International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Epidemics cause delayed political unrest – IMF paper
Infectious disease outbreaks lead to upheaval after health crisis has passed, researchers say
IMF grants Tonga $10 million emergency loan
Fund’s Article IV report expresses concern about banking sector; predicts GDP contraction
National statistical agencies must measure informal economy – IMF
Fund outlines new framework for informal economy consistent with GDP methodology
IMF encourages Bahamas central bank to launch asset registry
Recent initiatives to manage credit have been hampered by bottlenecks, IMF report says
Bank of Mozambique hikes policy rate by 300 basis points
MPC cites Covid-19, conflict and natural disasters as it orders increase
IMF warns of possible market correction
Withdrawal of central bank support might trigger shock, say Tobias Adrian and Fabio Natalucci
IMF staff lay ground for $1.8 billion loan to Costa Rica
Staff set terms for three-year loan as high debt and Covid-19 take toll; earlier agreement foundered amid public protests
IMF warns of ‘exceptional uncertainty’ in vaccine-driven recovery
Fund upgrades global forecasts amid early success of vaccine rollout
Nordic and Baltic countries ask IMF for money laundering report
Move follows string of scandals over massive AML breaches in Baltic and Nordic banks
Israeli reserves “well beyond adequacy” – IMF
Fund calls on Bank of Israel to cease FX purchases once inflation returns to target
IMF provides $2.7 billion ‘precautionary’ support to Panama
Liquidity line will act as “insurance” for Panamanian authorities grappling with Covid, IMF says
New IMFC chair warns against premature stimulus withdrawal
Magadalena Andersson lays out priorities for the IMF over the coming years
People: Philippines governor recovering after medical procedure
Benjamin Diokno steps back from duties temporarily, plus appointments in UK, Singapore and more
Central banks must mobilise their FX reserves
The pandemic and climate crises call for bold action, write Gary Smith and John Nugée
IMF’s Georgieva highlights pandemic impact in Latin America
GDP contraction is forecast to be 8% of GDP in 2020, double the level for the global economy
IMF welcomes Rwandan central bank’s Covid response
National Bank of Rwanda funnelled liquidity to banks and cut policy rates
IMF raises precautionary balance target by a quarter
Some executive board members wanted higher raise amid uncertainty over pandemic’s impact
Argentinian central bank puts cap on imported luxury goods
BCRA bids to preserve foreign currency as international reserves decline to $39.4 billion
Georgian central bank starts operating new resolution framework
NBG says new resolution system will greatly increase Georgia’s financial stability
2020: The year in review
The past 12 months have been marked by crisis-fighting and losses, but also innovation
Is the integrity of Afghanistan’s central bank under threat?
Acting governor fires key staff and is accused of undoing reforms, while World Bank appears ready to suspend funds; administration and other donors show few signs of learning from Kabul Bank scandal
IMF’s Adrian weighs balance between stimulus and stability
Central banks need to incorporate macro-financial stability in decision-making processes, he says
Colombia draws on IMF’s FCL funds for first time
Government resorted to $5.4 billion drawing to help meet higher pandemic financing needs
Brazil central bank could ‘test’ lower rates if inflation remains weak – IMF
IMF staff see “no constraint” to lower rates as long as forward guidance is deployed