Central Banks
BoE appraises forward guidance as economy picks up
Bank of England MPC believes that market participants demonstrated an ‘increased understanding’ of the link between monetary policy and unemployment in the run up to its September meeting
Hungarian economists wary of foreign bank branches
Researchers are concerned that a shift away from foreign bank subsidiaries to branches increases the risks of inadequate supervision and threatens financial stability both at home and abroad
BIS research dismisses fears over high-quality asset shortage
Article says increase in high-quality assets appears sufficient to meet rising demand, but risks could still come from elsewhere
Minutes reveal Riksbank reluctant to give up say on macro-prudential matters
Deputies say democratic accountability is more about who has the right to make decisions than achieving policy objectives; see ‘clear link' between macro-prudential policy and monetary policy
BoE's Tucker clarifies FPC's macro-prudential powers
Article gives details of the inner workings of the Financial Policy Committee, including powers of direction and recommendation, its accountability and powers to hide information from the public
Robert Pringle’s Viewpoint: Looking for a game-changer for the financial system
The world may need to look to central bank governors in countries such as China and India to champion reform of the global monetary architecture
Publishing minutes is vital for central bank comms, say markets
Market participant survey gives Fed highest score for policy and communication in the wake of the financial crisis; ECB scores worse in the absence of published minutes
Africa leads growth in financial inclusion, finds IMF study
Most comprehensive financial inclusion data set to date highlights rapid expansion of financial access in Africa; emphasises close links between growth and SMEs' access to finance
IMF backs counter-cyclical fiscal activism in times of crisis
Fiscal stimulus had powerful effects in the wake of the financial crisis, but monetary policy is better suited to keeping the economy on an even keel in normal times, says IMF
BIS research finds capital requirements had minor impact on bank lending
Quarterly review article presents evidence that banks have adjusted to higher capital requirements mainly via retained earnings, rather than by cutting lending, with less of a macroeconomic impact
Central banks behind curve on innovation, says World Payments Report
Central banks are struggling to keep up with rapid growth of innovative new payment systems, report warns; risk to European firms that regulation will cause mobile payments to fall behind
Croatia under threat from falling growth and rising debt
Public debt is capped at 60% but is now approaching that limit; there are further signs of weakness in the Croatian and European real economies
RBA looks to exchange rate
The Reserve Bank of Australia keeps the door open for further rates cuts but emphasises that a weaker currency ‘would be helpful’ in boosting demand
A sad ending to Summers versus Yellen
The politicisation of the debate over who should be the next chair of the Federal Reserve may be a sign of the times, but it is a sad day for central banking, argues Thomas Cargill
Inaugural Central Banking Awards deadline extended
Central banks and market practitioners have one more week to submit their work for consideration in the Central Banking Awards 2013
IMF report highlights macro-prudential challenges
Kohn and Viñals talk of key role for central banks in macro-prudential framework; report singles out challenges faced by national authorities in setting up macro-prudential policy frameworks
Collapse in PMA index adds to bleak outlook for Palestinian economy
Palestine Monetary Authority records ‘enormous' drop in its business cycle indicator for the West Bank; follows IMF report warning of ‘dim' future for economy if peace negotiations fail
Indonesia parliament approves central bank deputy appointment
Indonesian House of Representatives picks current head of bank deposit guarantee scheme to fill the long-vacant position of senior deputy governor at Bank Indonesia
Sanusi unveils revised Nigerian payments strategy
Central Bank of Nigeria governor underscores progress made already with modernising payment systems in Nigeria, and reveals details of revised payments strategy for 2020
BIS statistics show surge in emerging market claims
Latest figures for cross-border claims show rapid increase in lending to emerging markets in first quarter of 2013, though Fed taper talk has since reversed the flow
Near-zero interest rates of limited help to non-financial firms
BIS quarterly review article finds that lesser pass-through is partly related to higher premium for risk required by financial intermediaries