Opinion/Reserves
China's growth and the yuan's status are not inextricably linked
China’s growing economic might has led to claims that the yuan will take its place among the reserve currencies. But, as Gary Smith argues, the link between GDP and reserve status is far from causal
Using gold to restore currency stability
Gold has many advantages as a benchmark of market expectations, Robert Pringle argues.
Gold should form an essential part of central banks’ liquidity portfolio
The credit crisis has highlighted that in times of turmoil, gold is one of the few assets that remains liquid, says Natalie Dempster, director of government affairs at the World Gold Council
Three things you should know about Chiang Mai
The Chiang Mai initiative has cemented Asian financial stability. Jayant Menon, a principal economist at the Asian Development Bank, highlights three key themes to take from the project
Will Dr. Gloom and Dr. Doom’s Next Domino Fall?
The current plight of Latvia and its Baltic neighbours is far different from Argentina’s in the early part of this decade
Ten heroes of monetary gold
Timothy Green, a journalist who has written about gold for 40 years, lists the ten individuals and institutions that have most shaped the precious metal's monetary history
Our outdated global monetary regime must go
From its roots in post-war reconstruction, the current international monetary system has evolved into a regime fundamentally unsuited to the realities of today's global economy. But it cannot last, writes Ousmene Mandeng
What's behind the fear of intervention?
Central banks' unwillingness to defend their currencies' value through foreign-exchange intervention despite abundant dollar reserves highlights a fear of intervening. Such a fear should lead central banks to review why they hold reserves, says Ousmene…
Central banks: the gorillas of foreign exchange
Chris Turner, the head of foreign exchange strategy research at ING wholesale banking in London, evaluates the possibility of sterilisation by central banks next year
What next from Chinese reserve managers?
These two articles analyse this week's announcement that the new agency managing part of China's $1.2 trillion in foreign reserves will buy a $3 billion stake in the American private equity firm, Blackstone Group LP.
Why all the fuss about reserve management?
This article published Tuesday 15 May by Business Day asks why the Central Bank of Nigeria is so concerned about local banks shoring up on reserve management skills.
Europe's central banks offloading gold
According to this article published Thursday 3 May by FMarena, with European central banks selling gold heavily recently, they might actually sell up to their quota.
Zhou Xiaochuan, the one million dollar man
What can you do in one minute? Add $1 million to China's currency reserves, according to this recent article from Bloomberg. 'Simply stunning,' according to one economist who predicts big problems if things don't change.
India's infrastructure could benefit from reserves
According to this article from Rediff News, published Monday 16 April, India is looking at the idea of using foreign exchange reserves for infrastructure investment.
Central banks can't break gold link
According to this article published by Miningmx this week, gold holdings by central banks have declined to their lowest level in 60 years.
China's giant new investment agency
According to this article from BusinessWeek Online, published Tuesday 13 March, China's soon-to-be state investment arm will be a major asset-management entity globally.
BOK running out of reserves
According to this article published by The Korea Times on Monday 26 February, the Bank of Korea is finding it increasingly difficult to boost its reserves as its losses grow.
When larger reserves may not really be good
According to this article from the New Straits Times, published Friday 9 February, questions the idea that foreign exchange reserves are a key indicator of macroeconomic strength.
China factors will be key in 2007 gold market
According to this article from Interfax-China, published Friday 2 February, Chinese factors are likely to have an increasing influence on the gold price this year with the possibility that the People's Bank of China will increase gold reserves.
China aims to spend $200bn of reserves
This article from the Asia Times, published Saturday 3 February, looks at the idea that China's Ministry of Finance plans to issue yuan-denominated bonds to 'buy out' as much as $200 billion from the country's massive foreign reserves.
Report recommends limited IMF gold sales
The report by the Committee of Eminent Persons released has recommended that the Fund sell 400 tonnes of its 3,217 tonnes of gold to finance an endowment fund.
Venezuela plans using reserves to nationalize
This article from Bloomberg, published Thursday 11 January, looks at the recent decision to use Venezuela's international reserves to compensate owners of the telephone, oil and power companies under President Hugo Chavez's plans to nationalize.
China can do better than swap dollars for oil
This article published by Bloomberg on Tuesday 9 January asks why China couldn't earn more by shifting some of its reserves to high-yield investments instead of keeping all its money invested in hard- currency debt issued by foreign governments.