Coronavirus
Zimbabwean central bank cuts rates and attempts currency controls
RBZ loosens policy as IMF predicts massive contraction in GDP for already-weakened country
Elderson says authorities should use Covid-19 to boost green transition
Aid to aviation sector should be conditioned on moving away from carbon dioxide emissions
BoE eases funding terms as government launches ‘bounce back’ loans
Loans will be excluded from leverage ratio calculations
Lebanese PM asks for IMF aid as dispute with central bank grows
Governor at centre of massive economic crisis appears to condemn PM’s words as “slander”
New Bank of Canada governor selected
Tiff Macklem, the senior deputy governor under Mark Carney, will replace Poloz on June 2
Fed expands main street lending plans
Central bank faces criticism for appearing to respond to oil and gas lobbying
Covid-19 could cut eurozone GDP by 5%, 8% or 12% in 2020 – ECB
ECB publishes alternative scenarios for the uncertain economic outlook created by the pandemic
Colombia reduces rates as economy faces sharp recession
Central bank reduces rate by 50 basis points to 3.25%, GDP expected to fall by 10% in Q2
Dutch pension funds record heavy losses – DNB
Major pension funds warn they may have to cut payouts unless finances improve soon
ECB launches new lending facility, but holds rates
Lagarde announces cut for banks’ borrowing rate, but the ECB has not expanded asset purchases
Nigeria gets $3.4 billion IMF support
IMF calls for more donor support but warns over possible misuse of aid
Podcast: An interdisciplinary approach to Covid-19 surveying
FedSpeak talks with the Minneapolis Fed’s Abigail Wozniak on her new real-time survey combining social science and epidemiology
Fed predicts ‘unprecedented’ economic shock
Policy on hold as Q2 may see data “worse than any data we have seen”, Powell warns
Is SDR issuance the best way to support low-income economies?
Economists and policy-makers are increasingly discussing the option as a way to boost liquidity in the fight against Covid-19
Fed’s Jackson Hole conference hit by temporary venue closure
Kansas City Fed is considering implications and will release details when available
Riksbank open to future rate cut
Swedish central bank keeps stimulus package unchanged in monetary policy meeting
World Bank pays out after triggering pandemic bonds
Requirements for funding release were met on March 31; since then, Covid-19 cases in poorest countries have doubled to 1.34% of the global total
Fed expands local government liquidity facility
Programme faced criticism for leaving out regions with heavy Native American and African-American populations
Libra’s Disparte on big tech’s move into digital currency
Libra Association vice-chair Dante Disparte speaks about the decision to abandon a multi-currency reserve, stress-testing a global payment network and how the Facebook-backed body still has 3 billion customers in its sights
IMF approves new programmes in support of weaker economies
Over the past week the fund has given the green light for disbursements in Bosnia, Paraguay, DRC and Mauritania
Coronavirus latest: Central banks respond to the Covid-19 crisis
Live coverage as central banks respond to the virus outbreak (live feed is now closed)
Bank of Russia cuts policy rate as oil and pandemic crises deepen
Elvira Nabiullina says central bank may cut again as it forecasts major recession in 2020
Riksbank unveils details of local bond purchases
Swedish central bank to buy up to Skr5 billion from Kommuninvest i Sverige
Bank of Japan steps up stimulus with unlimited JGB purchases
BoJ drops limit on government debt and quadruples corporate bond cap, but it is unclear if purchases will actually increase