Monetary Policy
Policy mix has important implications for spillovers – Fed’s Brainard
Fed governor says degree of divergence between central banks and choice of policy tool affects the exchange rate impact and therefore spillovers
BIS paper seeks hints that Swiss franc floor was about to break
Measures derived from option prices indicate credibility fell before floor was removed; error correction model shows some improvement over random walk
Kganyago says public protector’s response was ‘not good enough’
Response to central bank’s challenge exposed Mkhwebane’s “own lack of competency”, Sarb governor says, reiterating that the central bank’s mandate should be “left alone”
BoJ ups asset purchases to curb bond market pressure
The Bank of Japan has increased the size of JGB purchase operation and announced unlimited purchases of 10-year JGBs at a fixed rate of 0.11%
Credibility essential to Central Bank of Brazil success, says IMF
Further changes to the central bank’s inflation target could limit future policy space, fund advises, praising improved transparency of communications
Bank of Canada hikes for first time in seven years
Bank of Canada becomes the latest advanced economy central bank to hike as the economy proves robust and inflation moves towards target
Brainard cautious over further hikes in interest rates
Fed governor says she will be watching inflation “carefully” over the coming months, stating the unwinding of the balance sheet will begin ”soon”
ECB’s Cœuré says asset purchases are not responsible for exchange rate movements
Executive board member says Europe’s asset purchase programme has boosted economic growth and inflation prospects; policy not “fundamentally different” from conventional policy
Vietnamese central bank cuts rates, despite IMF credit warning
Decision contradicts IMF advice to keep monetary policy on hold to contain rapid credit growth, but growth and inflation have disappointed
Public protector backs down over Sarb mandate challenge
Mkhwebane admits she lacks power to suggest parliament make changes to the constitution, though she stands by her call for a review of the Sarb’s mandate
BoJ faces growing communications challenge
Japanese central bank embarks on its third attempt at unlimited fixed-rate outright JGB purchases; further fiscal stimulus would do little to help
Central Bank of Egypt hikes rate in bid to rein in rapid inflation
Inflation is starting to slow after impact of devaluation but is still running at close to 30%, the central bank says
Bullard raises concerns about east coast dominance of the Fed
St Louis Fed president is not worried about the major shake-up of the board of governors; points to reducing the influence of the New York Fed on the FOMC
St Louis’s Bullard on the future of the Fed and its monetary policy record
St Louis Fed president James Bullard rails against east coast dominance, favours aspects of the Choice Act and says Fed monetary policy was a “factor” that fuelled crisis
FSB turns to video in effort to widen comms reach
“Safer, simpler, fairer” video seeks to broaden communications effort to a less specialised audience
Bank of Thailand raises growth forecast amid weak inflation
Thai central bank says it is waiting for economic growth to become more broad-based, as inflation continues to disappoint