Central Banking
Icelandic leaders clash on possible peg
Prime minister challenges finance minister’s assertion that the krona needs to be pegged; government launches review of exchange rate policy
Uncertainty matters for forward guidance success – BoE paper
Authors show that introducing uncertainty generates significantly different macroeconomic effects, with implications for policymaking
Asset purchases could bring benefits in ‘normal’ times – paper
IMF working paper discusses whether asset purchases should be added to standard central bank toolkit; the policies seem more effective at combatting financial shocks than supply shocks
Haldane: central banks could ‘gamify’ communications
The game Monopoly could be the next tool in central bank’s communication toolbox, Haldane says, warning complex language breeds distrust
Eurozone instability tops reserve manager fears – survey
Threat of instability or weakness in the eurozone and fear of major asset price correction are greatest concerns for reserve managers in 2017, Central Banking survey shows
Bank of Finland publishes China and Russia forecasts
Chinese targets “encourage data manipulation”; Russia stalls on structural reforms
Fed’s Dudley discusses unwinding of balance sheet
Should reinvestment end “abruptly”, financial conditions would tighten, New York Fed president said; tapering “gradually and predictably” is the way to go, he adds
BoJ builds on BIS banking statistics
Researchers break down the statistics further, shedding new light on patterns of cross-border banking
ECB criticises draft Polish law on foreign-denominated loans
Draft bill could be even more expensive than previously abandoned proposal, ECB says
Ghanaian president nominates economist as governor
Ernest Addison is a lead regional economist at the African Development Bank
Inflation worries prompt further action from Mexico
Mexico slows pace of rate hikes amid inflation worries and volatile exchange rate; monetary policy committee will closely watch US economy, latest announcement says
Bank of Israel revamps policy communications
New approach to communicating monetary policy decisions as committee moves to an eight-meeting cycle
Bahamas further relaxes capital controls
Specific sectors of the economy will be able to obtain foreign exchange from banks both at home and abroad; non-resident firms to gain credit from international banks licensed in the Bahamas
Be careful of using swaps to track inflation expectations, analyst says
Be careful of using swaps to track inflation expectations, analyst says
Danes claim top spot for EU card payments
Danish people use cards more than any other European Union nation, central bank report says, with electronic payments widespread
Basel Committee outlines enhanced disclosure framework
Revised Pillar 3 standard adds “dashboard” of banks’ key prudential metrics and consolidates all existing Basel Committee disclosure requirements
Ghanaian governor resigns after one year in office
Recent IMF staff report praises the central bank, but says Ghana faces challenges
End of ‘hiking cycle’ has been reached – Sarb’s Kganyago
South African Reserve Bank publishes improved inflation forecast as the MPC votes to leave interest rates at 7%; uncertainty around the exchange rate is still a concern
BoE considers palm oil as tallow alternative for polymer notes
Bank of England issues polymer consultation after tallow controversy; palm oil will add £5 million to printing costs if adopted
Fed presidents lay ground for extra rate hike
Evans, Rosengren and Williams all signal the possibility of a fourth rate hike in 2017 if economy runs hot
Paraguay’s Valdovinos: bond issuance ‘not all about the money’
$500 million issuance was six-times oversubscribed, but the Paraguayan governor says its success lies in the message it sends to investors overseas
Ireland presents new financial consumer protection model
“More intrusive” model needed to counteract firms’ failure to change culture, bank says
Brazil can no longer rely on consumption for growth – paper
IMF paper highlights need for Brazil to switch to investment-led growth model as infrastructure caps threaten productivity and competitiveness
Basel Committee to retain provisioning treatment as IFRS 9 launches
Committee admits differences across countries are likely to remain in the interim, while it works to design a new approach to the regulatory treatment of expected credit losses