Reserves
Over 90% of central banks trim duration as protection against inflation
Fewer institutions increased US Treasuries (18.75%), reduced exposure to unconventional assets (6.25%)
Central banks’ coverage ratio drops by 23%
Reserves buffers to cover monthly imports decline to 6.9 months
Staff salaries at reserves departments increased 17.6% from last year
Total staff numbers declined by 10% to 27
IMF says it will not provide loans for Zimbabwe
Fund urges central bank to cease “quasi-fiscal operations” as official inflation reaches 285%
Brazil makes first FX intervention of the year
Strong real bucks wider regional trend of depreciation against the dollar
More central banks expand existing liquidity swap lines
More than 23% of participating countries gained access to IMF facilities over past year
Share of central banks screening ESG risks declines slightly
Central banks in Europe in top slot for including ESG criteria on their benchmarks
Central banks divided on how Russia sanctions will hit reserve currencies
Non-European central banks more likely to expect a growing role for renminbi in reserves portfolios
Most central banks will not alter diversification due to high inflation
Over 63% of central banks do not plan changes, while almost 27% are discussing modifications
Boards remain key body in benchmarking approval
In almost 60% of central banks the board makes final decision, investment committee in 29%
More central banks engage in gold lending and swaps
Securities lending is more common among central banks from high income jurisdictions
US may release frozen Afghan central bank funds – report
Plan would transfer up to $3.5 billion to BIS under third-party supervision, source claims
Over 18% of central banks adopted new reserves assets last year
Middle income jurisdictions led the trend, 28.6% diversified their asset allocation
Emerging markets central banks maintain lead in portfolio tranching
European institutions are less likely to implement this strategy
Few central banks use FX swaps to defend exchange rate
Just 7% of participating central banks report using this practice
Myanmar may go on money laundering blacklist, report says
Opposition calls on New York Fed to unfreeze Myanmar assets to back proposed digital currency
Bolivian ex-governor calls opposition audit request ‘nonsense’
Most central bank gold reserves are held outside country, Morales says
Bolivian legislators ask to inspect gold reserves
Opposition politicians claim government wants to monetise and spend gold
Will the dollar remain the world’s reserve currency?
Bank of Russia sanctions raise questions about the US dollar’s central role
IMF says Sri Lanka must reform central bank law for $2.9bn bailout
Government must end monetary financing and give central bank autonomy, fund says
Chile renews IMF flexible credit line as risks grow
Months after ending the previous facility, Chile has reactivated it