Central Banks
Fitch reports bright future for Sub-Saharan Africa
Rating agency investigations says outlook for the region is brighter than it has been for decades
King sees severe threat to UK financial markets
Bank of England governor Mervyn King says fiscal sustainability of European sovereigns continues to pose severe threat to UK financial system
Fitch issues stern warning to the US
Affirms AAA rating but says failure to agree on deficit-reduction measures would ‘likely result in negative rating action’
Fed 'not out of bullets' says Lockhart
Atlanta Fed president says monetary policy options are available; admits economy is 'closer to the threshold of contraction'
International asset markets remain largely segmented: Dallas Fed paper
Dallas Federal Reserve study finds evidence that asset markets are still heavily dependent upon local risk factors
Current account imbalances reversed sharply post-crisis: IMF paper
Fund study says deficit countries experienced significant contraction in current account post-crisis
Sovereign concerns set back RBA rate hike
Minutes of Reserve Bank of Australia monetary policy meeting show policy board did not hike rates due to mounting concerns over effects from international sovereign debt on demand
South Sudan replaces governor
Governor steps down and deputy takes over; no reason given
Germany denies eurobond option
Talk of a common bond for the euro area dominates discussions ahead of meeting with European leaders on economic governance reform; Germany says topic will not feature on agenda
Saccomanni linked to Bank of Italy governorship
Reports emerge of deal between government and central bank to promote Bank of Italy director-general Fabrizio Saccomanni to governor role
Two economists mooted for seat on Fed board
Jeremy Stein and Richard Clarida are being considered for terms on the Federal Reserve board of governors in a bipartisan effort from US lawmakers, writes Blair Baker
Kazakhstan reports large decline in credit card fraud
National Bank of Kazakhstan says there was a 25.4% decline in credit card fraud cases in 2010
Bank of Korea paper addresses growth implications of rising capital inflows
Bank of Korea study says improved institutional frameworks should be designed to monitor risks from capital inflows
Unconventional debt markets create monetary policy asymmetries: Banque de France paper
Banque de France study says differences in bond market characteristics can lead to asymmetries in monetary policy
Philly Fed paper on economic effects of fiscal uncertainty
Philadelphia Federal Reserve study says fiscal uncertainty can have impact on economy equivalent to monetary tightening
Kocherlakota speaks out against Fed decision
Minneapolis Fed president Narayana Kocherlakota says rising inflation and lower unemployment in economy did not warrant change in Fed language; says measure constitutes monetary easing
Swiss franc falls on euro peg talk
Swiss franc loses 6.7% against the euro and 6.1% against the dollar as markets digest comments by Swiss National Bank vice chairman Thomas Jordan
Norway’s SWF hit by equity slump
Norwegian Government Pension Fund Global reports small gain as fixed-income investments make up for decline in equity portfolio
Bank of Finland hosts art exhibition
Central bank invited public to view pieces from its extensive art collection; members of the BoF's art club act as guides
Chancellor calls UK bond market a ‘safe haven’
Chancellor of the exchequer George Osborne says decline in gilt yields and credit default swaps signal flight to safety of UK bonds
Cyprus edges closer to ‘junk’ rating
Fitch Ratings lowers Cyprus rating to BBB; outlook negative
Denmark reopens temporary collateral facility
National Bank of Denmark expands collateral framework to include shares of 12 listed companies; 20% haircut will be applied to assets