Investment
Survey indicates bitcoin’s purpose changed over the last year
Main reason cited for owning bitcoin shifted from transactions to investment between 2016 and 2017
Irish SWF set to become first to divest from all fossil fuels
Fund has in the past argued “engagement” is more effective than divestment
Book notes: Unfinished business, by Tamim Bayoumi
Anand Sinha praises Bayoumi’s analysis of how the euro crisis and US housing crash were, in fact, intertwined
Alternatives to Japan’s 2% flexible inflation target
The Bank of Japan may review its policy framework, given its five-year failure to hit a 2% flexible inflation target
BoE’s profits dip on higher banknote and research expenditure
But total expenditure comes in below budget due to lower headcount than expected
China eases restrictions on foreign investors
New rules allow qualified foreign investors to move funds more freely out of China, a step forward on capital account liberalisation
Time for Central Bank of Argentina independence
Monetary financing has fallen sharply under Mauricio Macri’s administration, but must now end; independence law would help efforts to shatter Argentina’s inflationary shackles
Pakistan strengthens China ties with expanded swap agreement
Doubling of swap line is latest in a series of sometimes controversial integration measures
US rates will rise less than in previous expansions – Fed’s Williams
Higher savings and lower productivity growth means “new normal” will continue, Williams says
New risks and opportunities
Central Banking convened a panel of experts to discuss how central banks and other authorities are making use of new risk-based assessment techniques to remain ahead of the fintech curve.
Climate change risks ‘already with us’ – BoE’s Breeden
Sarah Breeden urges financial firms to take action on both opportunities and risks
RBA paper finds elusive interest rate-investment link
Authors present empirical evidence for inverse relationship between rates and investment
Official reserve management in the 21st century
A lack of operational clarity and reluctance to view reserve portfolios holistically have prevented optimal, rules-based approaches to reserve management becoming commonplace. BlackRock‘s Terrence Keeley, Stuart Jarvis and Michael Palframan explain how…
The IFF China Report 2018: The Bay Area Development
The Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Great Bay Area represents an effort to co-ordinate development to create globally competitive city clusters at the start of the Maritime Silk Road in southern China. These efforts are focussed in particular on innovation,…
Reducing the regulatory burden
Former Federal Reserve Bank of New York senior vice-president Kenneth Lamar discusses risk‑based reporting, its challenges and whether fintech will help reduce the regulatory burden.
BoE’s Brazier says investment risks are hidden in “plain sight”
Investors are ignoring “moonwalking bears” and are taking on risks for less compensation as they struggle to obtain higher returns
The IFF China Report 2018: Chinese financial system reform
China is focusing greater effort in tackling the build-up of risks in its banking and financial system, while also seeking to ensure credit is more effectively distributed in the real economy. At the same time it is has embraced fintech but policymakers…
China’s macroeconomy in the ‘new era’ of politics and power
Lou Jiwei, president of the National Council for Social Security Fund and former minister of finance of China, explores the three key aspects of China’s macroeconomic situation in the ‘new era’ of Chinese politics and power
The IFF China Report 2018
Insight and opinion from China’s top leaders, policymakers and financiers
After the Congress – Interpreting China’s new development concept
As Xi Jinping Thought is enshrined in the Constitution, Justin Lin, IFF member and former chief economist at the World Bank, calls for far-reaching innovation in all sectors of industry and finance to attain the goal of national rejuvenation
The IFF China Report 2018: The Belt and Road Initiative
China’s signature Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) now includes 71 countries, with trillions of dollars of investment allocated. Leading Chinese and international policymakers explain how BRI efforts are progressing. This section includes an inaugural…
The IFF China Report 2018: China’s opening-up and reform policy
The experiences of China’s opening-up and reform during the past 40 years, which includes a transition from an agricultural economy to one seeking to offer high-end manufacturing and services, offer valuable lessons to other nations seeking to pursue…
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank – Raising expectations
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank embodies international co-operation and innovation – the spirit of modern China. Strict management, openness and transparency have won the bank wide recognition and acceptance, says Jin Liqun, the bank’s president
Mifid transparency has failed so far, say traders
Poor-quality, inaccessible data and the lack of instruments covered undermine use case