Monetary 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
Reserve Bank of Malawi paper finds central bank ‘leans against the wind'
Researchers from Malawi's central bank find interventions in the currency market have been associated with high volatility but have helped to stabilise the kwacha since 2003
ECB's Cœuré and Asmussen call for published minutes
Public account 'should include who voted for what, and the reasoning behind that vote', say executive board members; move would bring ECB in line with other major central banks
San Fran research links unemployment to business uncertainty
Research produced by the San Francisco Fed finds that business uncertainty over economic policy is an ‘important factor’ behind the persistent levels of unemployment in the US
Kuroda says QQE is ‘right on track’
Bank of Japan governor believes QQE has already prompted a ‘favourable turn’ in the financial markets and real economy; hopes improved sentiment will translate to demand
Forex intervention unlikely to affect inflation expectations in the long-term, paper shows
Exchange rate intervention programmes in Chile in 2008 and 2011 had disparate effects on inflation expectations, according to new research by the country's central bank
LTROs ‘major' boost to eurozone liquidity, research shows
Paper explores the excess liquidity environment in the eurozone and examines market risk appetite, focusing on peripheral Europe
IMF endorses Fed monetary policy in Article IV report
Staff report highlights risks associated with exit, including negative impact on the Fed's balance sheet, which could cause a political 'backlash'
MAS to lend Singapore dollars against JGBs
Monetary Authority of Singapore and Bank of Japan strike cross-border collateral arrangement; MAS looking to make it easier for banks to manage their liquidity needs
Brazil minutes show Copom fears long-term effects of weaker currency
In the short term, the committee felt the depreciating real would cause a ‘natural and expected correction in relative prices', but its longer-term effects should be combated