Interest rates
Bank of Zambia cuts rates as Covid concerns intensify
Zambian central bank calls for debt sustainability policies as growth and inflation forecasts worsen
James Bullard on the Fed’s policy review, FSOC and forecasting jobs data
St Louis Fed president discusses his support for average inflation targeting, his concerns about US Treasuries market function, non-bank regulatory weakness and negative rates, as well as the unexpected success in using Homebase data to predict highly…
Bank of Mexico cites ‘major challenges’ as it cuts rate
Policy-makers focused on maintaining “room for manoeuvre” as inflation risks evolve
RBNZ boosts asset purchases and prepares new policies
Negative rates and funding for lending programme under “active preparation”
BoE runs ‘reverse stress test’ to prepare for renewed Covid crisis
Banks may have to take drastic “defensive actions” if UK suffers another major shock, BoE says
Romania cuts rates as rising Covid-19 cases hurt economy
Central bank says resurgent pandemic risks recovery and calls for more clarity on fiscal policy
Brazil’s central bank cuts rates to record low
MPC says there is limited space for more monetary policy stimulus as crisis continues
BoE says negative rates ‘in toolbox’ and forecasts slow recovery
First “proper” forecast since Covid-19 outbreak gives little hope of a V-shaped recovery
Colombia cuts rates to record low of 2.25%
Central bank has revised down GDP growth to a range between -6% and -10% for 2020
Fed extends swap lines and warns of slowing US economy
More fiscal and monetary stimulus will be needed as cases surge in US, chair Powell said
Bank of Russia cuts rates to record low
Governor argues monetary stimulus will offset fiscal consolidation efforts in 2021–22
Sarb cuts rates as unemployment breaches 30%
Central bank says emerging markets will struggle as lockdown measures ease
Kenya’s central bank looks to regulate digital lenders
Legislation before government could help central bank control high lending rates on digital products
NBU surprises with hold in Shevchenko’s first policy decision
New governor had seemed to hint at desire to ease policy, but now indicates rate will remain on hold
IMF research highlights limits of exchange rate flexibility
New dataset sheds light on role of dominant-currency invoicing for exchange rate dynamics
Hungary’s central bank to start buying government securities
Central bank notes monetary policy has fallen short and cuts interest rates to a new low of 0.6%
Canada holds rates as governor warns of “long climb out”
Governor says interest rates will stay “unusually low” as central bank forecasts GDP fall of 7.8%
Eurozone outlook is ‘highly uncertain’, says Lagarde
ECB maintains stimulus package unchanged as lower energy prices weaken inflation
Bank of Canada sees economy enter ‘recuperation’ phase
Central bank keeps government bond purchases at minimum C$5 billion ($3.7 billion) a week
Mena region leans on exchange rates to weather pandemic
IMF says central banks in the region have intervened in the market more than any other region
FSB and BCBS survey finds ‘major’ challenges remain in Libor transition
Report highlights data gaps, issues with developing new products, and problem of “tough legacy” contracts
Fed’s repo market footprint goes back to zero
NY Fed has no outstanding repo interventions for first time in 10 months
Bank Negara Malaysia cuts policy rate to fresh low
Labour market weakness and cautious households may hamper recovery, central bank warns
Have equities passed the Covid-19 test?
Reserve managers face a rebalancing and asset allocation challenge, with Fed interventions distorting yield curves and boosting equity valuations. What’s next for asset diversification?