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Central banks

Central banks
News about policymaking in the world’s major central banks with a focus on the People’s Bank of China, the Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank, the Bank of England, the Bank of Japan and the Reserve Bank of Australia.
Stephen Miran became one of the US Federal Reserve’s most vocal doves during his short tenure on the central bank’s board of governors. Photo: AP
Banking & finance

Stephen Miran, Trump’s economic guru, is leaving the Fed. What happens now?

Miran quit his job as a Trump economic adviser to join the US Federal Reserve board, where he became known as a vocal dove.

United States

Warsh confirmed as Fed chair, as US central bank faces Trump assault

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United States

US Senate confirms Trump pick Kevin Warsh to Federal Reserve Board

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Banking & finance

Trump’s pick for Fed chair says he’ll stay independent. Does he mean it?

Kevin Warsh said at a confirmation hearing he would not become the US president’s ‘human sock puppet’, but concerns over interference persist.

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Illustration: Henry Wong
Banking & finance

Macroscope | Australia’s interest rate rise signals growing hawkish stance in Asia

Reserve Bank of Australia is less an outlier than a harbinger of global monetary trends in the wake of war-induced supply shocks.

Yuan

China sets yuan at strongest level in 3 years as US dollar jitters simmer

Beijing is pushing for a stronger yuan to help globalise the currency, but the upswing could create issues for the country’s export giants.

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The Philippines

Middle East conflict pushes Philippine inflation to 3-year high

Higher fuel, food, transport and utility costs forced inflation to 7.2 per cent last month, the highest since March 2023.

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A man scops up food at a canteen in Manila on April 7. Photo: AFP
Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA)

Hong Kong Exchange Fund records smallest gain in 5 quarters amid market slump

The war chest used to defend the city’s currency takes a hit as conflicts in Middle East prompt investors to move from stocks to safer assets.

Asean

Why Singapore, Thailand are among the world’s ‘happiest’ economies

Southeast Asian countries outdid larger economies in the 178-nation Hanke’s Annual Misery Index for 2025.

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Commodities

Gold loses its shimmer in Asia over rising oil prices, hawkish Fed stance

Demand for the metal is likely to remain weak, with central banks not expected to cut interest rates for some time due to high energy prices.

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Gold prices fell by 12 per cent from US$5,247.90 per troy ounce on February 27 to US$4,620 on Friday morning. Photo: Shutterstock
Brics

Brics to push for intra-currency payments as ‘immunity’ against Western clout

New Delhi has to be wary of any move to challenge the US dollar as it seeks to sign an interim trade deal with Washington, analysts say.

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Leaders from Brics member and partner countries gather in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 7, 2025. Photo: Xinhua
Interest rates

HKMA warns of interest-rate uncertainty as Fed’s trajectory remains unclear

HSBC, Standard Chartered and Bank of China (Hong Kong) keep their prime and savings rates unchanged.

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United States

Powell says he’ll stay at Fed as governor, defying Trump

Outgoing chair triggers fresh clash with the White House by exercising his right to remain on the Fed board.

Yuan

Open Questions | Why China’s yuan faces the same ‘illusions’ that stalled the euro: Daniel Gros

Former European economic adviser says Beijing’s bid to build an international currency will hinge on leaders allowing it to fluctuate freely.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
United States

US drops criminal probe of Fed chair Powell, likely clearing way for Warsh

Judge James Boasberg, said prosecutors had produced ‘essentially zero evidence’ to suspect Powell of a crime.

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US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speaks during a press conference following the Federal Open Market Committee meeting at the Federal Reserve Board Building in Washington, DC, on March 18. Photo: AFP
Stock Connect

Brazil beckoned: China now has stock and bond ‘connect’ schemes in 5 regions

Strategic financial corridors now bridge mainland bourses with global hubs, enabling more seamless investment through specialised fund vehicles and receipts.

Japan

Macroscope | Why fixing Japan’s monetary policy isn’t getting any easier

The wrong kind of inflation and the effects of the war in Iran complicate the outlook for Japanese interest rates.

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United States

Trump’s pick for Fed chief, calls for ‘regime change’ at US central bank

The remarks were made at a contentious confirmation hearing, which took place amid a criminal probe of current chair Jerome Powell.

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Kevin Warsh, US President Donald Trump’s nominee for Chair of the Federal Reserve, testifies in Washington on Tuesday. Photo: AFP
China trade

China presses IMF for quota reform, better surveillance of advanced economies

PBOC head urges IMF to ‘stand against protectionism’ amid effects from tariffs, Iran war.

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China digital currency

Hong Kong seen leading Asia in push to scale stablecoins, HSBC says

Interoperability and real-world applications seen as key hurdles as city looks to unlock tokenisation’s full potential.

US-China trade war

Why the biggest threat to US dollar dominance may well be Washington itself

Economic sanctions, access to US-led banking systems are powerful tools, but overuse reduces their effectiveness over time, Congress told.

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China has been patiently chipping away at the US dollar’s global dominance, and Washington may even be doing it a favour. Photo: dpa
Yuan

China boosts overseas-loan quotas as ‘panda bond’ issuance hits record high

Beijing’s move to lift offshore-loan quotas seen helping stabilise yuan against weaker US dollar while accommodating a surge in net financing via ‘panda bonds’.

A person walks past the building of China’s central bank in Beijing. Chinese regulators have raised the overseas-loan leverage ratio for foreign banks in China and their joint ventures with Chinese lenders. Photo: Getty Images
India

Macroscope | How the rupee’s fall shows India’s struggle to overcome vulnerabilities

While India’s economy is stronger than it was in previous sell-offs, lingering weaknesses are coming to the fore and driving new tensions.

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Foreign exchange market

China trims US Treasury holdings as global ownership hits record

Beijing slightly pares its sovereign US debt position as private investors and certain financial hubs drive demand up.

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China trade

Hungary’s PM-elect Magyar sends warm overture to China, vows fair play for firms

Peter Magyar pledges reforms to restore transparency and fiscal stability as Hungary shifts from Viktor Orban’s investment model.

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Peter Magyar speaks to the media in Budapest on Monday. Photo: AP
Yuan

Yuan’s ‘golden window’ is open, former PBOC governor says as US dollar ebbs

Zhou Xiaochuan, who laid the foundation for China’s currency to go global, says Beijing can capitalise on changes in the international monetary landscape.

People walk past Chinese yuan and US dollar symbols in Hong Kong. Former PBOC governor Zhou Xiaochuan says China should seize fresh opportunities to promote the yuan as an international currency. Photo: AFP
Banking & finance

Calls grow for HKMA to go further on stablecoins after conservative first batch

Analysts and investors say the HKMA’s cautious approach prioritises risk control, but limits Hong Kong’s digital asset ambitions.

Pakistan

UAE pulls US$3.5 billion from Pakistan after Iran war mediation

As Abu Dhabi signals its displeasure with Islamabad, analysts say other indebted partners will be watching closely.

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