Opinion/Debt Management
Three strikes and you’re out
Standard and Poor’s downgrade of US debt is just one of a handful of errors made by credit rating agencies, writes Robert Aliber
Rating agencies: regulate or downgrade?
In the aftermath of the financial crisis, the actions of ratings agencies cannot remain unchecked, argues Ludek Niedermayer, a former vice governor at the Czech National Bank
HKMA's Yam on renminbi bonds
Renminbi-denominated bonds in Hong Kong are part of a bigger picture for both Hong Kong and the Mainland, writes Joseph Yam.
How a free debt manager will free Indian cb
According to an article from The Economic Times, published Wednesday 7 March, once an independent DMO comes into existence in India, management of both internal and external debt is expected to move away from the central bank.
Bond curve inversion no longer signals recession
According to this article from Reuters, published Thursday 16 November, the inverted yield curve is no longer seen as an accurate predictor of slowing growth or recession ahead.
Comment: Transparency in EU bond markets
As a rule, transparency in government activities, in regulation and in financial markets is encouraged and regarded as a positive thing. But when it comes to the way governments sell bonds, the authors of a recent study suggest that increasing…
Comment: Central bank governance
Seigniorage revenues have become more important to central banks as many of these institutions are feeling the squeeze financially. How these revenues are spent depend critically on sound governance structures and independence. These are the conclusions…
Comment:Government debt offices gear up for change
Government debt offices play a vital role in managing the cost and risk of government borrowing and in the development of the domestic financial system, but they are frequently overlooked. A recent survey looks at the trends towards concentrated…
Comment: The 'yield conundrum' revisited
Fed chairman, Ben Bernanke, made it clear in a speech earlier this week that he is no closer than his predecessor, Alan Greenspan, to making sense of the 'yield conundrum'.
Japan's debt straitjacket is out of style
Amid the euphoria over the end of deflation and a likely change in the Bank of Japan's policy, this recent article says it's easy to forget that Japan remains addicted to borrowed money.
Comment: Zimbabwe's mystery repayment
Two weeks ago the Zimbabwean government managed to avoid expulsion from the IMF by paying off a large chunk of its debt to the Fund. However, the source of the forex-depleted government's finances remains a mystery.
Comment: Indonesia and the IMF
The Indonesian finance minister, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, has indicated that the country is considering the early repayment of its outstanding debt to the IMF. The prospect of early repayment raises some interesting questions and policymakers are likely to…
Bond market bubble?
It is time to push beyond the "global savings glut" argument and the closely related "excess global liquidity" argument to explain the extraordinarily low level of both real and nominal long-term interest rates, according to this article published on…
Comment: Nigeria's CB wins praise
In the statement accompanying its BB minus long-term credit rating for Nigeria, the rating agency Fitch this week applauded policymakers' "strong commitment to economic reform", including "measures to rationalise the banking system" implemented by the…
Comment: Latin America spurns the Fund
Last week Brazil and Argentina surprised the international community by announcing that they both intend paying off all of their outstanding debt to the IMF before the end of the year.
Comment: Brazil's surprise IMF settlement
Earlier this week Brazil announced that it plans to pay off its entire $15.5 billion in debt to the IMF by the end of the month. In doing so, the country will meet its outstanding IMF obligations two years ahead of schedule.
Comment: What drives the price of debt?
How, in a world where the amount of debt is rising rapidly, can credit spreads remain so low or even fall? And is this a sign of strength and stability, or a cause for concern?
China's bonding experience gains some speed
This article published on Monday 19 September asks whether China, Asia's No.2 economy, can reach its potential without a bond market. The good news is that efforts to create one are gaining momentum, it says.