Latin America & Caribbean
Crypto usage in Bolivia skyrockets by more than 500%
Central bank data shows large jump in adoption after country lifted ban on virtual asset last year
Banxico makes fourth straight 50bp cut
Inflation edges up but growth still sluggish; central bank opens door to slower easing
Paraguay maintains policy rate at 6%
Central bank delivers 15th consecutive hold as inflation trends towards new 3.5% target
Brazil raises policy rate to 15% and signals ‘prolonged’ hold
BCB makes seventh consecutive hike; inflation trends downwards but still above target
Chile holds rates at 5% again
Inflation slows and growth exceeds expectations, though war in Middle East adds uncertainty, BCCh says
Argentina gets reserve boost with $2 billion repo deal
BCRA also introduces measures to strengthen control over money supply
Brazil to enable recurring payment feature for Pix
BCB’s payment system will launch new function on June 16 after delay
Working group minutes: central banks seek cash cycle efficiencies
Some EME institutions are restructuring operations and promoting digital payment methods
Dovish Banxico minutes point to another 50bp cut in June
Weak domestic growth and tariff-hit foreign demand suggest further easing on horizon
Peru cuts by 25bp in surprise move
Policy rate now approaching level “estimated as neutral”, central bank says
Brazil hikes rates again as inflation still above target
BCB tightens by 50bp to 14.75% and leaves next decision open
CBCS analysis points to pronounced risks of global trade war
Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten says firms should diversify supply chains away from US
No more FX regime change in Argentina, BCRA governor says
Current policy will naturally move country towards free-floating exchange rate, Bausili explains
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