Central Banks
SNB turns profit in first quarter following steep loss in 2010
First quarter profits likely to come as relief after criticism that greeted $20.7 billion loss in 2010
Bank of Thailand Inflation Report – (April 2011)
Bank of Thailand’s April 2011 Inflation Report says Monetary Policy Committee raised rates to curb build up in commodity price pressures
BIS paper highlights change in bank-lending channel
Bank for International Settlements study shows shift in drivers of bank-lending channel in European and United States pre-crisis
Turkey’s Yilmaz explains motivation behind policy strategy
Central Bank of Turkey governor Durmuş Yilmaz says combination of liquidity management facilities, reserve requirements and policy rates will help achieve price and financial stability in Turkey
HKMA’s Pang warns of hot pockets in emerging Asia
Hong Kong Monetary Authority deputy chief executive Peter Pang highlights policymakers’ concerns of growing capital inflows in emerging markets
Weidmann takes over as Bundesbank chief
Jens Weidmann takes over as head of the Deutsche Bundesbank; signals support for rate “normalisation”
Bulgaria ordered capital hikes, report released
Bulgarian National Bank publishes 2010 Annual Report; asked three banks to increase capital
IMF urges emerging markets to tighten monetary policy
IMF Regional Economic Outlook for Asia report says emerging market central banks must tighten monetary policy to stave off inflation; acknowledges limitations of monetary tools
Bank Negara Malaysia sets up shop in Beijing
Bank Negara Malaysia signs agreement with People’s Bank of China to open representative office in Beijing
Central banks continue to purchase gold
World Gold Council releases first Gold Investment Digest of 2011; shows central banks are still net buyers of gold in Q1
Finland’s central bank unveils first volume of official history
Bank of Finland publishes first of two-part history; describes how governor fought to stabilise national economy during the Great Depression
IMF paper builds US, euro area financial conditions indexes
Fund paper creates financial conditions indexes to forecast economic activity in the US and euro area
Bernanke holds first press conference
Federal Reserve chairman reiterates US commitment to strong dollar, voices concern over shift in outlook for US debt
S&P puts Japan on negative outlook
Standard and Poor’s places Japan’s long-term credit rating on negative outlook; Bank of Japan governor Masaaki Shirakawa forecasts economy will contract in first two quarters
West African central bank reopens offices in Ivory Coast: reports
West Africa’s regional central bank resumes operations in Ivory Coast
Mexico chooses new deputy governor
Bank of Mexico chief economist Manuel Ramos Francia appointed deputy governor
More change at the Bank of Lithuania
New deputy chairman of the board of the Bank of Lithuania appointed; in the same week as new governor starts