Monetary Policy
Thai governor hankers for return to ‘normal' monetary policy
Bank of Thailand's Prasarn Trairatvorakul says he wants to see an end to advanced economy QE as the central bank has come under increasing pressure to manipulate the baht
RBA cuts growth forecast and suggests further easing could follow
Reserve Bank of Australia lowers its forecast for December’s growth rate; could follow up this week’s rate cut with another as labour market conditions weaken
Cleveland Fed’s Pianalto signals willingness to taper
Sandra Pianalto recognises ‘meaningful improvement’ in labour market conditions and outlook; prepared to scale back asset purchases if current pace of progress is maintained
Financial fragmentation persistent in face of loose monetary policy stance
ECB article provides evidence of heterogeneous interest rate pass-through in the four largest eurozone economies, based on new models
BoJ and BoK vote to keep interest rates unchanged
Bank of Japan keeps rates at zero and will continue asset purchases for 'as long as necessary' to hit 2% inflation target; regional impact of possible US tapering remains uncertain
Romanian interest rates could fall yet further, says central bank
National Bank of Romania uses quarterly inflation report to signal it is likely to continue monetary easing, as inflationary pressures dissipate and growth remains weak
Bank of England ties monetary policy to unemployment
MPC will not raise interest rates or unwind its asset purchases ‘at least until’ the unemployment rate falls below 7%; unlikely to happen within the next three years according to latest forecast
Peter Praet delves deeper into ECB forward guidance
The ECB executive board member explains why the central bank issued forward guidance and how it will work; emphasises the importance of money dynamics in determining future policy
Fisher: Fed has its finger on taper trigger
Dallas Fed’s Fisher says the FOMC is nearing ‘execution mode’ on the back of improving employment figures; Philadelphia Fed’s Plosser wants ‘brighter line’ between monetary and fiscal policy
BoJ on target as IMF urges Abe to loose his other arrows
IMF says fiscal and structural reforms are necessary to create ‘durable’ increase in inflation; encourages Bank of Japan to begin internal discussions over its exit plan
Zambian central bank sees currency stability but inflationary pressures through year-end
The Zambian kwacha has taken a hit against the biggest global currencies but appreciated against the South African rand, meaning REER held steady
Bullard says Fed should ape ECB press conference schedule
James Bullard of the St Louis Fed wants to see the Fed chair give a press conference after every meeting of the FOMC - not after alternate meetings, as is the case currently
IMF spillover report highlights tough balancing act for leading economies
Report examining international effects of policies in China, the eurozone, Japan, the UK and US, says easy monetary conditions essential but warns of future side-effects
IMF backs Czech forex intervention
Article IV says a ‘persistent and large undershooting’ of the Czech National Bank’s inflation target would warrant a weaker koruna; governor Miroslav Singer says board is coming round to the idea
Cape Verde aims to keep euro peg credible
Maintaining the Cape Verdean escudo’s peg to the euro is the central bank’s ‘main concern’; setting policy to stabilise its international reserves and – in turn – the peg
ECB confirms forward guidance, holds rates without discussion
Mario Draghi confirms ECB expects to keep interest rates at current rates or lower, but tells press conference there was no discussion on changing rates today
BoE and Fed keep policy on hold
Federal Reserve points to risks of below target inflation and cools its assessment of economic activity; Bank of England expected to introduce forward guidance next week
Issing brands calls for detailed ECB minutes disclosure ‘absurd'
Debate rages about the need for more transparency in ECB governing council decision-making, as Otmar Issing and Sharon Bowles enter the fray; Draghi says ECB is reviewing communications policy
Dallas Fed paper flags concerns over duration of Fed’s portfolio
Staff paper says the Fed may face difficulties in selling its longer-term holdings, while increasing the maturity of its portfolio also risks raising inflation expectations
PBoC injects 17 billion yuan to ease liquidity
Move to pump funds into the system has divided opinion over whether the People's Bank of China is setting a course for further easing
Turkey’s central bank ramps up inflation forecast
Central bank raises inflation forecast for 2013 on account of depreciating lira and higher oil prices; MPC plots strategy for dealing with uncertainty surrounding the unwinding of QE
UK economy near escape velocity already, say ex-MPC members
Former BoE deputy governor John Gieve believes Mark Carney may use macro-prudential policy to boost the UK economy; Charles Goodhart argues ‘help to buy' scheme will promote lending to SMEs
RBI 'forfeiting monetary policy discretion' in bid to keep rupee in check
Governor Duvvuri Subbarao says India is caught in an 'impossible' trilemma, forcing the bank to maintain rates in spite of sluggish growth and ebbing inflation
RBA governor hints at additional easing
Glenn Stevens says Australia's inflation outlook may afford some scope to ease policy further if needed to support demand