Monetary Policy
Namibia’s central bank cuts rates to record low
Central bank acts to preserve link to South African currency as it reintroduces lockdown measures
Bank Indonesia cuts rate for the third time this year
Governor hints that further cuts may come while analysts warn economy may shrink further
Costa Rica cuts rates to lowest level in over 10 years
Covid-19 has accelerated a disinflationary trend, central bank says
Central Bank of Chile steps up unconventional policies
Asset purchase programme and funding available to banks set to reach 10% of GDP
US economy entering ‘bounce back’ phase – Powell
Fed chair forced to defend move to follow through with corporate bond purchases in Senate hearing
Should the BoE go negative?
Much research into negative rates suggests central banks should have little to fear, but there are plenty of caveats
Israeli governor reflects on response to Covid-19
Bank of Israel started government bond purchases and dollar-shekel swaps to boost liquidity
Fed poised to purchase corporate bonds next week
New York Fed will create a portfolio to track the US corporate bond market under new plans
Sarb introduces collateral substitution for repos
New framework designed to give banks more flexibility in managing collateral
Iran’s race towards monetary policy reform faces high hurdle reality
The Majlis Research Center’s Tohid Atashbar says positive outcomes from the Iranian central bank’s fast-tracking of monetary policy reform – made in response to Covid-19 and US sanctions – may prove difficult to deliver
US citizens think Fed’s communication strategy needs adapting – Fed report
“Fed Listens” events revealed a lack of understanding about inflation targeting, report shows
High US inflation should not be ruled out
A prolonged health crisis raises the risk that supply-side factors, monetary expansion and rising personal savings could stoke hidden inflationary pressures
Solomon Islands central bank cuts reserve requirements
Reducing requirements will ensure ample liquidity is provided to banking sector, central bank says
Fed policy is too tight given FOMC projections – former Fed economist
“An outlook that bad for that long is a clear sign that policy is too tight,” Joseph Gagnon says
New York Fed to tighten repo operations
Fed sees “substantial improvements” in dollar funding markets
Researchers say hitting lower bound has little impact on expectations
Persistent deviation from inflation target can still undermine long-term expectations, authors say
Raising inflation targets may lower neutral rate – Boston Fed paper
A higher target might therefore be less effective than current research suggests, research says
A better way to buy private sector securities?
Central bank asset purchases can do more harm than good and are often conducted on a flimsy legal basis, writes HKU’s Bryane Michael
Fed promises to keep buying assets at current rate
Fed will hold accommodation in place for “however long it takes”, chair Jerome Powell says; FOMC releases first projections this year
Balance sheets could grow by 23% of GDP in largest advanced economies – BIS
Economists forecast balance sheets will remain large for the foreseeable future
Central bank museums grapple with lockdown
Money museums moved online to keep communicating during Covid-19 lockdown; some now plan to reopen for a limited number of visitors
CBDC could endanger maturity transformation – Philadelphia Fed paper
Opening central bank balance sheet to consumers could create “deposit monopolist”, research says
Bank of Uganda cuts rate and warns of lasting disruption
Central bank cuts rates and narrows target band, as impact of Covid-19 in Uganda continues to play out