Archive for October 9th, 2020

Central bank digital currencies: foundational principles and core features

October 9, 2020

BIS along with a group of central banks in this new report:

Central banks have been providing trusted money to the public for hundreds of years as part of their public policy objectives. Yet the world is changing. To evolve and pursue their public policy objectives in a digital world, central banks are actively researching the pros and cons of offering a digital currency to the public (a “general purpose” central bank digital currency (CBDC)). 

The Bank of Canada, European Central Bank, Bank of Japan, Sveriges Riksbank, Swiss National Bank, Bank of England, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve and Bank for International Settlements have collaborated on a report setting out common foundational principles and core features of a CBDC.

These principles emphasise that, in order for any jurisdiction to consider proceeding with a CBDC, certain criteria would have to be satisfied. Specifically, authorities would first need to be confident that issuance would not compromise monetary or financial stability and that a CBDC could coexist with and complement existing forms of money, promoting innovation and efficiency.

A CBDC robustly meeting these criteria and delivering the features set out by this group could be an important instrument for central banks to deliver their public policy objectives. This group of central banks will continue to collaborate and explore the practical implications outlined in the report.

 

The new age of copper: Opportunities for Latin America

October 9, 2020

Karina Fernandez-Stark, Penny Bamber and Martin Walter in this voxeu piece discuss how the disease and the recovery packages will lead to demand for copper. Will this lead to opportunities for Latam?

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RBI to conduct OMOs in State Government Bonds as well…

October 9, 2020

RBI’s policy today had this interesting announcement. It will conduct Open Market Operations in State Govt Bonds (called as State Development Loans or SDLs):

At present, SDLs are eligible collateral for Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF) along with T-bills, dated government securities and oil bonds. To improve liquidity and facilitate efficient pricing, it has been decided to conduct open market operations (OMOs) in SDLs as a special case during the current financial year. The OMOs would be conducted for a basket of SDLs comprising securities issued by states.

The State Governments are going through fiscal problems as GST revenues have shrunk. The State Governments are also in dispute with the Central Govt over sharing of tax revenues. This has led to concerns over SDL interest rates.

Once again a case of fiscal policy problem searching for a monetary policy solution?

 


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