Asia
Bank Indonesia resumes monetary easing
Central bank commits to further government bond purchases on the primary market
Thai interbank platform starts ‘bulk payments’
Upgrade will increase operability between systems, company says
MAS explores need for domestic green taxonomy
Taxonomy could help steer capital towards the region’s green priorities, deputy governor says
Guy Debelle on the future of the FX Global Code
Code’s creators considering updates to sections on last look and pre-hedging
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
MAS strengthens fintech co-operation with Ghana and Hungary
Agreements will help connect SMEs and foster discussions around regulation and emerging trends
HKMA and PBoC begin technical preparations for digital yuan pilot
HKMA CEO Yue says cross-border e-yuan will offer additional payment options to locals
Sri Lanka’s central bank picks SimCorp to manage reserves
Platform will handle both internally and externally managed funds
Is the RBI doomed to fail its ‘quest for financial stability’?
Covid-19 has set back progress on hard-won reforms. As the economy struggles to recover, the RBI and government must walk a treacherous path back to safety
Singapore non-bank firms can use real-time payments systems – MAS
“Major payment institutions” will be able to use two real-time systems from February 2021
Asean central banks call for joint action on climate risk
Asean policy-makers have work to do if they are to catch up with climate leaders, report says
Book notes: The great demographic reversal, by Charles Goodhart and Manoj Pradhan
An important book, predicting that powerful demographic forces will upend conventional thinking on macroeconomics and policy
Has Covid-19 made gold shine brighter?
The price of gold has skyrocketed this year, but central banks have not flocked to invest as they have done in the past, write Rachael King and Victor Mendez‑Barreira.
Gold reserves in central banks – 2020 survey results
Reserve managers share their views on future gold holdings, target allocations, purchasing and storage approaches, the use of ETFs, and the impact of Covid-19, in the results of a new joint Central Banking-Invesco survey. By Nick Carver and Robert Pringle
MAS encourages digital reporting through new grant
Firms can claim up to S$250,000 to implement new technology but only from pre-approved firms
Currency Benchmarks 2020 report – the data behind the cash cycle
Perspectives on staffing, circulation, forecasting, fraud, substrate choice, outsourcing and climate risk
World’s biggest IPO suspended after PBoC intervenes
Ant Group market debut suspended after Chinese authorities interview Jack Ma
Singapore’s central bank discontinues issuance of $1,000 banknote
Highest denomination will remain legal tender, but new issuance will cease at the end of 2020
Cambodia officially launches quasi-CBDC
Cambodia’s blockchain-powered payment system goes live
G+D and CPS are ‘most approved’ for banknote sorting
Just over half of survey sample endorses Munich-based manufacturer
Websites are top currency communication tool
More than two thirds of currency managers use social media; regional disparities emerge on preferred communication tools
Printing is the most outsourced area of the cash cycle
Just over 60% of survey respondents contract out currency printing; lower-income countries most likely to outsource
Hong Kong open to working with PBoC on digital currency
Senior government official says authorities would “actively participate” if it aids “mutual connectivity”