Interest rates
Dovish Banxico minutes point to another 50bp cut in June
Weak domestic growth and tariff-hit foreign demand suggest further easing on horizon
Bank of Korea makes 25bp cut and lowers GDP forecast again
Central bank hints at further easing as weak domestic recovery and US tariffs dim growth outlook
RBNZ cuts by 25bp in sixth straight rate reduction
New Zealand’s central bank signals steeper easing cycle as tariff uncertainty dents growth outlook
Trends in reserve management 2025: survey results
Insights on strategies in anticipation of tariffs, interest rate divergence and geopolitical risk, FX diversification and de-dollarisation, as well as bitcoin in reserves, FX interventions and gold
Book notes: The political economy of central banking, by Alessandro Roselli
Roselli’s book offers a comprehensive history of the relationship between governments and central banks
Maurice Obstfeld on the trade war’s damage to the monetary system
The former IMF chief economist speaks about Trump’s chaotic economic policies, the erosion of Fed independence and dollar stability, difficult policy trade-offs for central banks, and the threat to the Bretton Woods institutions
Sarb official warns of risk in RSA sovereign bond holdings
Banks must consider interest rate risk when buying South African government debt, head of stability says
Rate expectations influence BoJ’s yield control – paper
Bond purchasing programme less effective when market unsure of future monetary policy path
Romania opts to hold, citing domestic and global uncertainty
Central bank cites fluctuating commodity prices, tariff risks and volatility resulting from national politics
Rate hikes have created debt-servicing difficulties – ECB study
Research also points to overall robustness in eurozone’s household lending sector
Peru cuts by 25bp in surprise move
Policy rate now approaching level “estimated as neutral”, central bank says
BoE governor gives optimistic forecast about scenario approach
Bailey says new method allows for better projections, given growing frequency of ‘black swans’
Brazil hikes rates again as inflation still above target
BCB tightens by 50bp to 14.75% and leaves next decision open
Fed holds rates as experts sound alarm over stagflation
FOMC says risks have risen on both the employment and inflation sides of its mandate
PBoC cuts rates and lowers reserve requirement ratios
China delivers major round of stimulus measures before opening trade talks with US
FOMC vote rotation ‘distorts’ rates – NBER paper
Regional Fed presidents make decisions based on local conditions, research finds
Time to worry about Japanese debt?
The transition to positive rates means Japan may need to re-examine its huge public debt burden, argues Sayuri Shirai
Natural interest rate driven by productivity growth – research
Population increase also plays important role in determining metric, RBNZ paper finds
Yen rates losses from tariff drama top $1 billion
Losses came from forced unwinds of bets on BoJ rate rises
Bank of Korea holds rates at 2.75%
Growth sluggish and inflation on target but central bank needs more time to judge tariff effects
Fed ‘absolutely’ prepared to stabilise markets, says Collins
Head of Boston Fed says bank ready to deploy tools as and when they are needed
Philippines resumes easing cycle with quarter-point cut
Inflation slows but growth risks increase amid “more challenging” external environment, BSP says
Reserve Bank of India cuts benchmark rate to 6%
RBI hails fall in food inflation, but revises growth forecast down because of US tariffs
Kenya cuts benchmark rate to 10%
Central bank says easing necessary to boost lending to private sector and stimulate growth