Monetary policy
Rates round-up: Mexico and Colombia slow tightening
Guatemala also tightens with 25bp hike; Chile and Dominican Republic continue pauses
Opec+ production cut threatens inflation outlook
Higher energy prices were the main factor boosting inflation in 2022
State Bank of Vietnam cuts interest rate
Central bank says Vietnam’s economic growth has faced difficulties
RBA pauses rate hikes as inflation slows
Central bank board has not ruled out further tightening
Bank of Israel warns political turmoil could hit GDP
Central bank slows cycle with 25bp hike, raising key rate to 4.5%
IMF approves $15.6 billion for Ukraine
Fund calls wartime loan “unprecedented” and risky
BIS paper warns of worsening fiscal and monetary trade-offs
Many governments have sought to shield consumers from price rises, at a high budgetary cost
A troubling trilemma
Central banks need to tread a fine line as they serve as the economy’s police, fire brigade and paramedics
Uruguay’s government will recapitalise central bank
Economist says BCU failed to hedge against exchange rate risks
Rates round-up: Ghana and Thailand tighten
Many central banks in Africa, Asia and Europe still raising rates, but Angola continues cuts
Fed’s Bullard revises rate projection upward
Policy-maker says bank stress likely to fade but inflation fight continues
Banknotes: January to March 2023
A round-up of news and salient issues that have affected central bankers in the past three months
CAR to drop crypto as legal tender
Country bows to pressure from partners in regional monetary union
Riksbank governor stresses Swedish banks’ strength
Thedéen says “inflation needs to come down significantly” in 2023
Nigeria and Morocco raise rates
Inflation hits record level in Morocco and remains high in Nigeria
Norway and Iceland raise rates as inflation stays high
Iceland’s governor warns of wage-price spiral and says economy is overheating
Moldova cuts rates while North Macedonia tightens
Inflation falling in both countries as Moldova confronts drought and energy problems
SNB increases rates by 50bp in wake of Credit Suisse crisis
Swiss central bank sold Sfr27 billion in foreign currency in Q4 to tighten financial conditions
Brazilian MPC holds rates despite pressure
President says policy rate is “absurd” but MPC says expectations not yet anchored round targets
Costa Rica cuts rates, bucking Latin American trend
Argentina resumes monetary tightening, while Paraguay continues to hold
Three Asian central banks raise rates
Central banks in Taiwan, the Philippines and Hong Kong continue with monetary tightening
BoE tightens policy after inflation surprise
Hot February inflation figure prompted policy-makers to continue tightening
Fed raises rates 25bp and signals possible halt soon
Credit tightening may substitute for further rate hikes, Powell says
Lagarde lays out ECB’s data-dependent rate path
ECB president stresses bringing inflation to target is “non-negotiable”