Monetary Policy
RBI automates liquidity operations
Central bank launches straight-through processing for three of its liquidity operations, cutting settlement times as part of broader efforts to enhance liquidity management
IMF flags potential scarcity of sovereign bonds in Europe
‘Selected issues paper’ warns a shrinking pool of securities could ‘pose challenges’ to the implementation of the ECB’s quantitative easing programme
ECB bulletin: Too early to tell if inflation has turned a corner
Inflation in the eurozone appears to be moving upwards, but strip away transitory factors and the picture becomes much more blurry
Bank of Korea researchers dig into disaggregated data on inflation targeting
Adopting inflation targeting in Korea lowered the mean, volatility and persistence of inflation throughout the country, but a look at disaggregated data reveals more about transmission
BoJ’s Nakaso highlights changing behaviour of firms
Firms are increasingly investing and facing tighter labour market conditions, with record profits and higher wages providing a boost to the economy, but inflation is still stuck low
Fed mistakenly releases confidential staff forecasts
Economic projections show staff expect a more gradual pace of rate increases than most Fed officials; supposed to be released to public with a five-year lag
RBI could see interest rate powers diluted by MPC proposals
Indian government publishes draft law that would establish an MPC dominated by external members; investment bank economist concerned by shortage of potential candidates
IMF paper offers Uruguay advice on money supply targeting
Move to new monetary policy target has proved ‘challenging’ IMF researchers note, offering advice on how to make the framework more effective
IMF urges Bank of Japan to 'stand ready' to up asset purchases
Article IV report says Bank of Japan should improve communication and be prepared to expand easing measures, as weak policy transmission creates a ‘conundrum’
South Africa hikes rate as inflation outlook deteriorates
South African Reserve Bank lifts key rate by 25bp to 6% on a 4-2 vote; Kganyago outlines concerns over potential for a exchange rate-inflation spiral in wake of Fed hike
Philippines central bank expects to hit inflation target
Latest forecasts suggest inflation will return to the lower half of the target range this year, while the risks to the outlook are ‘broadly balanced’
Wheeler hints at more easing as RBNZ cuts again
Reserve Bank of New Zealand cuts the OCR by 25bp for the second month in a row; Wheeler says further easing "seems likely" despite more favourable inflation outlook
BoE MPC moving towards rate hike, minutes hint
MPC voted unanimously for a rate hold, but ‘a number of members’ believe risks to inflation are becoming ‘skewed to the upside’; appreciation of sterling and global shocks could still delay hike
Dutch paper compares measures of systemic risk with market perceptions
Working paper notes the need for ‘careful consideration’ of the impact of prudential policies on both bank risk and systemic risk
IMF calls on East African Community to explore risk-sharing
Paper explores the nature and prevalence of asymmetric shocks in the EAC, concluding it is ‘critical’ it has shared mechanisms for absorbing them when its members form a monetary union
Bank of Italy sees credit conditions improving
Economic bulletin notes the ability of banks to borrow cheap funds from the ECB is helping improve conditions, but stock of NPLs is still holding back lending growth
Carney sees BoE inching towards rate hike
BoE governor says debate over rate hike will ‘come into sharper relief’ around turn of the year, but reiterates upward path will be shallow and any hike is data-dependent
Fed beige book points to areas of optimism
Most districts report economic activity as expanding at a ‘modest’ or ‘moderate’ pace, while many contacts indicate ‘optimism’ about future growth
Riksbank minutes reveal concerns over negative rates
Deputy governor voted against rate cut amid fears of unintended consequences, and others admitted the cut would send the Swedish economy deeper into uncharted territory
ECB lifts veil on ELA as it raises Greek cap
No action on monetary policy but governing council extends further lifeline to Greek banks; Draghi admits policy of keeping emergency liquidity secret is unnecessary in a systemic crisis
Bank of Canada cuts rates to support ‘complex adjustment’
Central bank says economy needs additional support as it restructures in response to complex impact from oil price shock; fears remain over imbalances in household sector
Yellen bats away calls for simple rules-based policy
Fed chair tells Committee on Financial Services a monetary policy rule based on two economic variables is inappropriate as ‘the world is more complicated than that’
Greek bank holiday sparks swaps contract chaos
Extended bank closure leaves derivatives payments by end-users in limbo
ECB survey shows further recovery in bank credit in Q2
European Central Bank publishes latest bank lending survey, which reveals an increase in the share of banks reporting greater demand for loans to enterprises in the eurozone