Asia-Pacific
Transfer season
Trade frictions with the US have caused a mass industrial transfer to China’s neighbours. Zhou Chengjun, IFF Academic Committee member and inspector of the Macro‑prudential Policy Bureau of the People’s Bank of China, says that shouldn’t stop China…
Indonesia gains ‘second line of defence’ from $60 billion Fed repo
Bank Indonesia secures repo with NY Fed to boost dollar liquidity and shore up rupiah
Thailand’s central bank throws support line to SMEs
Businesses will be eligible for new financing facility and payment holiday
Bank of Thailand advocates washing banknotes
Central bank says “mild detergent” or soapy water will be enough
HKMA staff to get 2.5% pay increase
Senior staff, including chief executive Eddie Yue, request pay freeze
The IFF China Report 2020: Financial stability
When US President Donald Trump introduced tariffs on Chinese exports in 2018 it upset the world order and dampened economic growth. China responded in force, asking its firms to find alternative sellers for US exports. As a result, it has bought…
The long march to global growth
Liang Tao, vice-chairman of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission, says that China’s growth is fuelling innovation and modernisation, but financial regulation and governance needs to be tightened up for China to take its place at the top…
Is there a dollar funding squeeze in China?
China could benefit from joining the Fed’s dollar swaps network but political obstacles bar the way
Malaysian central bank says economy likely to shrink
Bank Negara Malaysia says pandemic already having “significant impact”
Amplifying the soundwaves: the evolution of social media communications
Central banks’ social media usage is on the rise, but their choice of platform is shifting more and more towards the visual
UK banks halt dividend payments after BoE piles on pressure
PRA asks largest lenders to suspend payments until the end of the year
East Asian economies face ‘profound’ impact from Covid-19 – World Bank
Report estimates growth could turn negative for the region in “lower-case” scenario
Pricing the lives saved by coronavirus policies
How does the effort to reduce risks to human life from Covid-19 compare with the economic losses?
Philippines, Taiwan and Indonesia cut rates; Singapore on watch
Asian central banks continue easing to boost virus-hit economies; Singapore slips into deflation for the first time in a decade
The Tokyo Olympics: downside risks prevail
The Bank of Japan’s latest stimulus effort seems to be weak, and comes at a time when the benefits of hosting the Tokyo Olympics may be overstated – even if the games still take place
Asian central banks rush to roll out easing measures
Japan expands asset purchases; Korea cuts rates to record low; China extends lending and HKMA cuts capital buffer
Indian supreme court overturns RBI crypto ban
RBI has powers over crypto asset services but total ban was disproportionate, court rules
Book notes: The art of economic catch-up, by Keun Lee
Rather than merely catch-up, the book offers countries advice in making a sea change in their economic statuses
Asia-Pacific central banks act to cushion coronavirus shock
RBA and Bank Negara Malaysia cut rates; Bank Indonesia steps in to support markets
Inflation targets back in the spotlight
Monetary policy can do little to offset the impact of Covid-19
Major central banks ready to respond to coronavirus
Fed, ECB and Bank of Japan say they are willing to act; central bank events disrupted
Policy responses to Covid-19
The coronavirus outbreak poses a real threat to the global economy, writes Sayuri Shirai
IMF chief warns of ‘dire’ coronavirus scenarios
Virus has already impacted global growth but effect could worsen if containment fails
Bank of Korea will superheat banknotes to stop coronavirus
People looking to exchange currency will have to go through heat monitor