April, 2022

• 7 April

  BOJ’s Kuroda standing firm despite weak yen

  

  Bloomberg Bank of Japan (BOJ) Governor Haruhiko Kuroda won’t change his ultra-low interest rate policy in the coming quarters, even though he’ll come under political pressure to do so over the weak yen, according to one of the country’s former chief currency officials. “The political pressure from the people, parliament and media is going to be a bit higher,” said Hiroshi ...

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• 7 April

  China’s central bank vows to boost economy

    Bloomberg China’s central bank vowed to boost confidence and provide more effective support to the economy, amid mounting growth pressure from the country’s worst Covid-19 outbreak since Wuhan. The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) reaffirmed it will step up the magnitude of monetary policy and make it more forward-looking, targeted and autonomous, according to a statement. The central bank ...

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• 7 April

  ECB policy normalisation still appropriate, says Schnabel

  

    Bloomberg The European Central Bank (ECB) is right to press forward with its plan to normalise monetary policy even as the war in Ukraine creates “elevated uncertainty,” executive board member Isabel Schnabel said. “Continuing the path of policy normalisation is therefore the appropriate course of action,” Schnabel said in a speech in Cernobbio, Italy. “The speed of normalisation, in ...

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• 7 April

  Tech goes from haven to hazard as US investors fear recession

  

    Bloomberg Selling is picking up again in the priciest corner of the US stock market — that of fast growth technology shares — as investors whipsaw between seeking higher returns and safety. The Nasdaq 100 Stock Index is wrapping up its worst two-day drop in nearly a month as traders that flocked to the tech sector in recent weeks ...

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• 7 April

  European stocks bounce back while Treasuries advance

  

    Bloomberg Markets are showing signs of recovery as traders stepped in after a selloff sparked by hawkish minutes from the Federal Reserve. Europe’s Stoxx 600 gained 0.4%, boosted by a rally in shares of Atlantia SpA, the billionaire Benettons’ highway and airport group. Atlantia added 10% in Italian trading after Global Infrastructure Partnersand Brookfield Asset Management Inc said they ...

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• 6 April

  Zimbabwe central bank keeps world’s highest interest rate; raises it to 80%

  

    Bloomberg Zimbabwe’s central bank lifted its key interest rate to a record high, to halt a decline in its currency and rein in surging inflation amid food and fuel price pressures that have been exacerbated by the war in Ukraine. The monetary policy committee (MPC) hiked the rate to 80% from 60%, Governor John Mangudya said in a statement. ...

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• 6 April

  Australia’s largest bank to allow staff to discuss pay

    Bloomberg Australia’s largest bank removed secrecy clauses on salaries in its contracts, just days after a similar move by its rival. Commonwealth Bank of Australia told employees they would be free to discuss their pay starting April 11 to boost pay equity, though they shouldn’t pressure co-workers to discuss the topic, the Australian Financial Review (AFR) reported. “As part ...

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• 6 April

  Crude advance holds as EU sanctions on Russia avoid oil

  

    Bloomberg Oil held its earlier gains as the European Union (EU) was said to plan a phaseout of Russian coal imports but steer clear of sanctioning the country’s oil and gas for now. West Texas Intermediate was up 1.2% after earlier advancing as much as 2.2%. EU nations are deeply split over the next steps to take against Russia, ...

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• 6 April

  World Bank cuts East Asia GDP growth forecasts, warns of risks

  

  Bloomberg The World Bank has lowered its growth forecasts for East Asia and the Pacific to 5% from 5.4% forecast in October, and warned growth could slow to 4% if conditions weaken further. The latest outlook reflects a hit to the region from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, rising interest rates in the US and slowing growth in China. Ongoing supply ...

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• 5 April

  EU to propose banning Russian coal imports after atrocities

  

  Bloomberg The European Union is planning to propose a mandatory phaseout on coal imports from Russia in a direct response to reports that Russian forces committed apparent war crimes in Ukraine, according to people familiar with the matter. The action on coal would be added to a package of steps aimed at strengthening existing measures and correcting loopholes that was ...

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