Top Stories

monetary policy

global liquidity drivers

In Europe 2nd September 2016

Credit And Liquidity In The Eurozone

J. L. M.Campuzano (Spanish Banking Association) | During one of the conferences at last week’s Jackson Hole meeting, ECB council member Benoit Coeure analysed the extreme monetary measures taken by the ECB (in reality by all the main central banks) during the crisis. His opinion was that the neutral interest rate equilibrium is now very low (the product of a combination of low potential growth and low inflation expectations) which explains the remainder of the exceptional measures implemented.

Sub-zero returns

World economy 9th August 2016

Financial repression

Why are interest rates so low? We have explained that the reason is the weak credit situation for financing investment.

The odds of a next rates hike by the Ded

World economy 8th August 2016

The Odds On An Early Rate Hike

The outstanding labour market performance in the US has triggered widespread speculation of a Fed rate hike as early as September. Nonetheless, most new jobs are part-time, while the hourly wage increase lags well behind its pre-crisis pace.

Central Banks are using all tools available

World economy 7th August 2016

Using all available instruments: does this ring a bell?

J. L. Martínez Campuzano (Spanish Banking Association) | Perhaps one of the most important conclusions of the G20 meeting held in China was the need for monetary and fiscal instruments to fuel demand. But also for reforms to adjust supply and increase growth potential. There is no doubt that every instrument of economic policy is needed in the fight against weak growth and low inflation.

ECB on inflation

Markets 25th July 2016

Are The Central Banks Getting It Wrong? (I)

J.L.M. Campuzano (Spanish Banking Association) | The central banks really need some new arguments for extending their current expansionary monetary policy. As well as for not withdrawing some of the existing measures. The alternative is to get carried away.

ECB big 1

In Europe 20th July 2016

ECB Poised To Keep Rates On Hold

As the Brexit initial turmoil little by little abates, the ECB has no immediate reason for acting. Its room for manoeuvre already seems extremely tight. Running negative rates allows a most limited scope for driving down the money price. The Euro slide provides on its own enough impetus to the economy. The case for further loosening lacks of enough ground. The wait-and-see stance by the Federal Reserve suffices to shore up the ailing pound.

ECB Luminale

In Europe 31st March 2016

Helicopter money: too complex to be deployed any time soon

Citi | ECB Executive Board member Benoit Coeuré gave an interview to Politico on March 23, published on 30 March and featuring on the ECB’s website. Mr. Coeuré begins by explaining that the package announced on March 10 was “very potent, both in intensity and sheer volume”. On the subject of monetary policy tools at the ECB’s disposal, Mr. Coeuré notes that “negative interest rates are not our main instrument, they just support our overall policy. And looking ahead, we’re not short of instruments – our choice is quite large. We will be able to deal with adverse situations if necessary”.

china industry

World economy 22nd February 2016

The Only Solution: US, EU Help For China

In one year, China has used up $ 676 billion of its reserves, which had reached a total of $4 trillion. It could let the remimbi fall and restore monetary autonomy in order to lower rates and boost an economy which is in recession. But this only serves to worsen the volume of debt in dollars, which of course erodes the status it seeks for its currency. The only solution: EU, US help for China.

reserveFed

World economy 15th February 2016

As Always, The Fed Is Just An Innocent Bystander!

Marcus Nunes | Ms. Yellen also said that she did not think the Fed, by raising rates in December, had contributed significantly to the latest round of economic problems. When Senator Dean Heller, Republican of Nevada, asked Ms. Yellen whether the Fed had caused stock prices to fall, she responded, “I don’t think it’s mainly our policy.”