Monetary Policy
BoE’s Forbes calls for rethink of exchange rate pass-through
MPC member outlines new, more nuanced approach to measuring the exchange rate’s impact on inflation, noting this implies rates could need to be tightened sooner than older models suggest
Cœuré warns ‘serious data gaps’ still exist
ECB executive board member says serious gaps, inconsistencies and inefficiencies still exist in many areas important for monetary policy and financial supervision
Gaza blockade adds to leap in Palestinian inflation
Low oil prices are not fully offsetting a fuel crisis in the Gaza Strip as a continued blockade causes rapid price rises in certain goods, a Palestine Monetary Authority inflation report finds
Kocherlakota considers impact of public debt on long-run interest rate
Minneapolis Fed president says an increase in public debt could help increase long-run neutral rate, allowing the FOMC to raise rates quicker, but it would come with costs
RBNZ cuts OCR again in face of ‘softening’
Graeme Wheeler reiterates ‘some further easing in the OCR seems likely’ as he reveals the third consecutive rate cut; RBNZ notes importance of Chinese demand to commodity prices
Bank of England wary of China risks but UK outlook steady
The MPC’s view is not materially affected by recent volatility in the financial markets as it keeps policy on hold; domestically, an increase in wage growth is offset by higher productivity
BoJ’s Shirai explains why negative rates fit Europe better than Japan
Policy board member Sayuri Shirai says impact of rates varies according to market structure, noting differences in the type of investors and credit conditions in the jurisdictions
Israel committee see risks to inflation outlook rising
Policy-makers at Bank of Israel discussed decline in short-term inflation expectations, a potential drop in growth and the strength of the shekel in August meeting
BoJ predicted to expand QQE, within limits
Analysts are predicting the Bank of Japan will increase asset purchases next month, but researchers are warning of speed bumps ahead
Riksbank is working on ‘big data’, says Skingsley
Deputy governor speaks to Central Banking about bringing together experts on big data, the possibility of leaning against the wind, risks in the housing market and more
CPMI-Iosco launch next phase of data aggregation work
Standard-setters begin consultation on first batch of key data on over-the-counter derivatives, as part of work on data aggregation by trade repositories
Negative rates working as planned, says Riksbank’s Cecilia Skingsley
Transmission of negative rates is working well and there is room to ease further, deputy governor says, despite the possibility of unwanted side effects; changing inflation target a ‘bad idea’
US unemployment falls to 5.1% despite drop in jobs growth
Richmond Fed president describes it as a ‘right-down-the-middle-of-the-fairway’ unemployment report, as he spells out why the time is right to begin raising interest rates
Draghi stresses willingness to act as ECB cuts inflation forecasts
Governing council holds policy as ECB staff cut inflation forecasts over the forecast horizon; Mario Draghi stresses QE could run beyond September 2016 if necessary
National Bank of Kazakhstan sets base rate for first time
Central bank sets new benchmark interest rate at 12% in first monetary policy meeting under inflation targeting framework
BoJ’s Kiuchi warns 2% inflation unlikely ‘even in fiscal 2017’
Policy board member says Japanese inflation is unlikely to reach the central bank’s 2% target by the end of fiscal year 2017
Boston Fed president compares forthcoming rate hikes with past tightening cycles
Eric Rosengren finds this tightening cycle is likely to differ from those of 1994 and 2004, in that rates are set to rise more gradually and stop at a lower level
IMF urges central banks to retain easy monetary policy
Ahead of the G20 meeting in Turkey the IMF prepares a briefing on policy challenges; tells central banks to prevent real interest rates from ‘rising prematurely’
Carney says BoE can stay independent in face of globalisation
BoE governor says global factors ‘influence but do not dictate’ policy in speech at Jackson Hole; other economists argue central banks should do more to set policy with global dynamics in mind
Fischer upbeat on US inflation outlook at Jackson Hole
Fed vice-chair Stanley Fischer says there is ‘good reason’ to believe inflation will move higher as impact of rise in dollar and fall in oil prices dissipates
Case for higher inflation targets takes a knock at Jackson Hole
Thomas Jordan warns higher inflation ‘likely to be associated with considerable costs’ in longer run; academics see little benefit in the Federal Reserve targeting 4%
EAC officials highlight exchange rate pass-through concerns
Both central banks wary of potential for domestic inflation to increase in face of depreciating currencies; concerns over impact of external environment raised in EAC member statement
Fischer watched for rate views as Jackson Hole concludes
Symposium at Kansas City Fed closes with panel discussion featuring Carney, Constâncio, Fischer and Rajan on Saturday; one early session considers ‘international price system’
Indian central bank targets stronger rate transmission
Reserve Bank of India sees improvements in transmission of policy to money markets, but looks to strengthen credit channel as it transitions to inflation targeting framework