Reserves
Return on foreign assets partly offsets trade imbalances – research
Emerging economies can recover from current account disequilibrium faster than reserve currency issuers
Bank of Uganda warns on debt levels
Debt levels could be closer to 50% of GDP if undisbursed loans are taken into account
SNB achieved record profits in 2017
Acquisitions of euros and dollars via foreign exchange interventions yielded 91% of the gains; SNB reshapes portfolio with greater share of equities and riskier bonds
Venezuela pays off $2.1 million debt to Chile
Country belatedly honours debt, after missing payment in 2017
Saudi Arabia confirms $2 billion transfer to Yemen’s central bank
Yemeni government said to demand payment of all revenues to its central bank
Bank of Israel profits from rising equities – market operations director
Andrew Abir says Israeli central bank has benefited from rising US equities
Norwegian SWF invested $1.9 billion in unlisted real estate in 2017
The fund obtained a 7.5% return in a part of its portfolio that amounts to $28 billion
Divestments based on ethical grounds reduce returns of Norway’s fund
The exclusions trimmed cumulative returns on the equity index by 3.3% since 2004
Sovereign debt more ‘enforceable’ – ECB paper
Results show creditors have used courts to “pressure” foreign governments
Book notes: How global currencies work, by Barry Eichengreen, Arnaud Mehl and Livia Chiţu
A comprehensive introduction to the history of global reserve currencies
Reserve managers made financial crisis worse for central banks – paper
Synchronised withdrawal of funds from commercial banks made central bank stabilisation efforts “more difficult”
Saudi Arabia’s Alkholifey on economic restructuring, reserves and cyber security
Head of Sama discusses major changes being implemented in Saudi Arabia
Central banks mull securities lending as response to low yields
Institutions are proving more willing to experiment as conservatism threatens to erode their reserves
Implementing a holistic and dynamic risk budget
New policy-risk approach led to reassessment of investment exposures and how they are rebalanced
Angolan banks given new forex responsibilities amid shortage
Requests for foreign currency now must be submitted to commercial entities
World Gold Council launches gold accounting framework
Guidance aims to help central banks harmonise treatment of gold in their accounts
Norway’s SWF puts forward anti-corruption recommendations
Fund says investing in firms with strong anti-corruption credentials helps preserve its asset value
Education key to forex liberalisation success, says Bahamas governor
Private sector needs to base forex decisions on returns rather than “fear the erosion of wealth”, says Rolle
Central banks built up gold reserves in 2017
2017 sees eighth consecutive year of net purchases
Venezuela’s new forex auction sees bolivar plummet
Latest auction sees currency devaluate by 99% from heavily subsidised exchange rate