Interest rates
A vaccine for the global economy
Olivier Blanchard, Peter Praet and Daniel Alpert discuss shorter- and longer-term actions to tackle the flaws exposed by the Covid-19 crisis
Bank of Mexico cuts rates 50bp in emergency meeting
Analysts expect further cuts as the economy is expected to enter a sharp recession
Major economies already engaging in ‘currency wars’ – former IMF chief
De Larosière floats new commodity-based exchange rate regime; says “trust” is key to avoiding “beggar-thy-neighbour” policies
RBNZ launches $30bn government bond-buying programme
MPC asked to vote on package via email to ensure social distancing
Norges Bank slashes rates to record low of 0.25%
Central bank says workers are being laid off, as Norway faces double shock from virus and oil
BoE ramps up corporate and government bond-buying
Central bank launches new £200 billion package of QE plus rate cut and more liquidity
RBA introduces yield curve control
Lowe says measure would not have been considered under “normal times”
Cleveland Fed president criticises scale of rate cut
FOMC should have saved some rate cuts for US economic recovery, Loretta Mester says
Riksbank backs fiscal stimulus with massive QE programme
Swedish central bank increases loans to banks, cuts overnight lending rate to 0.2%
RBNZ reduces rates by 75bp in emergency meeting
Central bank says future purchases of government bonds preferable to lower rates
Central banks should support demand and bolster confidence – IMF
IMF offers advice to central banks on what measures are appropriate to combat Covid-19
PBoC injects $79 billion into virus-hit economy
Targeted RRR cut encourages smaller banks to lend to SMEs; more easing steps expected to stabilise economy
Central banks step up liquidity support
RBA, Bank of Canada, Norges Bank and Riksbank all increase their liquidity interventions
Norges Bank cuts rates 50bp in emergency meeting
Central bank offers extraordinary three-month loans to banks and calls on government to reduce countercyclical buffer
Lagarde seems to stumble as ECB announces coronavirus response
ECB announces more QE, expanded financing and loosening of banks’ capital and liquidity buffers
ECB likely to shy away from rate cut, analysts say
Central bank expected to unveil targeted measures to support banks and SMEs
Coronavirus policy responses raise financial stability threat – IMF official
Policy-makers must be alert to threat of rapid liquidation of risky assets, Tobias Adrian says
BoE launches package of Covid-19 response measures
UK central bank cuts policy rate and countercyclical capital buffer, and unveils measures to support lending
Iceland cuts rates to 2.25%
Rate cut and changes to reserve requirements designed to offset virus shock
Riksbank to focus on liquidity against Covid-19
Governor Ingves says a rate cut is not the most important measure now
IMF’s Gopinath advises central banks on cocktail of measures to fight virus
IMF chief economist says central banks should stand ready to provide liquidity
Fed ramps up Covid-19 response
Central bank in “firefighting mode”, undoing repo tapering and offering regulatory relief to banks
Fed action likely to affect policy plans in Brazil and Mexico
In spite of weaker currencies, both countries may require lower rates to tackle weaker growth and higher rate differentials
Bank of Thailand relaxes forex regulation amid virus shock
Thai central bank is expected to ease monetary policy again to boost economy after slashing rates to record low in February