Monetary policy
Weidmann to testify quarterly in parliament to explain ECB policy
Measure follows constitutional court ruling requiring ECB to demonstrate proportionality of government bond purchases
Brazilian central bank cuts rates to record low
MPC says “remaining space for monetary policy stimulus is uncertain”
PBoC will not engage in monetary financing, Guo says
Senior central bank official says China will not monetise deficits or use negative interest rates
BoE expands asset purchases by £100 billion
Haldane casts sole vote against expansion as ex-MPC member Sentance warns of “autopilot”
Namibia’s central bank cuts rates to record low
Central bank acts to preserve link to South African currency as it reintroduces lockdown measures
Bank Indonesia cuts rate for the third time this year
Governor hints that further cuts may come while analysts warn economy may shrink further
Costa Rica cuts rates to lowest level in over 10 years
Covid-19 has accelerated a disinflationary trend, central bank says
US economy entering ‘bounce back’ phase – Powell
Fed chair forced to defend move to follow through with corporate bond purchases in Senate hearing
Should the BoE go negative?
Much research into negative rates suggests central banks should have little to fear, but there are plenty of caveats
Reserve managers ‘unprepared’ for home trading
Covid-19 presented reserve managers with unprecedented business continuity challenges at a time of acute market and economic distress
Iran’s race towards monetary policy reform faces high hurdle reality
The Majlis Research Center’s Tohid Atashbar says positive outcomes from the Iranian central bank’s fast-tracking of monetary policy reform – made in response to Covid-19 and US sanctions – may prove difficult to deliver
US citizens think Fed’s communication strategy needs adapting – Fed report
“Fed Listens” events revealed a lack of understanding about inflation targeting, report shows
Ukraine’s central bank cuts rates to record low
Central bank says move was made possible by IMF aid and pledges further boost to reserves
High US inflation should not be ruled out
A prolonged health crisis raises the risk that supply-side factors, monetary expansion and rising personal savings could stoke hidden inflationary pressures
Fed policy is too tight given FOMC projections – former Fed economist
“An outlook that bad for that long is a clear sign that policy is too tight,” Joseph Gagnon says
Raising inflation targets may lower neutral rate – Boston Fed paper
A higher target might therefore be less effective than current research suggests, research says
A better way to buy private sector securities?
Central bank asset purchases can do more harm than good and are often conducted on a flimsy legal basis, writes HKU’s Bryane Michael
Fed promises to keep buying assets at current rate
Fed will hold accommodation in place for “however long it takes”, chair Jerome Powell says; FOMC releases first projections this year
Balance sheets could grow by 23% of GDP in largest advanced economies – BIS
Economists forecast balance sheets will remain large for the foreseeable future
CBDC could endanger maturity transformation – Philadelphia Fed paper
Opening central bank balance sheet to consumers could create “deposit monopolist”, research says
Bank of Uganda cuts rate and warns of lasting disruption
Central bank cuts rates and narrows target band, as impact of Covid-19 in Uganda continues to play out
Fed makes last-minute changes to ‘Main Street’ programme
Programme will be open “soon”, despite plans to launch in May
BoE paper: narratives can help overcome ‘radical uncertainty’
Speaking directly to the public can improve analysis and communication of policy, authors find
People: Hungarian deputy unexpectedly resigns
Marton Nagy resignation raises questions on future policy; BIS picks new CPMI secretariat head