Asia
Smaller banknote denominations have shorter lifespan
High income central banks produce longer-lasting cash
Half of central banks recycle banknotes as sustainability measure
Most currency operations lack climate strategy, but a few plan to launch one
Minority of central banks keep whole cash cycle in-house
Banknote printing remains central banks’ most outsourced function
Currency staff make up 8% of central bank workforce
Institutions with own printworks have larger currency departments
Raised tactile features are most common banknote visual aid
Assistive mobile application offered by just two central banks
Polymer substrates used on one-fifth of banknotes
Data reveals widening adoption in upper-middle income jurisdictions
Average volume of defective banknotes remains above 100m units
Central banks retrieved over $1 billion of mutilated banknotes on average
Cash payments average over 30% of transactions in 2023
No pressures on number of printed banknotes, central banks say
Half of upper-middle income banks plan banknote issue in next year
Total number of banknote denominations in circulation averages under 10
Average cash values rise more than volumes year on year
Value of banknote pieces in circulation rises by over 30% on average
PBoC launches special lending facility for share buybacks
Governor says central bank might also make further cuts to reserve requirement ratio
Why Bank Negara avoided ‘a confrontational approach’ on 1MDB fraud
Veteran governor says being more outspoken would have damaged the central bank
Bank of Thailand announces first rate cut in four years
Central bank unexpectedly eases policy by 25bp as inflation stays below target
Indonesia holds while Philippines cuts
Policy rates for both countries now stand at 6% as inflation slows
World Bank raises its growth forecast for south Asia
Institution projects it to be fastest-growing region among emerging economies
South Korea joins global easing cycle
Government efforts to cool housing prices create opportunity for central bank to cut rates by 25bp
Lower risks enable authorities to shift policy – Amro report
Asean+3 research arm says challenges remain on dollar dependency and property markets
The hidden dynamics behind China’s BoP ‘errors and omissions’
Marcello Minenna highlights the possible implications an unaccounted-for £30bn has for the PBoC
Working group minutes: central banks weigh CBDC design choices
Central bankers discuss CBDC design elements, adoption rates and cross-border payments
Middle income countries form largest membership of World Bank Ramp
Central banks highlight market intel, support, training as partnership gains
Half of middle income central banks intervened in FX markets in 2023
Liquidity tranches form largest part of reserves in lower-middle income countries