Central Banking
IMF projects deepest recession since Great Depression
Global growth could contract by between -3% and -6% this year, a combined loss of output of $9 trillion for 2020 and 2021
FSB outlines 10-point plan for tackling global stablecoin risks
Some powers already exist but stablecoins may cut across regulatory boundaries, report says
MAS promotes e-payments amid pandemic
Central bank launches campaign for PayNow and universal QR code
Sarb cuts rates to historic low
Unanimous decision comes as growth outlook and inflation forecasts revised; South Africa’s risk profile has increased
US must overhaul statistics to fight coronavirus – Minneapolis Fed paper
New methods, laws and cross-sector agreements are necessary to support real-time data analysis, research says
The IFF China Report 2020: China’s opening-up
Extending from east to west, China’s Belt and Road Initiative now encompasses as much as 65% of the world’s countries and a significant portion of global GDP. When first announced, investment was primarily targeted at transport infrastructure – but this…
Transfer season
Trade frictions with the US have caused a mass industrial transfer to China’s neighbours. Zhou Chengjun, IFF Academic Committee member and inspector of the Macro‑prudential Policy Bureau of the People’s Bank of China, says that shouldn’t stop China…
Crises enliven ‘totalitarian temptations’
The coronavirus pandemic will embolden governments and bodies such as the International Monetary Fund to grasp for more power, writes Steve Hanke
Indonesia gains ‘second line of defence’ from $60 billion Fed repo
Bank Indonesia secures repo with NY Fed to boost dollar liquidity and shore up rupiah
New fintech innovation hub goes live in South Africa
Hub will accommodate regulatory advice unit as well as sandbox and accelerator facilities
Fed unveils $2.3 trillion package for ‘Main Street’
Package launched as 6.6 million more people claim for unemployment insurance
IMF doubles emergency lending capacity
Fund considering other options including SDR issuance, says Kristalina Georgieva
ECB minutes reveal resistance to lifting self-imposed limits on PEPP
Some governing council members did not deem new programme necessary, proposing to use APP or OMT
World Bank says sub-Saharan Africa destined for first recession in 25 years
Growth could fall as low as -5.1% as largest economies struggle with Covid-19 repercussions
National Bank of Poland cuts rates to record low of 0.5%
Central bank includes state-guaranteed bonds in its asset purchase programme
Apra suspends bank licence issuance
Prudential regulator will continue to review applications while six-month suspension is in place
Bank of England to lend directly to government
Central bank agrees temporary expansion of “Ways and Means” facility
Israeli reserves fall sharply on dollar liquidity provision
Central bank’s portfolio decreases by $5.1 billion in March
BIS paper finds little evidence of ‘liquidity trap’
Monetary policy remains effective even very close to the lower bound, economists find
Kosovan central bank rolling out response to coronavirus shock
Governor Fehmi Mehmeti says economy is vulnerable but the central bank is taking action
ECB takes unprecedented steps to preserve credit provision
Central bank accepts state-guaranteed loans as collateral, reduces haircuts, and raises limit on unsecured bank bonds in collateral pool
Thailand’s central bank throws support line to SMEs
Businesses will be eligible for new financing facility and payment holiday
Central banks may have to become ‘dealers of last resort’ – BIS economists
EMEs have not overcome “original sin” by deepening local currency bond markets, authors warn
Banque de France predicts 6% economic contraction
Confinement laws have had a significant impact on activity