Forward guidance
Vaguer guidance in vogue as unemployment continues to confound
As UK and US unemployment brushes the thresholds of monetary policy forward guidance, central banks' next moves are anything but straightforward
Fed's Williams says ‘highly effective' forward guidance has a ‘number of limitations'
San Francisco Fed president defends the policy's record in a paper written for the Brookings Institution, but also says it is ‘prone to misinterpretation'
SNB's Jordan: 'Transparency can be counterproductive'
Chairman of the Swiss National Bank calls for central banks to take ‘great caution’ before making changes to their communications policy; expresses scepticism over board minutes and forward guidance
Fed minutes reveal QE wind-down balancing act
Reduction in monthly asset purchases of $10 billion meant to signal slow rather than quick tapering; thresholds becoming less relevant as economy improves
ECB 'strengthens' guidance but keeps policy on hold
Mario Draghi says December’s inflation drop was ‘broadly as expected’ and did not warrant a knee-jerk response; places additional emphasis on governing council’s forward guidance
Yellen approved as Fed chairwoman
US Senate approves Janet Yellen as Federal Reserve's first female chair, in closest vote to date; adjusting unconventional policies to improving economic conditions ‘greatest challenge', says analyst
Fed taper met with calm, but questions remain
Markets take ‘expected' tapering in stride, but analysts warn of persistent emerging market vulnerabilities and changing FOMC dynamics in 2014
Carney defends forward guidance as UK unemployment falls closer to BoE threshold
Bank of England governor says reaching 7% unemployment threshold does not presuppose monetary tightening, but rather incorporates a deliberate buffer before full employment is reached
Carney: UK businesses ‘understand forward guidance well'
New governor's policy of providing guidance on future interest rates is useful for businesses and households, he says - despite financial markets apparently not believing it
Reserve Bank of New Zealand looks to ramp up ‘alternative' communication
RBNZ doubles down on speeches and alternative media channels such as videos and infographics to cut through post-crisis ‘noise'; follows Riksbank's communication strategy overhaul earlier this week
Liikanen calls for ‘precise’ communication at point of exit
Bank of Finland governor Erkki Liikanen emphasises the importance of central banks providing detailed and accurate communication as they approach the ‘turning point’ of monetary policy
Departing Bernanke takes stock of Fed's unprecedented actions
Federal Reserve chairman discusses the ups and downs of the bank's asset purchases and attempt to guide market expectations; admits shortcomings but maintains policies are warranted
ECB's Asmussen defends 'unorthodox measures' in pursuit of 'orthodox objectives'
Executive board member highlights distinction between policy goals and instruments; says LTROs, OMTs and forward guidance crucial to ensure monetary transmission and hit inflation target
UK data boost could spell early end to BoE forward guidance
Inflation report out today predicts consumer price inflation will reach 2% target sooner than predicted after sharp drop in October; revised forecast on unemployment may undermine forward guidance
Fed retains credibility following forward guidance, says Dutch paper
Dutch researcher says the Federal Reserve’s forward guidance resulted in a ‘significant reduction’ in Treasury yields as a whole, but did not change the relationship between real and nominal yields
Senior Fed staff consider further stimulus
Two of the Federal Reserve’s top economists have produced papers outlining the merits of ‘highly accommodative’ monetary policy, including a lower unemployment threshold
Fed reaction function shift helped support recovery, research finds
NY Fed research finds markets viewed ‘calendar’ forward guidance as a more dovish approach to policy, supported by comments from FOMC members; ECB and BoE both denied such a move in own guidance
Productivity still a puzzle for Bank of England MPC
Latest minutes show the monetary policy committee still does not really understand what is driving falling unemployment and rising productivity; inflation pressures seen softening slightly
Woodford forward guidance an ‘academic curio', says BoE's Bean
Deputy governor says Bank of England cannot commit to low interest rates for as long as Woodford and Eggertsson would advocate; concedes financial stability knockout in guidance may be ‘material'
BIS' Caruana identifies ‘new' threats to central bank credibility
Central bank independence is under pressure from unprecedented monetary policies, says BIS manager; argues banks' ‘credibility in fulfilling their mandates' is at stake
BoE's Martin Weale still unsure over Carney's forward guidance by consensus
Bank of England's forward guidance dissenter explains ongoing qualms over how forward guidance works at the BoE, as he is re-appointed to a second term
Fed's Williams questions future of unconventional tools
San Francisco Fed president John Williams says forward guidance will help to improve transparency in more conventional times, while asset purchases should only be used as a last resort
FOMC members unpick Fed's ‘no taper' decision
Jeremy Stein suggests clear-cut forward guidance for QE wind-down as several members highlight Fed's ‘communication challenge'; Esther George says decision poses a risk to future credibility
RBNZ institutional set-up makes forward guidance easier, says Grimes
Former chair of Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s board of directors says the concentration of power in the hands of the central bank’s governor makes forward guidance easier and policy-making clearer