BRUSSELS, September 23 (Global Risk Regulator) – European Commission sources say they’re confident an agreement will be reached in the next few days to remove a potential barrier to the smooth parliamentary passage next week of the law that will give effect to the complex Basel II bank safety rules in the European Union.

LONDON, September 26 (Global Risk Regulator) – A busy schedule of events relating to the international Basel II bank safety rules begins today and stretches over the next couple of weeks, breathing more life into the topic after the summer break.

WASHINGTON, September 26 (Global Risk Regulator) – The US banking supervisory agencies hope to make “a public communication” sometime in October on how the process of implementing the Basel II bank safety rules will proceed in the US, Federal Reserve Board governor Susan Schmidt Bies said today.

LONDON, September 19 (Global Risk Regulator) – US senators still intend holding hearings this autumn on currently stalled US plans for implementing the controversial Basel II rules for bolstering global banking safety, but it’s now unlikely they will take place this month as earlier hoped.

Regulatory agencies’ joint statement seen as clear commitment to adopt new standard. Timetable poses home-host issues for banks By Melvyn Westlake

Plans intended to calm small banks Basel II fears applauded. Separate rules for large and small banks to be judged together. By David Keefe

Progress on implementing the new capital standard is accelerating. Sub-group will try to ensure uniform application of trading book rules. By Melvyn Westlake

New capital charges for specific trading book risks remain vague. Implementation needs much work. Talks continue

Europe’s Basel-II law looks set for the statute book and could give big EU banks an early advantage. But some worry about long-term implications of US delay in applying Basel II rules. By David Keefe

NEW YORK – Regulators have welcomed the initial commitments made in early October by the 14 most active participants in the booming credit derivatives market to improve their operational infrastructure, including targets and deadlines to reduce worrying back office confirmation backlogs. The commitments were given in a joint letter, dated October 4, from the senior managements of 14 US and European banks and investment banks to Timothy Geithner, president of the Federal Bank of New York.