GDP
Fed’s Bernanke looks beyond broad market indicators
Fed chairman warns key aggregate metrics can miss economic pain felt by individuals and households; encourages development of economic measures to better assist with policy decisions
China hints at policy adjustments to support economy
People's Bank of China pledges to strengthen the 'fine-tuning' of monetary policy in the country; latest indication of growing anxiety over slowing economy
RBI shuns foreign investors and derivatives in favour of structural ALM, says former deputy governor
Shyamala Gopinath believes market structure and regulation can be used to create ‘natural’ asset and liability management; approach is superior to managing risks with financial hedges
Bundesbank raises 2012 growth prediction
German central bank records marginally more positive growth expectation for the economy this year; still harbours significant concerns on key issues such as unemployment
OECD laments fragile, uneven global recovery
Economic Outlook predicts slower GDP growth across OECD countries in 2012; discusses delicate recovery around the world
Differing growth predictions demonstrate uneven global recovery
European Commission estimates 0.3% contraction for eurozone GDP; Lithuania and Thailand meanwhile revise growth estimates upwards
IMF sounds warning over European deleveraging
Lagarde hopes to ‘significantly’ increase resources available to the IMF during spring meeting; Financial Stability Report also recognises need for increased firewall as deleveraging rages on in Europe
IMF's Shinohara airs concerns over slowing Asian growth
Weak demand in Europe and US has potential to harm growth prospects for Asia, says IMF deputy managing director
IMF working paper links democracy and GDP growth
International Monetary Fund researchers conclude that income inequality is key driver to the emergence of open societies
ECB reveals dip in G-20 GDP growth
European Central Bank announces G-20 GDP growth slowed to 0.7% in the fourth quarter of 2011
MAS releases recent economic developments briefing
Monetary Authority of Singapore sets out recent economic developments in the country; reveals inflation prediction for 2012
RBA surprises markets with rate hold
Reserve Bank of Australia policy board leaves cash rate unchanged despite market expectation of 25-basis point cut in rates due to weak external outlook
Heightened uncertainty promoted precautionary savings post-crisis, says IMF paper
Fund study says precautionary motives promoted households in advanced economies to significantly increase savings following the global financial crisis
IMF paper: High international reserves are not panacea for low-income countries
International Monetary Fund study measures economic impact of external shocks on low-income countries with different levels of international reserves; says reserves provide cushion not remedy
ECB and BoE join other countries in rates hold
European Central Bank and Bank of England join the National Bank of Poland and Bank Indonesia in leaving interest rates on hold; ECB president welcomes U-turn on Greece private sector involvement
Sri Lanka holds rates on stable growth outlook
Central Bank of Sri Lanka Monetary Policy Review shows economy grew by 8.4% in the third quarter of 2011 due to strong agriculture, industry and services sector
BIS paper warns of risks from long-term interest rate volatility
Bank for International Settlements study cautions against the use of long-term interest rates as a policy variable
UK government launches separate easing programme
Bank of England agrees to reduce the maximum size of its Asset Purchase Facility to make way for government’s new credit easing programme; settles dispute over bolstering lending to SMEs
Credit expansions strengthen recessionary trends: SF Fed paper
San Francisco Federal Reserve study finds credit intensity of the boom periods matter for path of recession
Expert group calls for launch of Eurobond fund
European League for Economic Co-operation publishes proposals requesting the establishment of eurozone bond fund; would issue paper with maturities of up to two years
Credit-leading indicator to trigger countercyclical buffer phases: BIS paper
Bank for International Settlements study shows that credit-to-GDP ratio is best indicator for build-up and release phases of countercyclical capital buffers
Draghi announces rate cut amid fears of mild recession
European Central Bank president Mario Draghi marks inaugural Governing Council press conference with 25 basis point rate cut; ECB reveals details of covered bond scheme
Netherlands takes on systemically important banks
Netherlands Bank expresses concern at exposure of Dutch banking sector to sovereign debt crisis; tells systemically important banks to begin preparations to raise capital and build recovery plans
Greece will receive bailout funds despite missing target, say analysts
Greece finance ministry says country will fall short of its fiscal deficit reduction target for 2011; analysts still expect Troika to approve sixth bailout tranche