Central Banks
Bank of England paper explores exchange rate pass-through using ‘big data’
Author finds the pass-through to import prices varies depending on the size of the exchange rate movement at the micro level, but it is a different story at the macro level
IMF paper compares impact of monetary and macro-prudential policies
Research considers effects of measures in ‘systemic advanced economies’ on financial conditions both at home and abroad; monetary shocks in US can have ‘significant’ impact
Venner’s successor: Grenada official named first new Eastern Caribbean governor since 1989
Grenada secretary to the ministry of finance named governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank after seven-month search; takes office on February 1
US delivers strong jobs growth to end 2015
Report shows nonfarm payrolls expanded by 292,000 in in December, while figures for both October and November revised up; unemployment rate unchanged at 5% for the third consecutive month
Riksbank minutes reveal debate over monetary framework
Board members welcome debate over target variable and possible reinstatement of tolerance band, but af Jochnick warns changes should not be made simply because of recent failures to hit target
Risk that US public lowers inflation expectations, Chicago Fed president warns
The Federal Reserve’s undershooting of its inflation target in recent years may lower the inflation expectations of the American public, making future monetary policy harder, Evans warns
Denmark hikes deposit rate after record drop in reserves
Central bank lifts deposit rates and reduces banks’ current account limits; capital outflows accelerated in December following ECB actions
Korean paper explores ‘divergent’ spillovers to EMs
Macro-prudential policies key to protecting emerging markets from spillovers, research says; normalisation in the US could lead to ‘renewed tensions’
BoJ board reveals miscommunication fears
New ‘summary of opinions’ reveals some on board concerned about giving impression stimulus is at its limit, while some see dangers to taking further action
Mauritius looks to set up asset management company
Central bank launches public consultation on creation of bad bank, which would help ‘clean up clogged balance sheets’ of country’s banks
Room for monetary policy stimulus has ‘narrowed’ in many EMs, World Bank report warns
Little room left to use monetary or fiscal stimulus in event of growth shock in some countries, report says, pointing to role for structural reform
Some FOMC members still see ‘considerable’ risks to inflation forecasts
The Federal Reserve’s decision to increase the federal funds rate target was a ‘close call’ in the view of ‘some’ FOMC members; mixed views among governors and presidents on inflation outlook
Market preoccupation with divergence likely means ‘more variability’, Poloz says
Canadian governor believes such variability to be a ‘natural reaction’ to shocks; flexible exchange rate allows for adjustment
Economists say Rajan has good chance of staying as RBI governor – if he wants to
Raghuram Rajan is popular enough to be reappointed when his first term ends later this year, but he may have other appealing options, according to observers
Central Bank of Bolivia issues counterfeit warning ahead of festival
Any reproduction of the bolivar must be either double or half the size to avoid confusion with legal tender under counterfeiting rules, the bank says, ahead of Alasita in La Paz
European markets may still view some banks as ‘too big to fail’, paper argues
European governments may be seen as supporting ‘national champions’ in banking, researchers say
BIS paper explores policy trade-offs in Asia-Pacific
Asia-Pacific central banks that have used macro-prudential policy to control credit growth may have faced a short-term trade-off between financial and price objectives, paper notes
PBoC cut in renminbi fix prompts market volatility
Central bank cuts fix by 0.51%, triggering second equities slump in a week and further divergence in onshore and offshore exchange rates
Bean says statistics agencies struggling to keep pace with the modern economy
Former BoE deputy warns of a widening gulf between the structure of the economy and how ageing statistical techniques represent it; urges UK statistics office to be more ‘agile’
Lagarde calls for ‘fundamental change’ in Nigerian policy
IMF managing director tells leaders to shore up the banking system, strengthen the external position and exercise ‘restraint’, during visit to Nigeria
ECB should become lender of last resort to individual eurozone banks, academics argue
The ECB should take over the role of lender of last resort to troubled individual banks in the eurozone, two leading academic lawyers argue; move would ‘not require’ changes to treaties
Inertia an important factor in consumer banking market, paper argues
Inertia among consumers is an important factor in the market for personal banking, a study argues, stressing that policy-makers must improve their understanding of this factor
SSM sets out supervisory priorities for 2016
The SSM set out its supervisory priorities for 2016, with a wide-ranging list of ‘thematic reviews’ to be carried out; key areas include business model risk and high levels of non-performing loans
Colombian paper finds ‘negligible’ contagion effects
Contagion in the interbank market poses no real threat to the Colombian financial system, working paper notes; examines link between bank failure and liquidity