Official Record
Sarb sets out five-year strategy in annual report
Central bank outlines objectives to be achieved by 2020, including around reserves, inflation and counterfeiting; while governor praises progress of financial stability bill
Basel Committee approves G-Sib frameworks
All five jurisdictions home to globally systemic banks have established frameworks in line with the Basel accord, first cross-jurisdictional study finds
Stronger Spanish banks still vulnerable to global risks – report
Spanish banks increase solvency over course of 2015, Bank of Spain report says, although decline continues in lending; main risk comes from global instability
Sarb bulletin charts divergence in survey expectations
For first time since 2014, average inflation expectations of analysts are higher than those of business people and trade unions; aggregate expectations for inflation to average 6.2% this year and next
‘Urgent’ measures needed to counteract household debt – Riksbank report
Finansinspektionen needs powers to implement effective macro-prudential policies in order to combat household indebtedness, latest financial stability report says
Turkish central bank staff numbers plateau
Annual report shows many years of growth in staff numbers came to an end in 2015, though many roles are vacant
Riksbank survey flags concerns on market functioning
Market participants fear effect of low interest rates and high debt could create largest impact, although they view geopolitical and emerging market issues as the most likely to be realised
Central Bank of Bahrain launched range of initiatives in 2015 – annual report
Last year the bank set up a Sharia supervisory board, launched Islamic liquidity facilities, set to work on Basel III and upgraded its IT systems
Bank of Zambia expects ‘sharp decline’ in inflation
Monetary policy stance having “desired” results, according the MPC, minutes from latest meeting show; bank leaves rate on hold at 15.5%
RBA minutes reveal discussion around rate cut
No real change in economic activity or unemployment rate, minutes show; committee 'persuaded' monetary easing would improve prospects for inflation and growth
Iceland central bank suggests tightening to come
Many domestic factors set Iceland apart from other industrialised countries, and it may need to adopt a tighter policy stance in future
BoJ board members fear negative rates are damaging
Minutes show concerns over the effects of negative rates on confidence, communication and market turbulence
Riksbank urges FMIs to work against cyber threats on strategic level
Survey reveals not all FMIs have strategy to counteract cyber threats; Riksbank suggests work needs to be done at a “strategic level”
Rajan sided with the consensus, minutes show
RBI governor cuts rates in line with views of external advisers; four of the five members wanted to reduce the repo rate at the April 5 meeting
‘Challenging' year spurs diversification of Hong Kong's exchange fund
HKMA says it is accelerating its process of reserves diversification after it was hit by a "triple whammy" in all major asset classes in 2015
National Bank of Romania flags ‘severe systemic risk’ posed by legislative framework
Central bank publishes first of two financial stability reports due this year, after change in policy; stresses concerns over range of legislative initiatives, including "debt discharge" law
Conditions for lifting capital controls ‘could hardly be better' – Guðmundsson
Central Bank of Iceland governor says it is important to press ahead with liberalisation while the economy is strong and financial system stable, in latest financial stability report
Prudential measures may create risks for developers – RBA
Tighter regulations designed to tackle housing risks may cause problems for large building projects started before the tougher rules came in
Bank of England to react ‘more cautiously’ to data in light of EU referendum
Uncertainty over referendum to affect macroeconomic data over next few months; inflation rising but still well below BoE target
Some Fed officials concerned April hike would ‘signal a sense of urgency’
Minutes from March meeting reveal caution around prospect of a hike this month, given prevailing headwinds and risks; next meeting on April 26–27
SNB made investment ‘innovations’ in 2015, report says
Central bank made first investments in new assets and began to wield voting rights to influence corporate governance in 2015, annual report shows
Sweden’s Riksbank has mixed forecasting performance, report finds
Riksbank “relatively good” at projecting growth and unemployment, but less so when it comes to the policy rate; this is “notable” and not “particularly satisfactory”, report notes
BoE alert to second-round effects from low inflation, minutes show
BoE enters eighth year with rate at 0.5%; committee will continue to watch for second-round effects of inflation on wages
Zimbabwe central bank calls for flexibility on SME credit
Number of areas still at risk from financial exclusion; only 14% of MSME owners were banked, and only 1% of the adult population used capital market services in 2014