Reserves
SNB reveals scale of latest foreign exchange purchases
Swiss National Bank posts large increase in foreign exchange holdings from June to July; purchases represent efforts by central bank to prevent safe-haven flows into country
Bank of Korea reveals July gold purchase
Korea adds hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of gold to reserves in July; FX reserves swell by $1.97 billion to $314.35 billion
Swiss National Bank posts profit in first half of year
Latest figures show central bank made a profit in first half of the year; majority of gains come from holdings of foreign currency purchased to maintain minimum exchange rate against euro
BIS paper links funding to emerging economies and stock market volatility
Working paper studies funding flows between emerging market central banks and investors during stock market calm and volatility; suggests this reinforces risk-on and risk-off markets
Asian central bank reserves surpass optimal levels, says IMF’s Zavadjil
Reserves held by Asian central banks are rising past optimal levels even if cover for longer-term foreign fund and FDI ouflows are added to import and short-term debt coverage metrics, says IMF expert
Russia takes lead in gold purchases in May
Latest World Gold Council figures show Bank of Russia increased gold reserves by largest amount in May; council says emerging markets purchases viewed as a part of ‘broader theme’
Bhutanese central bank warns of external imbalances
Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan monetary policy statement outlines threats to currency peg; says long-run solution requires strengthening of macroeconomic fundamentals
‘Not clear’ China wants renminbi to rival dollar, says CIC’s Lau
China is pushing for the renminbi to be used more widely in commerce and finance but it is unclear if Beijing wants its currency to rival the US dollar and euro, says CIC’s Lawrence Lau
Nalm Americas: Reserves panel split on euro
Some central banks in the Americas are reducing allocation to euro – but not necessarily as a result of the eurozone debt crisis
Czech National Bank shifts reserves away from euro
Annual report shows decision was taken to hold Australian dollars as part of foreign currency reserves; swapped part of euro holdings for the Australian currency
HFT adds value to the forex market, says Bank of England
While the effects of high-frequency trading activity should continue to be monitored, the practice adds value to the FX market, a senior Bank of England official has argued
Gold demand drops from high 2011 figures
Gold Demand Trends report from World Gold Council notes 5% lower demand in Q1 this year compared with 2011
Renminbi to shake up the reserves management status quo
China is unlikely to fully liberalise its currency controls during the next five years. But this does not look set to prevent the renminbi from achieving full reserve currency status. By Gary Smith
Bundesbank reveals location of gold holdings
German central bank says gold is held in four countries; kept in the vaults of the trading centres where transfers happened
Renminbi could be adopted into SDR by 2015, says CentralBanking.com panellist
Latest Central Banking On Air debate asks if reserve mangers should invest more in emerging markets; panellists believe renminbi will be adopted as part of SDR with just the timescale in question
Video: Bank of Mexico’s Duclaud says new rules will hit sterilisation costs
Javier Duclaud explains Mexico’s problems in 2008, why the country has increased reserves by $70 billion and how Dodd-Frank and Basel III are causing sterilisation problems for central banks
Reserve managers cling to the dollar but shun the euro, CBP survey finds
Central banks have reduced their euro reserve holdings and looked to diversify into non-traditional currencies due to ongoing eurozone tumult finds annual Central Banking Publications survey
Bank of Korea to invest in renminbi in 2012
Head of reserve management Heung Sik Choo confirms Bank of Korea will make first investments in Chinese renminbi this year
Prasarn confirms Thai participation in Chinese markets
Bank of Thailand governor hails economic links between China and Thailand as central bank opens first Chinese office
'Heavy' gold purchases expected to continue in 2012
GFMS report says emerging economies will continue to turn to gold as they diversify reserves away from US dollar; "trivial" official sector gold sales recorded in 2011
China raises QFII quota by $50bn to $80bn
Chinese authorities more than double the investment quota available to approved foreign institutional investors wanting to invest directly into China’s restricted financial markets
Chakrabarty: Crisis has turned policy frameworks 'on their head'
Reserve Bank of India deputy governor tells conference that policy focus has moved towards future crisis prevention
IMF funding aids Sri Lanka in building reserves
Central Bank of Sri Lanka notes role IMF loans have played in helping build reserves in the country; latest tranche received on April 2
Diverging views on US debt stimulate debate at NALM 2012
A difference of views emerged about the relative risks of US sovereign debt compared with alternatives during a panel discussion at NALM 2012 symposium on risk approaches in a post-crisis world