Africa
Nigeria’s central bank implements financial inclusion strategy targeted at women
Central bank wants to close financial services gender gap by 2024
Reserve Benchmarks 2020 report – charting new data frontiers
Perspectives on staffing, coverage, portfolio construction, benchmarking, external parties and risk
One third of reserves staff work in front-office roles
Average reserve management team size is less than 30 employees
Ethiopia launches new high-denomination banknote
New 200 birr note aims to curb inflation and corruption, central bank says, as Covid-19 slows growth
Lower-income countries generate highest reserves growth
Most reserves portfolios appear to have weathered the Covid-19 crisis well
Few central banks consider climate risk within benchmarks
Despite central banks supporting mandatory climate risk disclosures, very few account for it in their benchmarks
Nigerian president tells central bank to change forex policy
Central bank defends industrial subsidies and says border has been closed to prevent smuggling
Asia tops rankings for reserves coverage ratios
Asia leads across three main metrics, but the region may be moderating its holdings
Many Paris Agreement signatories do not use ESG screens
Most reserve managers fail to take environmental factors into account for FX portfolios
People: African Development Bank president re-elected for second term
AfDB president gets further five years as chief; Burundi and Guinea appoint vice-governors
Official institutions lead the Covid‑19 recovery charge
Tested by the Covid-19 pandemic, market consensus is that official institutions have been instrumental in mitigating market disruption. As economies work out how to adapt to a post-lockdown world, major public bodies are likely to play a key role in the…
Zambian president fires central bank governor
President appoints ally to lead central bank after governor warns of economic crisis
Bank of Zambia cuts rates as Covid concerns intensify
Zambian central bank calls for debt sustainability policies as growth and inflation forecasts worsen
Covid-19: a watershed moment for China’s BRI?
China faces a delicate task as its restructures debt while striving to preserve the soundness of its banks
BEAC to buy securities to support countries grappling with Covid-19
Bank of Central African States will purchase up to $830 million in secondary market
Sarb cuts rates as unemployment breaches 30%
Central bank says emerging markets will struggle as lockdown measures ease
Kenya’s central bank looks to regulate digital lenders
Legislation before government could help central bank control high lending rates on digital products
Mena region leans on exchange rates to weather pandemic
IMF says central banks in the region have intervened in the market more than any other region
Cash issuance in Botswana balloons 18% in 2019
Annual report shows banknote issuance growth for all denominations
Bank of Mauritius extends Covid-19 support measures
Central bank extends loan support programme and increases foreign exchange funding
Malawi’s new president dismisses governor
Former World Bank official will take over central bank as country faces uncertain outlook
Angola to issue its first polymer banknotes
Governor says new banknote series will improve security and durability, and cut costs
World Bank strengthens presence in Africa
Second vice-president appointed to region to help “align resources with priorities”
Zimbabwe increases interest rates as inflation soars
Central bank raises interest rates to 35%