Exchange rate
Plummeting inflation prompts Bank of Zambia action
Central bank cuts policy rate by 150bp, in addition to a cut to the overnight lending rate and reserve ratio; inflation falls from over 18% to 7% in a matter of months
Mexico steps in to stabilise forex market
New derivatives contracts will be available to all credit institutions, with the first auction scheduled for March 6; a total of up to $20 billion will be allocated, central bank says
Nigeria’s central bank rolling back forex restrictions
Allocation rules are scrapped under the new regime, while all forex dealers must open outlets at airports to aid travellers; additional forex is to be made available for tuition and medical expenses
Malaysian government opens case on historic forex losses
Task force to probe heavy losses of Bank Negara Malaysia in the early 1990s, which reportedly included costly bets against George Soros
Reserve Bank of Tonga makes further tweaks to exchange controls
Reserve Bank continues to relax exchange controls, removing monthly limits and some identification requirements; IMF says central bank making progress
Angola disregards IMF advice on exchange rate overhaul
Angolan authorities disagree with IMF over suggested exchange rate framework changes but agree to a banking sector clean-up
‘Flash’ currency moves will continue to surprise markets – BoE’s Salmon
Bank of England executive director says there is “growing potential” for flash events to occur in core markets, despite markets now being able to identify risks
IMF: Indian demonetisation to have ‘limited impact’ on Nepal
Some households have been affected, the IMF says, but holdings of Indian rupees were “small”; the Central Bank of Nepal is offering an exchange facility to those wanting to exchange cash
Money targeting key to Egypt reform programme
Central bank to maintain flexible exchange rates and keep a close rein on the money supply as IMF pledges $12 billion support
BIS fails to find single cause of sterling ‘flash crash’
Report finds “numerous” factors which amplified the effects of the depreciation, including “inexperience staff” and “fragile” market conditions; lessons must be learned, BIS warns
PBoC to investigate bitcoin firms
Bitcoin price falls by 33% in January; PBoC to investigate four largest bitcoin companies
Turkish central bank acts to support lira as inflation jumps
Central bank launches fresh measures to counter “unhealthy price formations”; inflation surprise in December adds to pressure for monetary policy action
Stronger 2016 profit helps SNB rebuild reserves
Profitable year helps central bank repair its distribution reserve after losses in 2015, though profits appear to have slipped slightly in the fourth quarter
Barbados has failed to find growth balance, says governor
Further restrictions on spending needed to protect country’s reserves, says Worrell
Lars Rohde on negative rates, pegs, productivity and resolution
The National Bank of Denmark governor speaks to Christopher Jeffery about the productivity paradox, defending currency pegs, unexpected limits for negative rates and addressing too-big-to-fail
Paper examines “puzzles” in monetary policy transmission
HKIMR paper highlights differences in monetary policy transmission between advanced and emerging markets; “puzzles” are more severe for emerging markets
SNB ups allocation to currency reserves
New rule allows for higher allocations to reserves provision even in periods of low nominal growth; foreign exchange intervention now a key monetary tool
SNB’s Jordan stresses commitment to exchange rate intervention
Central bank holds the policy rate, but the Swiss franc is still “significantly overvalued”, and the SNB will continue to intervene, chairman says
IMF delay forces National Bank of Ukraine to keep forex controls
Central bank to leave foreign exchange controls in place until political instability subsides and reforms are under way; IMF acknowledges progress, but says more is needed before the third review
Updated Bank of Mauritius survey questions people on inflation causes
Latest survey shows Mauritian stakeholders are wary of external factors; exchange rate was viewed as second most important factor under new question format
IMF supports Chile move to form financial markets commission
Body will help with better co-ordination and information sharing between the financial sector and central bank; fund says central bank should be ready to cut rates if disinflation appears
IMF urges Sri Lanka to ‘modify’ international reserves target
Deputy managing director says international reserves remain below “comfortable levels”; central bank intends to continue building up reserves while allowing for “greater” exchange rate flexibility
Venezuela central bank launches new banknotes amid soaring inflation
The bolivar has weakened to unprecedented levels as inflation soars and political instability engulfs the nation; new note series’ highest denomination is 200 times larger than current highest
Peso depreciation is ‘necessary’ – Bank of Mexico report
Mexico’s relationship with the US has made it sensitive to economic policy decisions by its major trade partner; latest report explains the central bank will prevent exchange rate “contagion”