The Bank of Canada has announced the nomination period for its 2025 Governor's Award, inviting Canadian universities to nominate exceptional academics. For this period, applications for the Fellowship Award are not being accepted as all awards are currently held.
Thank you for joining us today as we launch the South African Reserve Bank’s (SARB) inaugural Payments Study Report. This study is one of our initiatives to better understand the payment system landscape in South Africa. It supports our current strategy, Vision 2025, which identified a need for the SARB to collect more payments information.
In August 2024, the inflow of payments increased by 2.5% compared to the 2024 Q2 average level, following a 1.2% drop in July. The overall growth in incoming payments over the first two months of 2024 Q3 was weaker than that in 2024 H1.
The South African Reserve Bank (SARB), which operates, regulates, and oversees the national payment system (NPS), has published its inaugural Payments Study Report. The study, the first of its kind in South Africa, uses individuals’ payment data and provides extensive insight into how the public perceives and uses various payment methods and instruments available in the country.
The Bank of Russia plans to expand the compulsory motor third-party liability insurance (CMTPLI) rate corridor, both upwards and downwards, by 11.57% for public transport (trolleybuses, trams, and regular passenger buses) and by 20% for motorcycles and trucks with a permissible maximum weight of up to 16 tonnes, as stipulated by the regulator’s draft ordinance. The base CMTPLI rates for personal cars will not change.
The August 2024 results of the monitoring of the maximum interest rates on deposits in Russian rubles of the top ten credit institutions attracting the largest amount of household deposits are as follows:
The Bank of Canada today reduced its target for the overnight rate to 4¼%, with the Bank Rate at 4½% and the deposit rate at 4¼%. The Bank is continuing its policy of balance sheet normalization.
On September 4, 2024, a press conference was held to discuss the latest monetary policy decision. The event featured Senior Deputy Governor Carolyn Rogers and included an announcement of a 25 basis point reduction in the policy interest rate, bringing it down to 4.25%. This marks the third consecutive decrease since June.
The increase in consumption decelerated in July-August, with several macro-regions reporting signs of its decline. Demand for non-food products decreased, while higher deposit rates supported households' propensity to save.
Today, the Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, Patrick McHenry (NC-10), announced an upcoming hearing for the Financial Institutions and Monetary Policy Subcommittee. The hearing is titled "Transparency in Global Governance."
Flash estimates indicate a more moderate growth in economic activity in early Q3 relative to Q2. Retail lending and consumption expanded at a slower pace. However, overall demand still far exceeds supply.
Open application programming interfaces (Open APIs) will allow companies to exchange information about their customers with their consent more promptly and offer them beneficial personalized services. Additionally, individuals will be able to manage their data effectively. The main principles and stages of Open API implementation are published on the Bank of Russia website.
The Bank of Russia has introduced an online financial literacy course designed for extracurricular activities targeting students in grades 3 to 6. The course comprises 68 lessons covering a range of financial topics, featuring examples, tasks, and tips.
The Bank of Russia has announced new macroprudential limits (MPLs) on unsecured loans and credits for the fourth quarter of 2024. These measures aim to restrict lending to highly indebted borrowers and prevent the artificial extension of loan terms. The initiative is intended to curb household over-indebtedness and mitigate higher risks within banks. Starting November 1, 2024, the Bank will also increase add-ons for general consumer loans secured by vehicles to limit banks' circumvention of MPLs.
On August 30, 2024, the Bank of Russia will issue a 3-ruble silver commemorative coin titled ‘The 300th Anniversary of the Saint Petersburg State University’ as part of its Historical Events series. The university was founded by the Decree of Peter the Great on February 8, 1724 (January 28 under the Julian calendar) based on the Academy of Sciences and became Russia's first university. Today, Saint Petersburg State University is one of Russia's most renowned universities and a major research and development center.
In 2024 Q2, investors maintained their interest in the stock market despite rising rates on bank deposits. The number of brokers' unique clients reached 32.4 million, and the net inflow of funds into their accounts totaled ₽299 billion.
The Bank of Russia has proposed a discussion on measures to enhance the transparency of the cash-in-transit market, aiming to create equal conditions for participants and support a balanced tariff policy for their services.
The Bank of Russia has announced the implementation of a national countercyclical capital buffer for banks' capital adequacy ratios, set at 0.25% of risk-weighted assets. This measure will take effect from July 1, 2025. The decision aims to enhance the resilience of the banking sector and support balanced credit growth.