Central Banks
CNB takes next step towards adopting bitcoin
Board approves governor’s proposal to look at “additional asset classes”, which could include crypto
South Africa delivers third successive rate cut
Move comes as inflation remains at lower end of target range
Information impacts dealers’ behaviour in crises – BoE paper
“Information chasing” helps explain how prices are set during liquidity shocks, authors say
European Central Bank makes 25bp cut
Lagarde “confident” EU central banks will not add crypto to their reserves
Afghanistan to issue jail terms for large dollar transfers
Move to clamp down on illicit inflows comes as central bank struggles to prop up afghani
Brazil again raises rates by 100bp
BCB signals further rises amid persistently high inflation and lingering concerns over public finances
Riksbank makes second 25bp rate cut of 2025
“Signs of an economic rebound” prompt further easing of policy
Hungary tentatively holds rates
MNB also changes forward guidance as inflation picks up
AI transcript hints at nepotism in ECB hiring practices
Opaque wage adjustment processes are unaccountable, sources tell Central Banking
Fed holds rates amid pressure from White House
Powell says he has had no contact with Trump since president said he would “demand” easing of policy
Bank of Canada cuts rates and ends quantitative tightening
Macklem says monetary policy cannot offset negative effects of tariffs
RBI injects billions into liquidity-strapped financial system
Analysts say decision points to rate cut by India’s central bank in February
India reports hundredfold growth in digital payments since 2012
Central bank’s deputy governor says cross-border payments remain expensive and slow, however
Sri Lanka holds rates amid persistent deflation
Central bank expects price falls to intensify owing to cuts in electricity tariffs
BoE’s Jackson flags dangers of ballooning prime brokerage market
Bank’s executive director says new players will need to get up to speed on risk management
Trump’s tariff threats fuel corporate FX hedging revamp
Treasurers mull options and longer-dated hedges in face of mixed signals on extent and timing of measures
Palestine Monetary Authority resumes banking services in Gaza
PMA also announces loan deferral programme, though analyst says few will be able to repay
Medium is the message, say Bank of Spain researchers
Coverage of policy decisions has greater impact than central banks’ own comms, study finds
IMF tells Kosovo to strengthen central bank reserves
Fund says government should deposit equivalent of 1.75% of GDP as emergency buffer
Non-banks and banks are interwoven, says ex-RBI official
Policy-makers should study connections between them when crafting regulations, argues Viral Acharya
Bank of Canada study calls for standard accessibility practices
Academics say current banking infrastructure is inadequate for people with disabilities
Andrea Enria joins BoE’s prudential regulation committee
Former top ECB supervisor becomes UK central bank policy-maker
People: Palestine Monetary Authority appoints new governor
Plus board appointments in Colombia and UK, and Central Bank of Iceland’s new chief economist
Lagarde laments looming pressure on central bank independence
ECB president nevertheless says that loss of independence remains “unlikely”