Central Banks
Rate decisions, policy minutes, governor speeches, and the signals that move markets. Intelligence briefs on the world's most consequential monetary institutions, updated as events demand.
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12 Mar 2026ECB · Euro Area
ECB Holds at 2.50%; Lagarde Signals Extended Pause
The European Central Bank held rates steady at 2.50% on Thursday, as expected, but President Lagarde's press conference struck a notably hawkish tone. The governing council cited "persistent services inflation" and warned that premature easing could unwind two years of hard-won credibility. Markets now price the first cut no earlier than September.
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10 Mar 2026Bank of Japan
BoJ Minutes Reveal Three-Way Split on Tightening Pace
The Bank of Japan published minutes from its February meeting revealing a three-way split on the pace of further tightening. Governor Ueda's faction favours gradualism; two members pushed for a 25-basis-point hike at the March meeting to counter yen weakness. The yen traded at 151.40 to the dollar by Friday's close, its softest level since November.
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9 Mar 2026Banco Central do Brasil
Brazil Raises Selic to 14.25% as Fiscal Credibility Erodes
Brazil's central bank raised the Selic rate by 100 basis points to 14.25%, the fifth consecutive increase. The move reflects Brasilia's struggle to contain inflation expectations that have drifted above the 3% target since October. Governor Galipolo warned that fiscal policy remains "the binding constraint on monetary credibility."
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7 Mar 2026Federal Reserve
Federal Reserve Appoints First Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer
The Federal Reserve has appointed Dr Sarah Chen as its first Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer, a newly created position reporting directly to the Board of Governors. Dr Chen joins from Google DeepMind, where she led safety research for financial applications. The appointment signals that the Fed intends to develop internal AI governance capacity rather than rely solely on external supervisory guidance.
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