Central Banking Journal
Currency manager: Bank of Israel
The Israeli central bank is revolutionising the way it manages the country’s banknotes while maintaining security and preparing for the future
Currency services: De La Rue
2018 was a busy year for the UK-based banknote provider as it secured new clients and transformed its focus towards technology
Currency innovation: Giesecke+Devrient Currency App
The German company has helped central banks improve their educational outreach to bolster national currency security
Financial inclusion initiative: Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis
Improvements in the bank’s financial inclusion initiatives are helping tackle the polarisation of economic education in the US and across the globe
Financial market infrastructure services: ParFX
The foreign exchange platform has pioneered a market-driven effort to tackle concerns about poor market behaviour and distrust in the $5 trillion-a-day market
Reserve manager of the year: Bank of Mexico
The Latin American central bank has adopted a forward-looking asset allocation strategy as well as embracing absolute return approaches
Asset manager of the year: State Street Global Advisors
The US financial group used its global presence, and equity and fixed income expertise, to expand its central bank client base and assets under management in 2018
Global markets award: HSBC
HSBC’s global reach and expertise in emerging Asian markets has helped its long-term central bank clients develop more sophisticated reserve management strategies and move into new markets
Innovation in reserve management: BNP Paribas Asset Management
The asset manager developed new fixed income investment strategies in 2018 that have delivered strong returns and diversification for clients, while also offering practical training support
Custody initiative of the year: Citi
The US financial group used its global presence and technological edge in 2018 to deepen existing relations and obtain new mandates
Initiative of the year: RBNZ’s Financial Strength Dashboard
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s Financial Strength Dashboard offers a window into the nation’s banking system
Specialised lending initiative: Deutsche Bank
As agent lender for securities purchased under the European Central Bank’s bond purchase programme, Deutsche Bank has played an important role in supporting secondary market liquidity
Book notes: EuroTragedy, by Ashoka Mody
The former International Monetary Fund insider elegantly tells the story of the creation of the currency that has defied economics, warning that it could get “worse, much worse”
Book notes: Keeping at it, by Paul Volcker with Christine Harper
Volcker, a man who has made history, delivers a fascinating memoir, providing insights into the key lessons learned during his decades of public service, writes Jean-Claude Trichet
Book notes: Macroprudential policy and practice, edited by Paul Mizen, Margarita Rubio and Philip Turner
An important overview of the current state of thinking about macro-prudential policy, but uncertainties remain about the current allocation of financial stability responsibilities
People: Kenyan and Samoan governors named to UN digital task force
Kenya’s Njoroge and Samoa’s Ainuu-Enari to investigate digital impact on financial inclusion
Beyond payments: central bank digital currency
The issuance of central bank digital currencies, such as Sweden’s proposed e-krona, could facilitate monetary policy beyond the zero lower bound
The euro: a troubled third decade?
Italy’s pact-busting budget highlights ongoing eurozone frailties
Book notes: The Fed and Lehman Brothers, by Laurence Ball
Ball claims the Fed could have lent to Lehmans, lawfully and prudently, had it chosen to do so, writes Reddell. But agreeing the Fed could have provided liquidity support does not automatically imply it should have
The EU tries to rethink its faltering AML regime
The European Union plans to centralise its anti-money laundering efforts following a series of scandals this year. Dan Hardie looks at the options available and the multitude of challenges that remain
Agent-based models: a new frontier for macroeconomics?
Agent-based modelling is opening up new possibilities for economics, but the discipline is still struggling to move from the sidelines to the mainstream
Book notes: The bank that lived a little, by Philip Augar
History of British commercial bank Barclays fails to address key questions, writes Michael Taylor
Tunisia’s El Abassi on central banking during a regional security crisis
Central Bank of Tunisia’s governor talks about capacity building, evolving relations with the IMF, integration among the Arab states and using technology to foster inclusion
What next for the BoJ’s unprecedented ETF experiment?
No other central bank has attempted such purchases, and exiting the policy may prove extremely challenging, says Sayuri Shirai