Monetary Policy
Riksbank unleashes further easing
Central bank hopes extended asset purchase programme and commitment to keep rates lower for even longer will help reinforce a gradual upward trend in growth and inflation
Adaptive learning models offer route out of liquidity traps, paper argues
An adaptive learning-based macro model shows monetary easing policies can end a liquidity trap under certain conditions; empirical studies of easing differ widely on its effects
Former Nigerian governor Sanusi attacks current central bank policy
Former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria Sanusi Lamido Sanusi challenges monetary policy stance of Nigeria’s central bank and calls for a currency devaluation
Long-term low interest rates risk financial instability, Geneva report argues
Long-run accommodative monetary policy could raise risks to financial instability, Charles Bean and other economists argue; issuance of leveraged loans in US corporate market on the rise
RBI advisers supported rate cut, minutes show
Minutes of technical advisory committee meeting show six of seven members recommended a cut as inflation in India had fallen ‘dramatically’ and growth proved elusive
UK’s Osborne defends ‘middle way’ struck by BoE bill
Finance minister tells MPs the decision to drop the reverse burden of proof avoids creating a two-tier regime; talks up value of BoE independence in response to concerns over NAO role
Draghi sets stage for December easing
Governing council could adjust asset purchases or cut rates further at next meeting, ECB president says; staff tasked with examining different options as they were before QE launch
Poloz sees risks to inflation outlook as ‘roughly balanced’ as Canada holds rates
Canadian governor highlights ‘building’ economic momentum after central bank holds its target for the overnight rate at 0.5%
Riksbank floats new collateral limits
Swedish central bank looks to limit the amount of covered bonds pledged as collateral for intraday credit; assessment suggests limited impact on banks
Bank of Uganda takes rate hikes to 600bp in five meetings
Bank of Uganda raises rates for fifth consecutive time by 100bp to 17% in a move to curb inflation; sees earlier moves taking effect
BoE needs to avoid getting ‘behind the curve’, says McCafferty
The monetary policy committee member warns against leaving the rate hike "too late", making it harder to raise it gradually to minimise disruption to households and businesses
Eurozone monetary policy works through credit channel, paper argues
Strong evidence eurozone monetary policy works through the credit channel rather than the interest rate channel, paper says; unconventional monetary policy strongest in crisis
No clear evidence for always using trend inflation in models, paper says
Adding positive steady-state inflation to new Keynesian DSGE models improves analysis of high-inflation periods but otherwise does not significantly alter results, paper argues
Eichengreen says central banks lack will not ability to tackle deflation
Central banks have the tools to deal with bad deflation if they are willing to act aggressively enough, economist argues; broadening asset purchases or helicopter money are both options
Further rate hikes likely as Chile raises 25bp
Central bank lifts rate to 3.25% in first move in four years; analysts suggest the move is an effort to rein in expectations
EU must ‘contain divergence’ between member states, says Polish central bank head
Marek Belka says reforms will not be supported unless European Union prevents economic divergence; speakers say quality of structural reform debate must improve
John Taylor and William Dudley clash on Fed strategy
Stanford professor John Taylor questions Fed’s communications; New York Fed president William Dudley sets out case against following more rules-based policy
Heterogeneous beliefs may weaken effect of forward guidance, paper argues
Fixed-date and state-contingent guidance by the Federal Reserve led some market expectations to converge, but heterogeneous beliefs about inflation and consumption persisted
RBI economists attempt to pin down India’s natural rate
Researchers lend support to monetary policy by estimating natural interest rate; results imply the policy rate is now set more appropriately for tackling inflation
MAS eases policy in first move since January
Singapore's central bank cuts rate at which currency is allowed to strengthen amid Asia slowdown; keeps width and centre of policy band unchanged
RBNZ governor reiterates further easing ‘seems likely’
Graeme Wheeler says the central bank is ‘conscious’ of the impact low rates can have on housing demand; RBNZ has cut OCR by 75bp since June
Eurozone policy-makers and researchers puzzled by trends in long-term inflation expectations
Eurozone inflation more strongly influenced by inflation expectations, the ECB notes; two central bank working papers say data shows unexpected changes
BoE’s new MPC member grilled on financial assets
Treasury Committee questions Gertjan Vlieghe on real or perceived conflict of interest; Ian McCafferty justifies view on rate hike in reappointment hearing
Macro-prudential tools can influence inflation, Menon says
MAS managing director outlines interaction of prudential tools and monetary policy, saying Singapore deliberately used macro-prudential tools to help lower inflation