Central Banks
Dollar crunch eases as central banks step up swaps action
Core swap recipients will offer daily dollar auctions; cross-currency basis narrows
US banks increase discount window borrowing
Federal Reserve “encouraged by the notable increase” in use of the backstop facility
Will cash survive Covid-19?
Fears are emerging that banknotes may carry the coronavirus. Are they justified?
Norges Bank slashes rates to record low of 0.25%
Central bank says workers are being laid off, as Norway faces double shock from virus and oil
BoE axes 2020 stress test and gives supervisory guidance
IFRS 9 a challenge for firms given high uncertainty over virus impact
Fed starts financing money market funds
US Congress overrules Dodd-Frank clause at Treasury request as Fed brings in sweeping measure
BoE ramps up corporate and government bond-buying
Central bank launches new £200 billion package of QE plus rate cut and more liquidity
IMF appoints US Treasury official as first managing director
Geoffrey Okamoto will assume role previously held by David Lipton
RBA introduces yield curve control
Lowe says measure would not have been considered under “normal times”
ECB’s negative rates boosted lending – Bank of Italy paper
Banks increased credit to ex ante riskier firms, but did not see rise in failed loan rates, researchers find
Fed expands network of swaps to emerging markets
Emerging markets will now have direct access to a dollar backstop, but it is still limited
ECB launches €750bn emergency purchase programme
Governing council says new tool will remain active until Covid-19 crisis is over, stands ready to increase it
Fiscal effects may take several weeks to pass through – research
Economist examines lag time for Obama’s Great Recession-era fiscal package
Bailey says BoE ‘will do what it takes’
BoE governor echoes Draghi after sterling plunges despite creation of new lending facility
Riksbank resumes QE by buying government debt
Swedish central bank buys $245 million in sovereign debt and will buy covered bonds on March 25
Norges Bank sharply increases foreign exchange sales
Central bank converts oil revenues into krone to finance government’s coronavirus response
RBNZ delays new capital rules
Central bank defers start date until 2021 and slows down other regulatory reviews
Banks rush to tap new dollar liquidity facilities
IIF warns of major capital flight from emerging markets as demand for Fed-backed repos surges
Cleveland Fed president criticises scale of rate cut
FOMC should have saved some rate cuts for US economic recovery, Loretta Mester says
Fed re-launches Primary Dealer Credit Facility in latest crisis move
New PDCF is more easily accessible than similar measure used in 2008 crisis
Book notes: Renewing our monetary vows, by Richard Barwell and Jagjit Chadha
Open letters to the governor of the Bank of England, as new chief Andrew Bailey takes over
Fed moves to ease commercial paper strains
Commercial paper market under “considerable strain” due to coronavirus-related uncertainty, Fed says
Nigerian central bank announces emergency measures
CBN will fund healthcare expansion and guarantee loans, and says currency will not be devalued
Riksbank backs fiscal stimulus with massive QE programme
Swedish central bank increases loans to banks, cuts overnight lending rate to 0.2%