans are 22% more likely to be out of the labor force than their nonveteran counterparts. The podcast also addresses common misperceptions about military career paths and outcomes, while highlighting educational and vocational opportunities available to veterans...

Hong Kong Monetary Authority publishes sustainable finance taxonomy

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has published the Hong Kong Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance, a framework aimed at raising awareness about green finance and promoting a common understanding of green activities. The taxonomy is designed to facilitate green finance flows, align investment decisions with climate goals, and reduce risks associated with non-aligned low-carbon assets. It also aims to unlock new investment opportunities in green technologies and sustainable projects while increasing transparency and accountability in the financial sector.

BCBS report examines implications of finance digitalization

The report builds on the 2018 BCBS paper titled, “Sound practices: implications of fintech developments for banks and bank supervisors” and takes stock of recent developments in the digitalization of finance. The report reviews key technologies across various aspects of the banking value chain, including banks' use of application programming interfaces (APIs), artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), distributed ledger technology (DLT), and cloud computing.

ISSB releases digital sustainability disclosures taxonomy

The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) has released the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Taxonomy, designed to reflect the IFRSS1 General Requirements for Disclosure of Sustainability-related Financial Information and IFRSS2 Climate-related Disclosures, along with their accompanying guidance. This taxonomy provides elements for tagging sustainability-related financial information prepared in accordance with IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards. These elements enable companies to tag information about their sustainability-related risks and opportunities in...

EU advances comprehensive regulations for artificial intelligence

The European Union is advancing its regulatory framework for artificial intelligence (AI) with the approval of the EU AI Act by the European Council on May 21, 2024. This comprehensive legislation sets prescriptive, risk-based rules through a common framework for the use and supply of AI systems within the EU. The Act will be published in the Official EU Journal shortly and will come into force 20 days after publication. High-risk systems will have 36 months to comply.

Carlyle provides NZ$140 million financing for NPD management buyout

Sydney, Australia, May 22, 2024 – Global investment firm Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG) and Australian private credit manager amicaa have announced a NZ$140 million debt financing package for New Zealand fuel retailer NPD. The funding will support a management buyout of the family-owned business.

Carlyle raises JPY 430 billion for fifth Japanese buyout fund

Tokyo, Japan – May 21, 2024 – Global investment firm Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG) announced the final close of its fifth Japanese buyout fund, Carlyle Japan Partners V (“CJP V”). The fund raised JPY 430 billion (approximately USD 2.8 billion), inclusive of commitments from the General Partner and its affiliates, hitting the hard cap on Limited Partner commitments. According to data from Preqin, this marks the largest fundraise for a buyout strategy focused on the Japanese market.

BCBS issues new guidelines on counterparty credit risk management

The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) has released guidelines aimed at addressing longstanding weaknesses in counterparty credit risk management within the banking industry. These guidelines emphasize several key practices essential for effective risk mitigation.

Mester: Three rate cuts likely inappropriate for 2024

Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Loretta Mester discussed current economic conditions and monetary policy during an interview with Bloomberg Television on May 20, 2024. Mester emphasized the role of the Federal Reserve in producing indicators and datasets to inform the public, policymakers, and researchers about various economic factors such as inflation, employment, and financial system risks.

Boston Fed paper examines credit card portfolio risk management

A recent working paper from the Federal Reserve has examined how financial institutions manage potential risks in their credit card portfolios. The study, titled “Managing Risk in Cards Portfolios: Risk Appetite and Limits,” finds that firms typically employ a consistent approach to risk assessment, constantly monitoring potential risks against predetermined limits or thresholds.

Yellen discusses Russian assets and Chinese practices with French finance minister

STRESA – Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen met with France’s Minister of Economy and Finance Bruno Le Maire today on the sidelines of the G7 Finance Minister and Central Bank Governor Meetings in Stresa, Italy.

Yellen discusses economic trends and Russian sanctions with German finance leaders

FRANKFURT – Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen today convened a roundtable with German financial executives to discuss global macroeconomic trends and financial sector risks, including illicit finance and Russian sanctions evasion.

Treasury, IRS release additional guidance on American clean energy manufacturing

The U.S. Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have released additional guidance on the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) domestic content bonus, a key component of President Biden’s economic strategy to stimulate American manufacturing and iron and steel production, thereby fortifying the clean energy economy.