New Zealand's decision on Wednesday to hold fire on a highly-anticipated rate hike is a reminder of the challenges major central banks face in their bid to step away from emergency stimulus while the coronavirus remains a threat to growth.
Ajmal Ahmady, the head of Afghanistan s Central Bank, wrote on Twitter on Wednesday that the majority of that - some $7 billion - is being held in U.S. Federal Reserve bonds, assets and gold.
Minneapolis Federal Reserve President Neel Kashkari on Tuesday said that it could be "reasonable" to start reducing the Fed's bond-buying program later this year, though it would depend on making further progress in the labor market.
Boston Federal Reserve Bank President Eric Rosengren said on Monday that one more month of strong job gains could satisfy the U.S. central bank's requirements for beginning to reduce its monthly asset purchases.
The New York area saw business activity grow at a slower but still significant pace in early August, according to a survey released Tuesday by the New York Federal Reserve.