Reserves
National Bank of Ukraine heads for IT regime following clear-out of senior staff
Ukraine central bank will institute an inflation-targeting regime, after the former governor was dismissed along with his deputy and two departmental directors
State Bank of Pakistan has 'critically low' reserves
IMF says Pakistan’s reserves position will remain critical even with ‘stellar’ programme adherence; urges changes to central bank law to boost independence
SNB board member speaks on ‘very limited' ethical investment programme
A desire not to move markets informs the SNB's decision not to provide details on its new ethical investment strategy, which will affect a 'very limited' number of companies
‘Seismic' renminbi internationalisation has a way to go, says RBA deputy
For the renminbi to be considered truly ‘internationalised', RBA deputy Philip Lowe says it must reach a situation where non-residents are willing to hold it un-hedged
SNB expands equity holdings in ethical investment drive
Switzerland’s central bank increases its equity holdings by $18 billion to $77 billion in 2013; refuses to invest in companies that cause 'severe environmental damage'
Reserve managers ‘obsessed' with short-term results, says Passacantando
Former Bank of Italy managing director says central bank reserve managers should take a longer-term view with their investment decisions
Reserve managers stress importance of portfolio transparency
Public report offering detailed disclosure of investment decisions results in reserve managers having 'little to fear', says the Central Bank of Colombia's Marco Ruiz
Banque de France ‘is active’ in onshore renminbi market
French central bank has invested in Chinese government bonds through the onshore renminbi market; Bank of England angles for London clearing bank
Bank of Zambia tries to talk down forex market ‘panic'
Bank of Zambia aims to arrest ‘panic' in foreign exchange market amid reversal of portfolio flows; hiked reserve ratio requirement on Monday in attempt to strengthen currency
Swiss upper house rejects initiative that would force SNB to double gold holdings
Proposal that would require central bank to hold at least 20% of total assets in gold is slated for referendum but political establishment is strongly opposed
Omani central bank chief still committed to dollar peg
Central Bank of Oman's Hamood Sangour Al Zadjali tells Central Banking journal the peg still offers 'substantial benefits' given Oman's economic structure
Central banks cut gold purchases by a third, as consumers pick up slack
Global demand for gold fell 15% in 2013 compared with 2012, as central banks slowed their purchases and ETFs made hefty divestments
Reassessing the sovereign investor nexus
As sovereign assets continue to grow, managers look set to adopt multi-asset investment approaches that are more closely associated with defined-contribution pension plans
Argentina lifts capital controls as peso's slide continues
Argentina lifts capital controls a day after central bank quits trying to prop up the currency
Central Bank of Turkey sells $2.5bn in attempt to halt lira freefall
Central bank buys local currency for an estimated $2.5 billion in one day, upping stakes on strategy that has seen it spend one-third of net reserves since June
Reserve manager of the year: Central Bank of Colombia
The Central Bank of Colombia’s dynamic reserves management strategy and impressive performance amidst turmoil in the US dollar and emerging market currencies made it stand out from the crowd
Asset manager of the year: BlackRock
Improved customer service and impressive investment capabilities in all types of strategies across a wide range of asset classes around the world made BlackRock the stand-out asset manager in 2013
IMF urges full recapitalisation of Ugandan central bank
The Bank of Uganda was recapitalised by the government in June 2013, but further capital injections will depend on the central bank's ability to ‘streamline’ operational costs
Reserve managers continue push into diverse currencies
Latest data from the IMF shows non-traditional reserve currencies continue to see their share of global reserve holdings grow; sterling, yen and the Swiss franc fall in favour
Central Bank of Venezuela to buy country's entire gold production
Central bank in joint bid with state oil company to ‘regularise' production, sales and purchases of the precious metal, which last year accounted for 70% of the bank's international reserves
Bolivian central bank under fire for lending to public enterprises
IMF tells CentralBanking.com the unorthodox practice is ‘counterproductive' and out of step with international norms; bank's constitutional mandate and lending arrangement makes loans legal
African central banks need to brace for Fed tapering, says Ghana's Opata
African central banks should consider raising FX reserves to cover potential reserves losses and stress in domestic fixed income markets from Fed tapering, says Bank of Ghana official
Gono steps down as Zimbabwe government takes on Reserve Bank debts
Reserve Bank governor survived political upheaval to fulfil two five-year terms at the head of the central bank; final act was to see the bank relieved of its crippling debts by the government