Swiss National Bank (SNB)
SNB posts record loss in first quarter
Reported total loss is around $32 billion after strong franc weighs on value of central bank's euro reserves
BIS’s Hannoun backs central banks' right to surprise markets
Deputy general manager praises Swiss National Bank for issuing markets with a wake-up call, warning of the heavy cost associated with unconventional monetary policy
SNB’s Danthine: traders wrong to paint Swiss franc surge as black swan
It was 'absolutely certain' that SNB would end Swiss franc floor, says vice-chair of the governing board
SNB’s Zurbrügg: negative rates having ‘desired effect’
Governing board member says negative interest rates are influencing the money and capital markets as intended, noting the exchange rate has also started to normalise since the January decision
SNB plans renminbi purchases in 2015
Central bank plans to add renminbi bonds to reserves after signing swap agreement with the People’s Bank of China in 2014; annual report reveals return of 8% across currency reserves
IMF tells SNB to consider asset purchases
In the face of slowing growth and deepening deflation the Swiss National Bank should ease monetary policy, which could be done via purchases of foreign currency assets, IMF says
SNB balance sheet could not have coped with peg defence, says Jordan
Chairman says decision to abandon Swiss franc ceiling avoided huge losses and monetary policy impairment; central bank slashes inflation forecast but does not follow Riksbank’s rate cut
Jordan laments ‘significantly overvalued’ franc
Some of the ‘overshooting’ that occurred in the wake of the SNB’s decision to withdraw its currency cap has been corrected, but Jordan argues the franc is still too strong
Danish central bank prepared to cut rates further in defence of peg
‘We haven’t yet found any absolute lower bound' for the deposit rate, Danish governor tells Central Banking, but acknowledges potential for strain on payments system
Denmark cuts deposit rate for fourth time in three weeks
Governor Lars Rohde says central bank will defend peg to euro ‘for as long as it takes', adding there is ‘no upper limit' to FX reserves as key rate is cut to -0.75%
Croatian central bank calls for solution to Swiss franc mortgage quandary
Bank argues local households with liabilities denominated in the rising currency must receive help but suggests it is not the right to institution to tackle the issue
Danish central bank cuts rates for second time this week
National Bank of Denmark lowers deposit rate for second time in four days following ECB action; central bank will defend euro peg ‘vehemently', says analyst
Swiss gain greater access to renminbi markets in new deal
SNB and PBoC ink deal on RQFII quota for Switzerland and establish renminbi clearing in the country; latest in a string of agreements aimed at renminbi internationalisation
Economists at SNB study reuse of collateral
Working paper estimates the level of reuse activity in the Swiss franc report market between 2006 and 2013, before analysing the drivers of it
SNB shocks markets by abandoning euro ceiling ahead of ECB showdown
Swiss franc sharply appreciates against the euro in the wake of the Swiss National Bank’s decision to scrap the minimum exchange rate; central bank does not rule out ad hoc interventions
SNB expects profit of $39 billion for 2014
Foreign currency positions responsible for most of the profit for Swiss National Bank, which increased its forex reserves by 7% in December following exchange rate pressure
2014: The year in review
The past year has seen central banks across the globe grapple with reform, at an institutional and global level – we look back at the biggest stories of 2014
People: Fritz Zurbrügg appointed as SNB vice-chair; Vanoli gets nod from Argentine senate
SNB reshuffles board, with Zurbrügg assuming vice-chair after Danthine retires; Luis Linde replaces Ignacio Visco at the steering committee of the European Systemic Risk Board
Swiss National Bank introduces negative rates
In the face of growing pressure on the Swiss franc, the SNB imposes an interest rate of -0.25% on sight deposits held at the central bank
External imbalances predict exchange rate returns, finds SNB paper
Deviations from trends in Swiss net foreign assets and net exports indicated how nominal exchange rate will move in the future, according to a Swiss National Bank working paper
SNB working paper examines drivers of Swiss franc real exchange rate
Research finds terms of trade and relative government are ‘the most significant explanatory variables’, while Balassa-Samuelson effects are unimportant
Swiss public reject gold initiative
Referendum sees 77.3% of vote against forcing the SNB to hold 20% of its assets in gold, and prevent it from ever selling them; central bank welcomes the result
Swiss National Bank relocates staff in Berne office renovation
Around 120 staff at the Swiss National Bank will be relocated to rented office space for three years, as the central bank’s Berne office is renovated
Thomas Jordan dismisses monetary reform proposals
Swiss National Bank head rejects multiple reforms, including a return to the gold standard, the introduction of plain money and the adoption of the euro