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

• [New] Over the longer term, structural support is expected to persist, underpinned by ongoing Asian demand and central bank buying, with 45% of central banks expecting to increase gold holdings, according to the World Gold Council's 2026 Central Bank Gold Reserve Survey, up from 43% a year earlier. Westpac IQ
• [New] Investors remain cautious that persistent energy-driven inflation could prompt the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates higher for longer, putting additional upward pressure on bond yields. / Iran Mortgage News Daily
• [New] Bank of England rate-hike bets have surged, with markets now fully pricing a 25-basis-point hike by year-end, up from 75% before the latest Iran escalation, as the oil shock revives UK inflation fears. investing.com
• [New] We expect the Federal Reserve to pursue a more aggressive tightening path than the ECB, particularly relative to what is currently priced into financial markets. BENDURA BANK AG
• [New] The pace of further policy changes will depend on how energy prices and inflation evolve in the coming months, making the outcome of the Iran conflict a key variable for monetary policy. Nerd's Eye View | Kitces.com
• [New] Attention is now turning to upcoming U.S. inflation data and the Federal Reserve meeting, which could shape Bitcoin's next major move. Finbold
• [New] Recent data showing a sharper-than-expected slowdown in eurozone inflation has reinforced expectations that the European Central Bank is likely to keep interest rates unchanged at its upcoming July meeting rather than tighten policy again immediately. IC Your Trading Edge | Official Blog | Blog
• [New] Investors reacted to weaker-than-expected U.S. labour data from last week, falling crude oil prices, and expectations that the Federal Reserve is less likely to raise interest rates at its July meeting. IC Your Trading Edge | Official Blog | Blog
• [New] Softer US employment data and growing expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts could revive demand for risk assets. Yahoo! Finance
• [New] The Reserve Bank of Australia has outlined additional monetary policy tools for use when interest rates are low and economic shocks occur, which it says will make it better prepared to respond to crises. Central Banking
• [New] Certain investment houses appear more confident about Persian Gulf exports normalising to pre-conflict levels much sooner than widely expected, which should, in principle, further push oil prices lower, and potentially limit central bank hawkish expectations going forward. investing.com
• [New] On innovation, the Federal Reserve has emphasized a transparent, risk-focused approach that supports responsible technological advancement while reinforcing core supervisory principles. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
• [New] In June, the European Central Bank increased interest rates for the first time since 2023, and traders think the Bank of England will also hike the base rate in 2026. Fidelity UK
• [New] Global central bank tightening is a risk that could push yield curves higher across the world. Loomis Sayles
• [New] The $67 B Debt Load: With a 31.6% debt-to-equity ratio, IBM's balance sheet is more levered than the S&P 500 average; watch for interest rate spikes that could squeeze R&D funding. Bingx Exchange
• [New] The FCA and the Bank of England are working together on stablecoins and will consult later in 2026 on how FCA rules will apply when a stablecoin issuer is recognised as systemic by HM Treasury. FCA
• [New] The Bank of England has signalled the need for more sophisticated regulation to manage the financial stability risks posed by increasingly autonomous agentic AI systems. FTI Strategic Communications
• [New] Enduring central bank demand and policy shifts in key markets like India are additional wildcards that could subtly influence gold's path in the second half. World Gold Council
• [New] Any indications from the Federal Reserve regarding monetary policy adjustments could play a role in shaping future Bitcoin price movements. Crypto Briefing
• [New] Gold remains about 15% below its pre-war level, as investors balance geopolitical risks against expectations that persistent inflation and resilient US economic data could delay interest-rate cuts. MUFG Research
• [New] As expected, the Bank of England kept the repo rate at 3.75%. / USA investing.com
• [New] The Bank of Canada announced today that it will be keeping its key interest rate of 2.25% based on current economic conditions. LinkedIn
• [New] The monetary policy response of the Federal Reserve will likely be to fight AI-driven deflation aggressively. Abundanist: A Post-Scarcity Community

Last updated: 16 July 2026