Equities
Uruguay continues ‘contractionary’ monetary policy
Eighth consecutive rate hike is smallest since last November
Austria’s Partsch explains decision to raise equity exposures
Central bank boosted equity investments from 5% to 12% in the wake of the pandemic
Bank of Israel reserves fall by over 4% in April
Falling equity prices are the main factor behind $8.5 billion drop in value
People: Swiss vice-chair to take office in August
Board member appointed in Guatemala; new external MPC member in Ghana; and more
Reserve managers stick to asset diversification
Higher yields not prompting central banks to abandon investments in less conventional asset classes
Chile central bank board adopts code of conduct
Regulations include anti-drug measures and trading restrictions
BoE’s Cleland calls for innovation in wholesale payments
Wholesale payments suffer from inefficiencies despite being critical to financial stability, official says
Risk management technology: BlackRock’s Aladdin Risk
ESG feeds into integrated position reports, customised benchmarking and robust scenario analysis assist prudent reserve management
Global markets: HSBC
The bank’s long-term commitment to clients and its wide range of expertise shone in 2021 as central banks navigated the aftermath of the Covid-19 shock
Riksbank’s pandemic QE eased financing conditions, says research
Swedish central bank’s purchases boosted equities, depreciated krona and cut bond yields
Digital money and central banks
Central banks must reflect on the monetary policy, regulatory and financial stability implications from crypto assets, stablecoins and CBDCs to stay relevant in the digital age of money
Bank of Israel reserves decline on falling equities
Total reserves decline from $208.7 billion in January to $207.1 billion at the end of February
Norwegian oil fund to divest Russian assets
Fund held equity investments in nearly 50 Russian companies, including Sberbank and Gazprom
BIS paper finds real links matter for asset price co-movement
Real economic integration may be more important than previously thought, authors say
FOMC adopts new ethics rules on trading
Fed reforms follow months of controversy over equities trading and three resignations
US Senate Republicans stall Fed nominations
Raskin denies opposition lawmakers’ allegations that she engaged in untoward lobbying
Brazil’s Campos Neto: markets show less fear of Lula win
Presidential candidate reported to have embraced central bank independence
Emerging market stock returns impacted by dollar – BIS paper
US dollar can drive local financial conditions in equities as well as other markets, authors say
Fed keeps investors guessing on speed and endpoint of tightening
Investors generally agree the Fed will tighten policy, but how much and when are unclear
Fed’s Clarida resigns after latest trading revelations
Vice-chair departs 17 days early after new disclosures about equities sales
Fed’s Clarida reveals large pre-pandemic equities trades
Departing vice-chair files amended disclosure forms, reigniting criticism of Fed leaders
BIS calls for systemic approach to non-banks
“It is essential to reduce the need for emergency central bank support,” says report
Riksbank opens review of board members’ stock holdings
Investigation will assess whether officials violated “rules of conduct”
ESG reserves adoption challenged by reliance on sovereign bonds
Higher issuance of government-compliant bonds is insufficient to offer investable alternatives to central banks.