International
Central banks must rethink how they speak
Communication is critical for effective policy and social media is not merely a channel of communication, it is a space for dialogue, a feedback loop and a reputational battleground, writes Biagio Bossone
Payments Benchmarks 2025 – executive summary
The benchmarks highlight continued progress in boosting cross-border payments
Paraguay’s Carvallo Spalding on resilience and cutting its inflation target
The Central Bank of Paraguay (BCP) governor speaks about lowering the inflation target to 3.5%, opening up to foreign investors and promoting inclusion through digital payments
Payments Benchmarks 2025 report – cross-border connections
Benchmarks highlight progress on instant payments, ISO 20022 adoption and bilateral links
US Basel III delay to 2026 seen as almost inevitable
Reprioritisation and leadership changes cast doubts on timing of new proposals
Regulators ‘not done’ with bank and non-bank rules – Knot
Outgoing FSB chair says some regulations are “overly complex” but must not be weakened
Policy must be forceful to anchor expectations, panel hears
Central bankers discuss lessons from post-Covid inflation surge at Summer Meetings
Connectivity makes payments faster and cheaper – panel
Officials at Summer Meetings discuss need to facilitate cross-border payment systems
Handful of central banks have bilateral payment links
Projects are nascent and growing, but some countries seek multilateral links instead
Central Banking Awards 2025 ceremony honours shining stars
Oscars of central banking recognise excellence in the community
A fireside chat with BIS head Agustín Carstens
The lifetime achievement award-winner speaks with Chris Jeffery about how experiencing inflation shaped his career, gaps in economic theory and macro-pru governance, the future of money and the importance of international co-operation
Quarles to lead review of FSB monitoring
Appointment of former Fed vice-chair reflects shift in focus for global body
BoE makes subtle leverage snipe at CCP cross-margining
Margin offsets might increase risk, but could also encourage more central clearing
Book notes: The measure of progress: counting what really matters, by Diane Coyle
The book offers important insights into national income data compilation that are frequently ignored by economists
Bank notes: April to June 2025
A round-up of news and salient issues that have affected central bankers in the past three months
A fractured monetary system
US policy is encouraging a transition away from a dollar-led, rules-based order
Reflections on the international financial situation
Former IMF head Jacques de Larosière writes that markets are blind to Trump's policy shocks that are fragmenting the monetary ‘system’, causing strain in the eurozone and may result in stagflation
Is the central bank gold rush over?
Has gold become too expensive to offer value as a diversification asset amid geopolitical turbulence?
Trust allows ‘decisive’ policy action – Carstens
BIS general manager says more work is needed to secure trust in financial stability and fiscal policy
Trends in reserve management 2025: survey results
Insights on strategies in anticipation of tariffs, interest rate divergence and geopolitical risk, FX diversification and de-dollarisation, as well as bitcoin in reserves, FX interventions and gold
Book notes: The political economy of central banking, by Alessandro Roselli
Roselli’s book offers a comprehensive history of the relationship between governments and central banks
IMF officials call for central clearing of sovereign bonds
“More work needed” to enhance structural resilience in core markets, researchers say
Maurice Obstfeld on the trade war’s damage to the monetary system
The former IMF chief economist speaks about Trump’s chaotic economic policies, the erosion of Fed independence and dollar stability, difficult policy trade-offs for central banks, and the threat to the Bretton Woods institutions
Strategic Planning Benchmarks 2025 – model banks analysis
Data breakdowns reveal differences in strategic goals, department structure and salaries