Sweden
Riksbank’s Breman says coronavirus does not demand looser policy yet
Swedish central bank abandoned negative rates in December; inflation declined sharply in January
Did the Riksbank abandon negative rates too soon?
In January, a key inflation measure dropped sharply. Policy-makers face difficult choices if inflation does not recover
Riksbank research looks at older workers in Sweden
More old people may remain in labour force due to changes in laws, researcher says
Swedish central bank will test DLT-based digital currency prototype
Sveriges Riksbank and Accenture project to use simulated agents to test ‘e-krona’
Riksbank’s Skingsley calls for other policy areas to support monetary stimulus
First deputy governor says Swedish central bank has tools to react to future recessions
Riksbank asks BIS to establish innovation hub in Sweden
In 2019, the BIS opened innovation hubs in Hong Kong, Singapore and Switzerland
Riksbank minutes show disagreements over December rate hike
Dissenting board members cite looser international policy, weak growth and below-target inflation
Interview: Björn Segendorf
Riksbank senior adviser thinks it highly unlikely cash will disappear completely in Sweden, but says if it does, the central bank will continue to keep stocks of cash
Riksbank abandons negative rates
Swedish central bank increases repo rate by 25 basis points, but two board members dissent
Riksbank to work with Accenture on e-krona pilot
First year will see development of user interface for mobile, card and watch-based payments
Riksbank to join ECB’s cyber security framework
Swedish central bank launches forum with main national financial firms to test Tiber-SE
CBDC has been “over-hyped” – former RBI deputy
Focus on retail CBDCs is a potential distraction from core central banking functions, says Sinha
ECB welcomes Swedish draft law to order banks to supply cash
Proposed law follows Riksbank’s warnings on risks of Sweden’s rapid move away from cash
Swedish MPs propose dual mandate for Riksbank
Proposals aim to redefine institution’s role in monetary policy, financial stability and payments, while enhancing independence
Riksbank warns of rising financial stability risks in Sweden
Global economic slowdown and continued low rates may encourage greater risk-taking
Swedish paper investigates weak wage growth
Labour shortages may be lower than previously thought, researchers argue
Riksbank sells Canadian and Australian bonds on climate risks
Swedish central bank based decision on high greenhouse gas emissions in Alberta, Queensland and Western Australia
People: Riksbank appoints new executive board member
Swedish central bank promotes Cecilia Skingsley to first deputy governor; FCA appoints three new board members; Nigerian president appoints former deputy governor as special adviser
Mobile payments accelerate decline in Swedish cash use
Cash accounted for just 6% of payments in 2018, and its value in circulation is barely 1% of GDP
Cash increasingly used as store of value – BIS report
Cash “still king”, BIS authors say, but electronic payments are taking a bigger share of transactions
Libra unlikely to play a major role in Sweden – Riksbank research
Existing payment systems are highly integrated into companies’ cash systems, and Libra would add exchange rate risks
Riksbank’s Ingves weighs post-crisis policy legacy
“Leaning against the wind” clashing with inflation target, communications challenges and cash’s decline have shaped the last decade
People: new Barbadian deputy, Riksbank research chief
Appointments in Barbados, Sweden and the UK, plus the departure of a long-serving Fed official
The future of cash: an update
Antti Heinonen looks at the latest trends in cash use, including a surprising turnaround for the Swedish krona