Central Banking
Colombia unexpectedly holds policy rate
Central bank pauses easing cycle as minimum wage hike complicates inflation dynamics
Rivers, birds and cultural spaces to feature on new euro notes
Design contest to start in 2025, though introduction “several years” away
Risk Management Benchmarks 2025 – executive summary
The benchmarks reveal an ongoing focus on cyber risk, but climate and AI risks are rising fast
Bank of England mustering unit to model system-wide stresses
Permanent team at UK supervisor will work on buy- and sell-side interactions
Argentina cuts rates by 300bp to 29%
Central bank will also slow peso’s monthly devaluation rate, starting from next week
AI adoption does not require governance overhaul – BIS
Study says central banks can build upon existing risk management frameworks
Rwanda and Ghana to connect payment systems
Rwandan central bank governor reveals plans to increase financial inclusion with CBDC, microfinance
Fintechs launch e-rupee services
Initiative follows RBI’s announcement last year that CBDC would be extended to non-banks
CNB takes next step towards adopting bitcoin
Board approves governor’s proposal to look at “additional asset classes”, which could include crypto
South Africa delivers third successive rate cut
Move comes as inflation remains at lower end of target range
Information impacts dealers’ behaviour in crises – BoE paper
“Information chasing” helps explain how prices are set during liquidity shocks, authors say
European Central Bank makes 25bp cut
Lagarde “confident” EU central banks will not add crypto to their reserves
Afghanistan to issue jail terms for large dollar transfers
Move to clamp down on illicit inflows comes as central bank struggles to prop up afghani
Brazil again raises rates by 100bp
BCB signals further rises amid persistently high inflation and lingering concerns over public finances
Riksbank makes second 25bp rate cut of 2025
“Signs of an economic rebound” prompt further easing of policy
Hungary tentatively holds rates
MNB also changes forward guidance as inflation picks up
AI transcript hints at nepotism in ECB hiring practices
Opaque wage adjustment processes are unaccountable, sources tell Central Banking
Fed holds rates amid pressure from White House
Powell says he has had no contact with Trump since president said he would “demand” easing of policy
Bank of Canada cuts rates and ends quantitative tightening
Macklem says monetary policy cannot offset negative effects of tariffs
RBI injects billions into liquidity-strapped financial system
Analysts say decision points to rate cut by India’s central bank in February
India reports hundredfold growth in digital payments since 2012
Central bank’s deputy governor says cross-border payments remain expensive and slow, however
Sri Lanka holds rates amid persistent deflation
Central bank expects price falls to intensify owing to cuts in electricity tariffs
Czech governor wants central bank to add bitcoin to reserves
Michl to make proposal to CNB’s board, while recognising cryptocurrency “bubble” could burst
BoE’s Jackson flags dangers of ballooning prime brokerage market
Bank’s executive director says new players will need to get up to speed on risk management