Latin America & Caribbean
Peru cuts by 25bp in surprise move
Policy rate now approaching level “estimated as neutral”, central bank says
IMF agrees $20 billion loan deal with Argentina
Fund disburses $12 billion immediately as BCRA moves currency regime to managed float
BCRA renews $5 billion currency swap with PBoC
Argentina gets reserves boost, with new IMF deal expected to be finalised over coming days
Jamaica to phase out cotton banknotes by July
Central bank says denominations between 50 and 5,000 Jamaican dollars will be affected
Brazil to introduce instalment function for Pix
BCB also plans to allow merchants to collateralise loans with future receivables on platform
LatAm policy transmission matches historical norm – paper
Pass-through stronger in consumer and corporate lending, Bank of Spain study finds
Colombia holds rates amid government pressure for cuts
Banrep board divided after three new members join; country’s president says decision “unacceptable”
Over 40% of central banks lack formal recapitalisation agreement
Ten banks were recapitalised in the past year
Mexico’s central bank cuts rates by 50bp
Economist says last month’s uptick in inflation means Banxico should have held
Brazil delivers another 100bp hike
BCB’s battle against inflation continues as government announces more fiscally expansionary measures
Peru holds policy rate at 4.75%
BCRP stays put as inflation and growth continue to move in right direction
Bolivia to purchase $1bn of gold this year to boost reserves
State-owned trading firm says it will continue to buy from local producers and sell to central bank
Working group minutes: facing up to CBDC adoption challenges
Participants at Cape Town meeting saw drawbacks to digital currency versus other payment methods
Fast payment systems enhance financial inclusion – BIS paper
Researchers examine systems’ spread in Latin America and Caribbean
Trump 2.0 piles pressure on reserve managers
Speakers at Central Banking Spring Meetings discuss positioning, interventions and impact of lost aid
Mexico’s central bank halves growth forecast for 2025
Tariffs not incorporated in prediction model, but Banxico expects uncertainty to dampen investment
Mexico accelerates easing with 50bp cut
Board members, unfazed by uncertainty in US, speed up loosening as inflation slows
Brazil to enable Pix for contactless instant payments
BCB-managed platform to have point-of-sale function by late February
Colombia unexpectedly holds policy rate
Central bank pauses easing cycle as minimum wage hike complicates inflation dynamics
Argentina cuts rates by 300bp to 29%
Central bank will also slow peso’s monthly devaluation rate, starting from next week
Brazil again raises rates by 100bp
BCB signals further rises amid persistently high inflation and lingering concerns over public finances