Investment
Asset manager of the year: BlackRock
BlackRock delivered some innovative new products and a highly regarded training scheme to build on its already strong foundation in reserve management services
Central bankers assess markets’ reactions to policy changes
Benoît Cœuré warns of complacency among investors as central banks move to normalise
China tightens scrutiny of outbound investments
Regulators are looking to restrict and control outbound investments
Nigerian central bank acts without MPC after quorum failure
Emefiele holds monetary policy steady, and hails continued fall in inflation
Bundesbank panellists call for change in German ‘mindset’
Mario Monti says he would like to free Germans from their economic “straightjacket”, while Benoît Cœuré hints at need for rebalancing
BoE’s Tenreyro sees hopeful signs for UK productivity
Many factors dragging on productivity may soon start to fade, MPC member says, though the UK seems to be missing out on a global investment boom
Gontareva accused of complicity in money laundering
Ex-governor denies she improperly helped former president Yanukovych
Sri Lankan central bank launches sweeping reforms in wake of bond scandal
Central bank tightens controls on debt management and pension fund trading after investigation uncovers malpractice
NBIM eyes private equity investment in potential shake-up
Letter to finance ministry says the fund’s structure and goals make unlisted equities a wise investment, but acknowledges a 4% cap would be sensible
IMF’s Obstfeld: effects of accommodative policy remain unclear
The IMF chief economist weighs up the productivity puzzle and whether monetary policy helped or hindered growth following the financial crisis
Bank of England operations could leave London under Labour government
Report envisages BoE’s regional offices becoming part of national investment strategy; inflation mandate could also be changed
Norway’s sovereign fund acquires its first Asian real estate
Norges Bank recommended in November the fund should abandon equity investments in oil and natural gas
Diversified export markets may offset Mexican Nafta showdown
Bank of Mexico sees a failure to renegotiate the trade deal as the biggest risk to the economy
Confidence key for South Africa’s economic recovery – Kganyago
Consumer confidence has been “sapped”, but governor remains optimistic nation can “turn things around” by implementing investor-friendly policies
Big data in central banks: 2017 survey
As an active area for new projects, big data is becoming a fixture in policymaking, with an increasing number of central banks carving out a budget for data handling, writes Emma Glass.
European firms’ net debt cramped investment, Bank of Italy paper finds
Paper looks at eurozone and UK firms from 2006 to 2012
ECB’s Nouy advocates global banking supervisory co-operation
The international nature of the financial system demands regulation across borders
Philippines central bank seeks to allay concerns on FDI slowdown
Foreign direct investment into the Philippines dropped 37.9% in the year to July; government is struggling to meet ambitious growth targets
EBA recommends new prudential regime for investment firms
Firms should be subject to tripartite classification with different capital requirements
Diversifying reserves carries major risks, warns Taiwan governor
Perng Fai-nan points to the records of Norway and Singapore’s SWFs as a warning about diversification risks; blames SWF outsourcing to asset managers for exacerbating EM volatility
‘Substantial’ accommodation still needed in euro area – Liikanen
Bank of Finland's governor says improved growth and investment prospects have failed to affect inflation; underused capacity expected to be taken up “gradually”
‘Significant non-linearities’ in debt-investment relationship, paper says
Researchers look at data from five peripheral eurozone countries
Future Fund takes cautious stance despite strong returns
Australian sovereign wealth fund exceeds benchmark return but managers stress need for “discipline” amid reach for yield