Global risk-off shocks can be highly destabilising for financial markets and, absent an adequate policy response, may trigger severe recessions. In Caballero and Kamber (2019), we document that the unconventional policies adopted by the main central banks were effective in containing asset price...

Challenges to macroprudential policy are mainly of a universal nature and encompass, in particular, difficulties in the pre-emptive identification of looming imbalances; interactions with the political cycle; asymmetry in the perception of costs and benefits of using macroprudential instruments;...

This paper assesses the determinants of foreign exchange (FX) reserves in emerging market economies (EMEs). First, it reviews the drivers behind reserve accumulation and the metrics used to evaluate reserve adequacy. We argue that precautionary motives, at least until early 2000s, were the main...

Emerging market economies (EMEs) have increased their reserves holdings primarily for self-insurance. The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) has accumulated its foreign exchange (FX) reserves for the same reason, recognising the need to reduce external vulnerability. Both debt issuance and the...

This paper focuses on the interactions between public debt policy and foreign exchange reserve management. We found that, although foreign currency debt issuance can contribute significantly to the growth of foreign exchange reserves, it can cause serious difficulties in the assessment of...

We document recent developments in the use of sterilization bonds by six central banks in emerging Asia, and discuss the implications for monetary policy and the financial sector. An important development in the sterilization of foreign exchange interventions in past years has been the frequent...

Foreign exchange reserves are an integral part of the policy toolkit in African countries. Based on a survey of African central banks, this paper relates the reasons for holding reserves to some of the economic circumstances in their countries. It also discusses how African central banks address...

Bank Indonesia's main aim is to safeguard the stability of the rupiah. To this end, the Bank maintains foreign reserves that are sufficient in amount to achieve this monetary policy objective and also to meet international foreign currency obligations. Reserves are accumulated mainly from...

Policy normalisation in the major advanced economies affects emerging market economies (EMEs) through many channels, posing major challenges for their central banks. EMEs have adopted a policy toolkit including monetary, fiscal, exchange rate and macroprudential policies. Given many EMEs' high...

In recent years, the economic and financial environments have continued to confront emerging market economies, including Thailand, with challenges in conducting monetary and exchange rate policy. The unwinding of unconventional monetary policy, escalating trade tensions and disruption from new...