Federal Reserve System
Current threats to central bank independence
Improved communications, advocacy for tech oversight and international co-operation will help to address challenges posed by populism, excessive debt and new forms of money, write Gavin Bingham, Paul Fisher and Andrew Large
Supply-side shock stuns central banks
The partial closure of the Strait of Hormuz raises fresh challenges for central bank policy-makers
Banknotes: January to March 2026
A round-up of news and salient issues that have affected central bankers in the past three months
People: Williams to continue leading BIS markets committee
Plus appointments in Baltics and departures at Bank of Canada
Shrinking Fed’s balance sheet a ‘solvable challenge’ – Miran
Central bank can shed $2 trillion off ledger without hitting scarce reserves threshold, governor says
For collateral, can TINA become TIA?
US Treasuries’ dominance as collateral in repo and derivatives is no longer set in stone, argues economist
Geopolitics becoming ‘key risk’ for central banks – panel
Experts at ECB conference say political upheaval now a greater concern than price growth
Iran war and persistent inflation will derail policy – panellists
Former St Louis Fed president joins ECB and BIS’s chief economists in outlining future paths
PBoC reserve ratio cut spurs short-term FX hedging
Removal of 20% forex risk rule drives exporters towards options and onshore forwards
Fed should still ease policy amid energy shock – Miran
Governor says his outlook for four rate cuts this year remains unchanged
Rising reliance on internal auditors spooks regulators and industry
Risk managers warn US is substituting supervisors with auditors; could compromise independence
Central Banking Awards 2026: the winners in full
Awards recognise extraordinary achievements in another challenging year for central banks
US blows the floors off Basel III
Barr criticises 'downward deviations' in US rule; Bowman rejects 'blind adherence' to global standards
Central banks in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan hold rates
Taiwan tilts hawkish, Hong Kong follows Fed and China expected to ease by 10bp this year
Interest rate crosswinds buffet IRRBB teams
Political intervention and rapid-fire law changes are skewering bank models for forecasting cashflows
BoJ holds as Middle East conflict threatens higher inflation
Ueda says Japanese firms could pass on costs ‘more aggressively’ than after start of Ukraine war
Fed holds amid uncertainty over oil shock and tariffs
Powell pledges to stay on as interim chair if Warsh’s nomination is not confirmed in Senate
Fed watchers welcome court ruling on Powell
However, expert says DoJ’s appeal against decision could thwart Warsh’s confirmation as Fed chair
BIS urges central banks to look through energy price surge
Oil and gas prices up 40% and 60% respectively since Middle East conflict began
Fed’s Bowman outlines imminent changes to US capital rules
Overall framework to remain more robust than previous version, but will aim to eliminate overlaps