Oil
Bank of Canada working paper investigates market movers
New research looks into whether central bank communications or media reports impact markets more
Korea braces for higher oil prices
Bank of Korea governor holds economic review with leading academics and others; group discusses rising oil prices
US Treasury clarifies sanctions on Central Bank of Iran
US issues detailed list of frequently asked questions; says assessment of which transactions fall under sanctions will be done on case-by-case basis
Bank of Canada paper builds alternative oil price forecast scenarios
Bank of Canada study generates forecast scenarios providing more accurate real-time analysis of oil price risks
EU freezes assets of Iranian central bank
EU follows US lead by announcing strict new sanctions on Iranian central bank; heart of action is to limit the country’s nuclear programme
South Korea takes heed of US sanctions on Iran
US Senate passes bill containing strict new sanctions affecting Central Bank of Iran; South Korea government warns businesses of implications
US sanctions on Iranian central bank inch closer
Senator Carl Levin reveals Senate’s 'strong' sanctions pass negotiating panel of House and Senate representatives 'virtually intact'; clears way for momentous Bill to pass
Inelastic demand and supply explain oil volatility: Bank of Canada paper
Bank of Canada study shows decline in price elasticity raised oil price and reduced oil production volatility
Oil price surge driven by speculation: St Louis Fed paper
St Louis Federal Reserve study says speculation in oil markets played role in recent rise in commodity prices
Oil reserves eclipse Norway SWF assets
Norway budget confirms sovereign wealth fund assets still smaller than oil left in seabed
Kuwait central bank employees protest over pay
Central bank workers want salary increases; latest government workers to demand more after oil sector employees receive up to 66% wage hike
Turkey’s Basçı outlines strategy to overcome commodity price volatility
Central Bank of Turkey governor Erdem Basçı says setting targets and forecasts for inflation offers firmer commitment from central bank
Philly Fed paper investigates relationship between oil prices and exchange rates
Working paper shows little systematic relation between oil prices and the Canadian-US dollar exchange rate
Oil-price volatility driven by speculation: ECB paper
European Central Bank finds evidence of switch in oil-price regime in 2004 towards speculative demand
IMF paper on cyclicality of oil producers' expenditure
Fund study shows fiscal policy is pro-cyclical in low- and middle-income oil-producing countries, but counter-cyclical in high-income countries
IMF paper on GCC equity market spillovers
Fund study says Gulf Cooperation Council equity markets were exposed to US and regional losses during crisis
Oil prices do not follow random walk: Bank of Canada paper
Bank of Canada study attempts to tackle challenges in forecasting real and nominal oil prices
Fed took 'gamble' with QE: Reinhart
Federal Reserve former director of monetary affairs Vincent Reinhart pins volatile oil prices on Fed’s quantitative easing programme
Investors watch Saudi protests with interest
Sentiment in the bond markets has not been unduly affected by MENA tensions, but Saudi unrest could change that.
ECB rejects temporary price pressures argument; signals tightening
European Central Bank’s hawkish Thursday announcement shows a different interpretation of commodity price pressures, second-round effects, to Bank of England and Fed
Inflation may hit 5%, but we couldn’t have done it different: King
Bank of England’s Inflation Report says inflation will likely soar further; medium term outlook shifts slightly as spare capacity margin revised downwards
Israel’s Eckstein backs new gas levy
Bank of Israel deputy governor Zvi Eckstein supports committee recommendations on natural gas levy
Sudan bans some imports as forex shortage looms
Bank of Sudan bans imports of luxury items, goods with local substitutes, to conserve foreign currency; currency wobbles on secession, oil fears
IMF paper investigates drivers of extreme commodity price movements
Fund research looks to wine and crude oil prices to uncover the causes of volatility