Our Scans · (FS.1.02) Central Banking · Weekly Summary

• [New] Energy markets remained the primary driver of sentiment as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East pushed oil prices above $100 per barrel, increasing inflation risks and complicating expectations for monetary policy. NordFX
• [New] The broader policy signal is clear: Washington has decided that the risks of centralized digital currency - surveillance capability, disintermediation of private banking, and concentration of monetary control - outweigh any efficiency gains. MEXC
• [New] Economists and traders are now debating whether the next move by the Federal Reserve could unexpectedly be another rate hike instead of a cut. Economic Times
• [New] The cooling annual CPI figures might signal less aggressive monetary policy actions by the Bank of Canada, as lower inflation rates can lead to lower interest rate expectations. AIMS
• [New] The reported decrease in Canada's year-over-year inflation numbers might exert downward pressure on the Canadian dollar as expectations could lead the Bank of Canada to maintain a more dovish stance on monetary policy. AIMS
• [New] Traders - wary of resurgent inflation and the mounting cost of the war adding to budget deficits - pushed back their expectations for the next Federal Reserve interest-rate cut to mid-2027. financialpost
• [New] Despite softer economic data, the US Federal Reserve was expected to leave its key interest rate unchanged at the conclusion of next week's monetary policy meeting. ST
• [New] The prohibition on American Central Bank Digital Currency, or central bank digital currencies, would remain until 2031. The Coin Republic
• [New] Energy Price Shock: Conflict-driven oil price increases threaten India's energy import bill and inflation stability. Civilsdaily
• [New] Despite the weak growth outlook, rising inflation risks mean the Bank of England is now expected to keep interest rates on hold for longer, with the possibility of further tightening. Trading Economics
• [New] The European Central Bank has fundamentally altered the landscape by embedding nature degradation into its 2026-2028 supervisory priorities. Finance
• [New] The inflation rate in the UK would only jump in the second half of the year, due to delays in energy price-setting by Ofgem, while the Bank of England would also be expected to raise interest rates by 25 basis points. City AM
• [New] The threat of inflation is likely to impact the decision makers at the Bank of England when they next meet to set interest rates. The Money Pages
• [New] The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee will hold all policy settings steady at the March meeting, amid elevated uncertainty owing to the present geopolitical backdrop, with the subsequent commodity price shock presenting a significant upside inflation risk in the near-term. Pepperstone
• [New] The major housing bill just passed by the U.S. Senate carried a section tacked to the end that would ban the Federal Reserve from issuing central bank digital currencies until the end of 2030. CoinDesk
• [New] The Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank are both expected to hold rates steady, with investors focused on guidance around the balance between inflation risks and slowing growth momentum. / Japan MUFG Research
• [New] Higher energy prices could put upward pressure on inflation, affecting monetary policy decisions globally. Economic Times
• [New] Barring a recession, the rate of inflation will likely remain above target in 2026, hitting workers and businesses alike with cost pressures while forcing the Federal Reserve to very carefully consider the pace at which it lowers interest rates. American Staffing Association
• [New] If energy costs stay elevated, inflation could rise again, potentially delaying interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve. Financial Planning Resources, Inc.
• [New] The Fed's insistence on a pause is a calculated risk - one that prioritizes price stability over the immediate health of the financial system's plumbing. The Chronicle-Journal
• [New] In large part, higher interest rates reflect expectations for the path of monetary policy, which have risen in Australia and most other advanced economies in response to the expected inflationary implications of the conflict in the Middle East. Urbantech Finance - Borrow For Tomorrow | Finance Broke
• The European Central Bank has published a plan to run a digital euro pilot programme in the second half of 2027. Central Banking
• The European Central Bank is planning to pilot the digital euro in 2027 with a full launch in 2029. Business of Payments

Last updated: 19 March 2026