China's C.bank Warns SVB Failure Shows Impact of Rapid Global Rate Hikes

A security guard stands outside of the entrance of the Silicon Valley Bank headquarters in Santa Clara, California, US, March 13, 2023. REUTERS/Brittany Hosea-Small/File Photo
A security guard stands outside of the entrance of the Silicon Valley Bank headquarters in Santa Clara, California, US, March 13, 2023. REUTERS/Brittany Hosea-Small/File Photo
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China's C.bank Warns SVB Failure Shows Impact of Rapid Global Rate Hikes

A security guard stands outside of the entrance of the Silicon Valley Bank headquarters in Santa Clara, California, US, March 13, 2023. REUTERS/Brittany Hosea-Small/File Photo
A security guard stands outside of the entrance of the Silicon Valley Bank headquarters in Santa Clara, California, US, March 13, 2023. REUTERS/Brittany Hosea-Small/File Photo

A senior official at the People's Bank of China said on Saturday the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) showed how rapid monetary policy shifts were having spillover effects, state-owned newspaper Shanghai Securities News reported.

Xuan Changneng, a deputy governor at the People's Bank of China told the Global Asset Management Forum in Beijing that some financial institutions had grown accustomed to running their balance sheets in an environment of low interest rate volatility and as such lacked sensitivity to short-term and large fluctuations in rates.

Silicon Valley Bank's balance sheet characteristics made it more sensitive to interest rates changes and ultimately led to risk, the newspaper cited him as saying.

"Based on the current situation, there is still uncertainty about whether inflation in the major developed economies will fall significantly in the short term, and continuing to maintain relatively high interest rates may also have an adverse impact on the steady operations of the banking and financial system," he said.

SVB Financial Group on Friday sought protection under Chapter 11 of the US bankruptcy code, days after its former unit Silicon Valley Bank was taken over by US regulators.



Swiss National Bank Denies Currency Manipulation after Being Put on US Watch List

People walk along the shore of lake on a warm spring afternoon in Zurich, Switzerland April 30, 2025. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth
People walk along the shore of lake on a warm spring afternoon in Zurich, Switzerland April 30, 2025. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth
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Swiss National Bank Denies Currency Manipulation after Being Put on US Watch List

People walk along the shore of lake on a warm spring afternoon in Zurich, Switzerland April 30, 2025. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth
People walk along the shore of lake on a warm spring afternoon in Zurich, Switzerland April 30, 2025. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth

The Swiss National Bank does not engage in currency manipulation, the central bank said on Friday, after the United States added Switzerland to a list of countries being monitored for unfair currency and trade practices.

"The SNB does not engage in any manipulation of the Swiss franc," the SNB said after the publication of the US Treasury Report on Thursday.

"It does not seek to prevent adjustments in the balance of trade or to gain unfair competitive advantages for the Swiss economy," it added, according to Reuters.

The SNB said it remained in contact with US authorities to explain Switzerland's economic situation and monetary policy, and would continue to use interest rates and forex market interventions to pursue its inflation target.

The central bank declined to say whether further talks with the United States were planned, but said it acted in the interests of Switzerland, where it aims to keep annual price increases within a band of 0-2%.

"Our monetary policy is geared towards the needs of Switzerland," the SNB said.