Sanctions
Serbia vows to ‘prevent unjustified pressure’ on FX market
Central bank says it will fight for stability as crisis prompts citizens to swap dinars for euros
More independent central banks hold fewer dollars – research
De-dollarisation benefits Singaporean and Korean currencies, while Australia’s and China’s lose out
Why Europe cannot afford to delay the digital euro
CBDC would counter the erosion of sovereignty as cash recedes, substitution by foreign digital monies and weaponisation of access, argue Biagio Bossone and Céu Pereira
The weaponisation of payments
Central banks must integrate geopolitical resilience into their payment oversight, argues Biagio Bossone
Book notes: King dollar, by Paul Blustein
A well-researched overview of the position of the US currency, providing an optimistic view on the future of ‘king dollar’.
Bulgarian National Bank denies shielding sanctioned oligarch
Central bank calls political party’s claim “unacceptable political interference”
Financial technologies are increasing AML/CFT risks – EBA
Crypto increasingly used to facilitate crime, while fintech firms prioritise “growth over compliance”
CBI’s approval of Israel bond prospectus was illegal – Irish lawmaker
Gary Gannon claims bank’s actions misled investors about risks and were in breach of country's Genocide Act
Geopolitical ructions and the role of the dollar
Implications of the new US administration’s policies for the international monetary system and central banks
Book notes: Our dollar, your problem, by Kenneth Rogoff
An excellent overview of the evolution of the world economy during the last seven decades, and a warning against complacency
Handful of central banks have bilateral payment links
Projects are nascent and growing, but some countries seek multilateral links instead
Reflections on the international financial situation
Former IMF head Jacques de Larosière writes that markets are blind to Trump's policy shocks that are fragmenting the monetary ‘system’, causing strain in the eurozone and may result in stagflation
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
Nabiullina: still Putin’s most effective general
Even Russia’s enemies say its central bank governor has played a bad hand well. But for how much longer?
Protesters occupy Irish central bank headquarters
Pro-Palestinian activists oppose institution’s involvement in sale of Israeli bonds
UK unfreezes Syrian central bank assets
Decision follows similar move by EU, though US sanctions remain in place
‘Dark’ oil shipping impacts inflation – paper
Research finds nearly 43% of seaborne crude is shipped undercover to evade sanctions
Sanctioned ex-Bank of Russia official takes up IMF role in US
Former deputy governor Ksenia Yudaeva now reportedly working for institution in Washington
Russia pauses tightening, but warns rates will stay high
Central bank governor says inflation expectations are at risk of becoming unanchored
Central Bank of Ireland defends Israeli ‘war bond’ approval
Critics say bank is complicit in funding genocide, but governor says it is bound by law
Banknotes: October to December 2024
A round-up of news and salient issues that have affected central bankers in the past three months