Central Banks
ECB in about-turn on collateral rules
Move reflects concern over Greece; Trichet says graded haircut system set to be introduced
UK debt management official parries demand fears
Co-head of policy and markets says she is confident that market for gilts deep and liquid enough to withstand end of QE
Fed’s Kohn attacks higher inflation targets
Federal Reserve vice chairman also dismissive of price-level targeting; admits central bankers were “a little complacent” pre-crisis
Emerging markets will overhaul reserve methods: Thai deputy
Bank of Thailand vice governor Atchana Waiquamdee says crisis has rendered traditional measures of reserve adequacy “meaningless” for cautious emerging markets
Sovereign risk worries overstated: panel
Debt experts from Bank of Italy, National Bank of Denmark and French debt agency point to reassuring signs of continuing life in the sovereign debt markets
Yellen: Fed won’t inflate debt away
San Francisco Fed’s Janet Yellen tells LA town hall inflation will not run rampant so long as Fed retains independence
The end is nigh for the eurozone over Greece
Economists Geoffrey Wood and Charles Dumas say the Greek debt crisis is set to tear asunder Europe’s poorly built Economic and Monetary Union, split over IMF bailout
Italy’s Draghi favours “enforcement” over European Fund
Bank of Italy governor Mario Draghi says a new pact should be drawn up to enforce fiscal discipline, rather than building a continental version of the IMF
Portugal suffers downgrade
Sovereign debt marked down a notch by Fitch; move eaxcerbates eurozone tensions
IMF calls for Zimbabwe to scrap governing board
Fund acknowledges success of multi-currency regime at close of Article IV consultation
Chiang Mai currency swap deal comes to life
Regional $120 billion currency swap arrangement between ASEAN members and east Asian powerhouses comes into force
Euro should not covet reserve role
Panellists in CentralBanking.com web seminar say becoming a reserve currency would hamper recovery
Serbia’s Jelašić in shock exit
Governor says departure down to personal reasons
BoJ improves payments and settlements after crisis
Bank of Japan enhances its payments and settlements systems following Lehman collapse
Lockhart: Fed inflation anchor under threat
Atlanta Fed’s Dennis Lockhart warns that inflation expectations may be dislodged as a result of accommodative Fed stance
Hong Kong debt market rebounds
Latest Quarterly Bulletin from Hong Kong Monetary Authority shows debt markets have normalised in the territory following Lehman collapse
Philly Fed’s Plosser tears output-gap reliance apart
Philadelphia Fed’s Plosser cautions against rocking the policymaking boat
Central banks should oversee systemic risk
CentralBanking.com poll shows majority of respondents think central banks together with government bodies should be responsible for monitoring systemic risk
BoJ makes small concessions to government
Minutes from Bank of Japan’s February policy meeting show divide between policymakers on strength of economy, analysts say central stance unchanged