Special drawing rights (SDR)
IMF opens long-term lending initiative
Resilience and Sustainability Trust will offer 20-year packages to mitigate long-term problems
IMF unlocks $31.9 million for Madagascar
Natural disasters and oil price rises increased fiscal deficit
Critics accuse Barbados authorities of monetary financing
Government says it is using SDRs to buy bonds, while governor says purchases are legal
Prominent economists call on US to unfreeze Afghan reserves
Stiglitz among those calling on US to ease humanitarian crisis despite Taliban rule
El Salvador congress approves use of SDRs for early debt repayment
Talks with IMF stalled as country tackles $24 billion debt load
Chile signs up to IMF’s first short-term liquidity line
Revolving $3.5 billion credit will replace flexible credit line arrangement
IMF boosts dollar and renminbi weights in new SDR valuation
Euro records largest drop, while yen and sterling decline slightly
G20 creates fund to guard against future pandemics
WHO says there is a $10.5 billion annual funding gap
IMF launches vehicle for SDR transfers
Fund’s aim for $45 billion in transfers seems to fall short of earlier ambitions
Honduran Congress clears way for SDR loan
Declaration of “emergency” will allow government to access $335 million held at central bank
Saudi Arabia gives $3 billion to Egyptian central bank
Donation is pandemic aid, and follows similar deposit with Pakistan central bank
IMFC backs new trust to channel resources to vulnerable economies
Resilience and Sustainability Trust would offer support to a wider set of countries and could be used to share out special drawing rights
Cubero calls for expanded IMF role
Costa Rica governor endorses Resilience and Stability Trust proposal
US and IMF block Taliban access to Afghanistan assets
IMF will not allow Taliban to receive SDRs, while US freezes central bank reserves
Mexican president demands IMF assets from central bank
Governor rejects proposal and former presidential ally says it would be legally impossible
Global economy faces ‘decisive moment’ – IMF’s Gaspar and Gopinath
Policy-makers have “window of opportunity” to help those falling behind in Covid-19 recovery
IMF governing board signs off on ‘historic’ SDR allocation
Decision paves way for $650 billion worldwide infusion of liquidity later this month; mechanism for rich countries to pass on their share still unclear
IMF raises caps on loans to poorer countries
Reforms also provide new funding to anti-poverty trust
IMF mulls SDR reallocation ‘trust’
Fund is considering ways SDR allocation can be channelled to vulnerable countries
IMF executive board backs $650 billion SDR allocation
Allocation is set to be largest in the fund’s history, with launch expected in August
Chinese CBDC could bolster renminbi internationalisation – Hui Feng
Academic believes digital currency efforts could facilitate renminbi’s international acceptance and ‘popularity’
China and private sector could free ride on SDR issuance – El-Erian
Economist calls for development of a new common sovereign debt restructuring framework; Vera Songwe says many countries need more debt relief
IMF delays SDR valuation review
Delay reflects priority placed on Covid-19 response and possible clash with other workstream
Yellen backs proposal for SDR issuance
G20 calls on IMF to develop proposal for “general allocation of SDRs”