International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Central banks must mobilise their FX reserves
The pandemic and climate crises call for bold action, write Gary Smith and John Nugée
IMF’s Georgieva highlights pandemic impact in Latin America
GDP contraction is forecast to be 8% of GDP in 2020, double the level for the global economy
IMF welcomes Rwandan central bank’s Covid response
National Bank of Rwanda funnelled liquidity to banks and cut policy rates
IMF raises precautionary balance target by a quarter
Some executive board members wanted higher raise amid uncertainty over pandemic’s impact
Argentinian central bank puts cap on imported luxury goods
BCRA bids to preserve foreign currency as international reserves decline to $39.4 billion
Georgian central bank starts operating new resolution framework
NBG says new resolution system will greatly increase Georgia’s financial stability
2020: The year in review
The past 12 months have been marked by crisis-fighting and losses, but also innovation
Is the integrity of Afghanistan’s central bank under threat?
Acting governor fires key staff and is accused of undoing reforms, while World Bank appears ready to suspend funds; administration and other donors show few signs of learning from Kabul Bank scandal
IMF’s Adrian weighs balance between stimulus and stability
Central banks need to incorporate macro-financial stability in decision-making processes, he says
Colombia draws on IMF’s FCL funds for first time
Government resorted to $5.4 billion drawing to help meet higher pandemic financing needs
Brazil central bank could ‘test’ lower rates if inflation remains weak – IMF
IMF staff see “no constraint” to lower rates as long as forward guidance is deployed
Lebanese parliament demands central bank audit
Lawmakers say vote overrules banking secrecy laws and central bank must release documents
Forensic auditors walk out of Lebanese central bank
Finance minister says central blank blocked audit as president stresses investigation must continue
IMF misses gender targets as number of senior women falls
Number of women in senior IMF roles “can and should” increase – report
G20 agrees ‘common framework’ on debt relief
Leaders welcome decision, but criticise private sector for failure to act
Eurozone must not cut fiscal support too soon – IMF official
Environment favours public investment, but spending must be transparent, says fiscal affairs director Vítor Gaspar
IMF postpones 2021 annual meeting in Morocco
Meeting will go ahead in Washington, DC, instead, with new Marrakesh date scheduled for 2022
IMF approves $370 million credit facility for Afghanistan
New programme aims to support country’s recovery from Covid-19
IMF staff suggest review of Mexico’s inflation target
Mexican government needs to abandon restrictive fiscal policy, many IMF directors say
Colombia’s governor to leave central bank in December
Departure could open door to Ana Fernanda Maiguashca as first female governor
Barbados governor hits back at AML ‘blacklisting’
Action by EU is “pernicious” amid pandemic and IMF programme, says Cleviston Haynes
Lebanese central bank ‘has not handed over audit documents’
Media reports say embattled central bank has not provided basic data on transactions
Argentina changes rates without public notification
Central bank continues its plan to close the gap between main policy rates
Covid-19 to accelerate asset diversification and boost gold
Crisis has accelerated long-term pre-crisis trends stemming from global financial crisis