Monetary Policy
BoE Court recommends forecasting rethink
Review of forecasting sheds light on strengths and weaknesses of central bank’s approach; recommends more systematic performance evaluation and new modelling techniques
Albania cuts rates as renovations to HQ completed
The Bank of Albania cut its policy rate to a record low of 1.75%; chair of Single Resolution Board visits as non-performing loans fall to approximately 20% of total in banking sector
Asset purchases having ‘sizeable’ impact on prices in eurozone, ECB paper finds
Working paper says ostensibly puzzling result can be explained by low levels of ‘market distress’ weakening some transmission channels but bolstering others
Fischer defends Fed independence
Attempts to make the FOMC adopt a policy rule and 'audit’ its decisions would restrict the Fed’s independence without generating much benefit, Stanley Fischer argues
Rising mortgage rates do not demand policy response, says RBA’s Stevens
Recent increases in mortgage rates have reversed some of the central bank’s easing, but there is no need to lean against the movement at present, governor says
Improved inflation outlook gives Icelandic central bank room for manoeuvre
Shallower path for near-term inflation allows central bank to make smaller rate hike than planned, but the longer-term picture still shows inflation overshooting the target
Hungarian central bank mulls lower capital requirements for SME-friendly banks
Central bank looks to incentivise lending to small businesses; risk-absorbing swaps and 'preferential' deposit facility could be supplemented by lower requirements
Inflation outcomes should not be sole criteria for judging performance, says RBNZ's McDermott
Assistant governor's comments come after policy reversal by RBNZ amid falling global commodity prices; staff article emphasises 'ex-ante' evaluation of monetary policy decisions
Zambia hikes by 300bp as inflation almost doubles
Bank of Zambia increases policy rate to 15.5% in an effort to keep inflation expectations anchored in single digits; annual inflation jumps to 14.3% in October as kwacha slides
PBoC monetary policy reform could be 'trial and error', economists warn
The Chinese central bank wrapped up a two-decade long interest rate liberalisation process last month – now the hard job begins
Europe should adopt expansionary fiscal policy, Fed's Stanley Fischer says
The ECB must continue with its ‘courageous’ supervisory and monetary policies, but they would be stronger if backed by an expansionary fiscal policy, says Stanley Fischer
Mandate change proposal would be unconstitutional, Polish governor says
Bank governor says giving the central bank a growth mandate would not be permissible under EU law; senior figures in governing party call for monetary easing programme
Economists challenge foundations of monetary economics
‘Neo-Fisherian’ approaches use standard New-Keynesian models to show that cutting interest rates will produce lower, not higher, inflation – and the result is surprisingly difficult to overturn
BoJ holds QQE fire but pushes back inflation forecast
Bank of Japan leaves asset purchase programme unchanged despite downward revision of outlook; central bank now predicts inflation target will be reached in second half of fiscal 2016
Fed rate rise given the ‘amber light’
Federal Reserve holds rates but hints there could be action at the December meeting; analysts still seeing mixed signals
Emerging markets risk ‘quantitative tightening’, Caruana says
Problems now affecting emerging markets are a continuation of global problems, head of BIS says; response by policy-makers is too reactive and based on domestic circumstances
Turkish central bank may act as inflation forecasts rise
Declining exchange rates and rising food prices have pushed inflation expectations upwards, monetary policy committee says; governor says he will raise interest rates if necessary
Tightening bank loans explains much of ‘Great Recession’ in eurozone
Tightening bank loans and increases in bond premia explain much of the recent contraction in the eurozone, paper argues
Riksbank unleashes further easing
Central bank hopes extended asset purchase programme and commitment to keep rates lower for even longer will help reinforce a gradual upward trend in growth and inflation
Adaptive learning models offer route out of liquidity traps, paper argues
An adaptive learning-based macro model shows monetary easing policies can end a liquidity trap under certain conditions; empirical studies of easing differ widely on its effects
Former Nigerian governor Sanusi attacks current central bank policy
Former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria Sanusi Lamido Sanusi challenges monetary policy stance of Nigeria’s central bank and calls for a currency devaluation
Long-term low interest rates risk financial instability, Geneva report argues
Long-run accommodative monetary policy could raise risks to financial instability, Charles Bean and other economists argue; issuance of leveraged loans in US corporate market on the rise
RBI advisers supported rate cut, minutes show
Minutes of technical advisory committee meeting show six of seven members recommended a cut as inflation in India had fallen ‘dramatically’ and growth proved elusive
UK’s Osborne defends ‘middle way’ struck by BoE bill
Finance minister tells MPs the decision to drop the reverse burden of proof avoids creating a two-tier regime; talks up value of BoE independence in response to concerns over NAO role