Reserves
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
Reserve managers warned on risks of extending maturities
Central banks that are finding it harder to secure real returns from their liquid asset holdings should beware of market risks if they extend the duration of their holdings says NALM panellist
IMF facility not as good as own-funds, says Bank of Mexico’s Duclaud
Reserve managers in some developing markets believe own-country foreign exchange reserves are safer than IMF credit lines
Nigeria needs more reserves and better inflation controls, says Fitch
Nigeria will need to further increase the size of its foreign exchange reserves and keep inflation in closer check if it wants to secure investment-grade status by 2020, says Fitch
UK chancellor unhappy about past gold sales
George Osborne issues thinly veiled attack on Gordon Brown over gold sales a decade ago; minutes from latest BoE meeting reveal two votes for more QE
SNB spent $19.6 billion maintaining minimum exchange rate
SNB purchased foreign currency to a value of $19.6 billion in 2011; central bank also reveals larger than expected profit
South Africa records increase in value of gold reserves
SARB reveals $186 million rise in value of gold reserves; overall reserves value up $438 million
EU freezes assets of Syrian central bank
Council of the European Union announces freeze on central bank assets among string of sanctions; EU “increasingly appalled” by situation in the country, says council
Philippines reveals extent of lending to IMF
Central Bank of the Philippines announces shift in relationship with International Monetary Fund; holdings from the country have been used to support Ireland, Portugal and Greece