Monetary Policy
Sweden lowers benchmark rate for first time in two years
Riksbank announces a drop of 25 percentage points to the repo rate; first time the rate has been reduced since 2009
BoJ paper finds limited impact of tax benefits on corporate capital structure
Research finds default costs and the costs of outside equity have a larger effect on corporate capital structure than tax benefits
Bank consults on instruments of macroprudential policy
Bank of England releases discussion paper to gather feedback on possible tools for macroprudential policy management
BoE Quarterly Bulletin reports market deterioration
Bank of England Q4 report notes financial market sentiment and functioning decline since last bulletin
RBI signals end to tightening cycle
Reserve Bank of India leaves interest rates on hold and says it is likely to loosen monetary policy next on expectations of moderation in growth
Draghi explains extraordinary policy measures
ECB president sets out the reasons behind governing council’s decision to cut the benchmark interest rate and introduce three measures to support bank lending and liquidity in the eurozone
BoE survey shows inflation expectations are climbing
Bank of England Inflation Attitudes survey says most respondents believe inflation is expected to average 3.5% in next five years
SNB holds rates despite weaker growth outlook
Swiss National Bank holds currency floor at Sfr1.20 to the euro as forecasts project a sharp decline in growth and deflation in 2012
IMF delivers gloomy Greece update
IMF releases Fifth Review Under the Stand-By Arrangement for Greece; offers a bleak picture of the country’s economy and future
Australia ‘well placed’ to deal with global downturn; RBA’s Battellino
Reserve Bank of Australia’s deputy governor Ric Battellino says Australia is in a strong position to cope with ongoing global financial turbulence
Fed holds fire amid European chaos
Federal Open Market Committee points to 'strains' in global financial markets as it holds rates and reaffirms commitment to Operation Twist
Eurozone crisis catches up with Estonia
Bank of Estonia becomes latest central bank to cut growth expectations; says eurozone crisis could cause a recession in the country
Currency momentum strategies uncovered: BIS paper
BIS working paper on currency momentum strategies finds a large cross-sectional spread in excess returns of up to 10% a year between past winner and loser currencies
Zeti discusses Islamic finance talent development
Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia stresses the importance of talent development in financial services; growing importance of Islamic finance means education is necessary
Debt tolerance has turned decisively, says Carney
Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney says deleveraging process is here to stay; warns if debt restructuring needs to happen, it should be done sooner rather than later
Lessons for monetary policymakers: BoE’s Dale
BoE’s Dale discusses lessons learned in 2011 and tackles concerns and criticisms over quantitative easing
BIS stresses central banks' role in combating global liquidity problems
Bank for International Settlements releases quarterly review; says central banks have the power to limit liquidity crises; study finds QE may not be as effective as was hoped
European uncertainty reflected in central bank decisions worldwide
Germany, Austria, India and South Korea lower growth estimates as a slew of countries hold interest rates; world looks on and waits to see if Europe can agree a solution to the sovereign debt crisis
ECB will fulfil financial lender of last resort role: Constâncio
European Central Bank vice-president Vítor Constâncio says non-standard liquidity measures will help ease bank-funding pressures in eurozone
Sluggish growth outlook forces ECB to take drastic action
European Central Bank lowers rates by 25 basis points as sovereign debt crisis weighs in on growth; Governing Council reveals new liquidity measures to ease funding conditions
SARB issues bleak Quarterly Bulletin
Latest quarterly bulletin from South African Reserve Bank says economy has grown at ‘lacklustre’ pace; inflation hit upper limit of target range in October
Kohn talks of macro-prudential policy ‘infancy’
Donald Kohn tells US audience about the UK’s Financial Policy Committee; explains the “consistent and systematic” application of macro-prudential policies is still developing
Riksbank's Öberg calls for focus on shorter forecast horizons
Riksbank first deputy governor, Svante Öberg, says limitations in analysts’ forecasting beyond one year requires greater emphasis on near-term outlook
RBA cuts rates on fears of global slowdown
Reserve Bank of Australia cuts rates by 25 basis points amid growing concerns over sovereign debt crisis in Europe; analysts consider options available at next meeting