Monetary Policy
Colombia reduces rates as economy faces sharp recession
Central bank reduces rate by 50 basis points to 3.25%, GDP expected to fall by 10% in Q2
ECB launches new lending facility, but holds rates
Lagarde announces cut for banks’ borrowing rate, but the ECB has not expanded asset purchases
Fed predicts ‘unprecedented’ economic shock
Policy on hold as Q2 may see data “worse than any data we have seen”, Powell warns
Riksbank open to future rate cut
Swedish central bank keeps stimulus package unchanged in monetary policy meeting
Fed expands local government liquidity facility
Programme faced criticism for leaving out regions with heavy Native American and African-American populations
Riksbank unveils details of local bond purchases
Swedish central bank to buy up to Skr5 billion from Kommuninvest i Sverige
Bank of Japan steps up stimulus with unlimited JGB purchases
BoJ drops limit on government debt and quadruples corporate bond cap, but it is unclear if purchases will actually increase
Turkey continues easing cycle with 100bp cut
Policy-makers see oil shock creating room for stronger easing
Bank of Mexico cuts rates in emergency meeting
Central bank unveils set of measures to boost liquidity amounting to $30.5 billion, 3.3% of GDP
Riksbank will start buying municipal bonds
Central bank includes new assets in 300 billion kronor purchase programme
Fed’s balance sheet increases by 50% since March
Total assets now just shy of $6.4 trillion, a new record high
PBoC cuts key rate to record low as Chinese economy shrinks
Chinese central bank extends more emergency liquidity and cuts medium-term rate
Proposed changes to law could damage independence – Swedish central bank
Lawmakers’ proposal would hinder crisis management capability, Sveriges Riksbank says
Shadow banking increases need for asset purchases – ECB paper
Large non-bank financial sectors can impair transmission of monetary policy, paper finds
Central Bank of the Philippines cuts rates at emergency meeting
Emergency move brings central bank's rate cuts this year to 125 basis points
Policy-makers making risky ‘one-round bet’ on Covid-19 – El-Erian
Former Pimco chief worried about readiness and ability of policy-makers to tackle a ‘second wave’ of infections
Bank of Canada unveils new purchasing programmes
Monetary policy report analysis shows economy could shrink by roughly 30% in Q2
Uzbekistan central bank cuts rates by 100bp
Emergency meeting loosens policy in response to pandemic and energy price fall
Fed takes first step to unwind repo support
Repo market is showing signs of “more stable” conditions, New York Fed says
El-Erian on Covid-19 policy risks, ‘zombie’ markets and central bank capture
Former Pimco chief says Fed move into high yield is a step too far, new rules needed on leverage and false liquidity, and narrow window emerges for central banks to shed some of their policy load
Sarb cuts rates to historic low
Unanimous decision comes as growth outlook and inflation forecasts revised; South Africa’s risk profile has increased
Crises enliven ‘totalitarian temptations’
The coronavirus pandemic will embolden governments and bodies such as the International Monetary Fund to grasp for more power, writes Steve Hanke