Central Banks
IMF criticises Hungary over policy 'missteps'
International Monetary Fund Article IV consultations says Hungarian economy is in perilous state; country must push ahead with structural reforms and reverse a central bank law to receive funding
BoE minutes show split over QE
Bank of England minutes show Monetary Policy Committee says further expansion of asset purchases is likely to be required, according to some members
Financial taxes can bolster macro-prudential policy, says IMF paper
Fund study shows counter-cyclical tools should be incorporated to enrich the broader macro-prudential policy framework in Korea
Capital shortfalls explain sharp fall in bank lending, says Bank of Spain paper
Bank of Spain study finds evidence that supply-side factors are restraining loan growth to non-financial private sector in Spain
Macro-prudential policies address root of stability problems, says SNB’s Danthine
SNB governing board member Jean-Pierre Danthine says policies that lean against asset bubbles can create large shortfall in economic growth; prefers forward-looking macro-prudential tools
World Gold Council predicts ‘record year’ for central bank gold purchases
Trend of central banks being net purchasers to continue; latest update from World Gold Council predicts ‘record year’ of buying
Thailand blames floods and ‘likely’ eurozone recession for rate cut
Bank of Thailand drops benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 3%; says recession now "likely" in the eurozone
South African bank creates new role for ex-central banker
FirstRand bank appoints former SARB deputy registrar of the banks Yvette Singh as public regulatory affairs executive
IMF fears eurozone crisis will stall global recovery
World Economic Outlook slashes growth projections for 2012 as downside risks to eurozone economy intensify; IMF warns spill-over effects could slow economic activity globally
King sees ‘no reason to despair’ over world economy
Governor of the Bank of England acknowledges ‘serious’ situation global economy is in, but says there is a way forward; despite fall in inflation the year ahead will not be easy, King says
Zambia raises capital ratio for banks and rebases currency
Bank of Zambia reveals government decision to hike capital requirements for banks operating in the country; three zeros also to be slashed from value of banknotes
RBI’s Subbarao says eurozone situation better than expected
Governor of the Reserve Bank of India says Indian corporates report better conditions in Europe than feared; central bank lowers cash reserve ratio for banks to ease liquidity situation
ECB in talks with dealers on buying inflation-linked bonds
Dealers will present their case as to why the ECB should buy linkers as well as nominal bonds in a conference call today
David Miles retains seat on UK Monetary Policy Committee
David Miles re-appointed as an external member of the MPC; new term to run until 2012
Wickman-Parak on limitations of unemployment gap in setting policy
Riksbank deputy governor Barbro Wickman-Parak says role of resource utilisation and unemployment gap in monetary policy decision-making should not be overstated
Fiscal stabilisation policy is redundant, says Bullard
St Louis Federal Reserve study says fiscal policy is ill-suited as a stabilisation policy and that monetary policy, even at the zero bound, is a more effective tool
Fiscal sustainability indicators have limited effect on CDS spreads, says IMF paper
Fund study shows sovereign credit default swap spreads are driven largely by short-term liquidity conditions and large-scale long-term bond purchases by major central banks
US housing prices strongly influenced by news, says Bank of Portugal paper
Bank of Portugal study says news shocks explain sizable fraction of variation in house prices and housing investment in the US over the past four decades
BoE and Treasury Committee clash over accountability
Treasury Select Committee rebuffs Bank of England proposal on accountability reforms; chair Andrew Tyrie sets out three main areas of disagreement between the two bodies