Monetary Policy
Uzbekistan central bank cuts rates by 100bp
Emergency meeting loosens policy in response to pandemic and energy price fall
Fed takes first step to unwind repo support
Repo market is showing signs of “more stable” conditions, New York Fed says
El-Erian on Covid-19 policy risks, ‘zombie’ markets and central bank capture
Former Pimco chief says Fed move into high yield is a step too far, new rules needed on leverage and false liquidity, and narrow window emerges for central banks to shed some of their policy load
Sarb cuts rates to historic low
Unanimous decision comes as growth outlook and inflation forecasts revised; South Africa’s risk profile has increased
Crises enliven ‘totalitarian temptations’
The coronavirus pandemic will embolden governments and bodies such as the International Monetary Fund to grasp for more power, writes Steve Hanke
Fed unveils $2.3 trillion package for ‘Main Street’
Package launched as 6.6 million more people claim for unemployment insurance
ECB minutes reveal resistance to lifting self-imposed limits on PEPP
Some governing council members did not deem new programme necessary, proposing to use APP or OMT
National Bank of Poland cuts rates to record low of 0.5%
Central bank includes state-guaranteed bonds in its asset purchase programme
Bank of England to lend directly to government
Central bank agrees temporary expansion of “Ways and Means” facility
ECB takes unprecedented steps to preserve credit provision
Central bank accepts state-guaranteed loans as collateral, reduces haircuts, and raises limit on unsecured bank bonds in collateral pool
Central banks may have to become ‘dealers of last resort’ – BIS economists
EMEs have not overcome “original sin” by deepening local currency bond markets, authors warn
RBNZ to start buying local government debt
Central bank expands its large-scale asset purchases in the wake of the Covid-19 shock
Riksbank expands incentives for lending to small firms
Central bank continues with flurry of crisis-fighting measures
ECB buys Italian bonds well above capital key in March
Central bank bought €11.8 billion in Italian sovereign bonds last month, up from €2.2 billion in February
Bank of Mexico lacks scope to counter Covid-19 – minutes
Officials highlight limited scope to lower rates below 6.5% without stoking inflation
Is the ESM the eurozone’s best weapon against Covid-19?
Eurobonds face economic and political hurdles, say former officials
Bank of Israel launches targeted lending operations
Central bank offers cheap loans to banks as part of Covid-19 response package; research department estimates point to major growth impact from virus
China cuts rate on excess reserves for first time in 12 years
PBoC levels up stimulus, cutting rate on excess reserves while reducing RRR for the third time this year
Should the Fed be next to implement yield curve control?
The Reserve Bank of Australia is now the second G20 central bank trying to control longer-term interest rates. Could the Fed be next?
ECB extends strategy review until mid-2021
Central bank postpones public events by six months due to the Covid-19 crisis
Amplifying the soundwaves: the evolution of social media communications
Central banks’ social media usage is on the rise, but their choice of platform is shifting more and more towards the visual
Chile cuts rates to record low 0.5%
Central bank expands banking bond purchases to $5.5 billion, GDP expected to shrink by 5% quarter on quarter
ECB makes record sovereign bond purchases
Central bank ramped up purchases under the PSPP programme in the week to March 27
Singapore eases monetary policy sharply and taps reserves
MAS flattens currency appreciation slope to zero after government unveils $34 billion stimulus