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Auction shows massive demand for ECB cash
The European Central Bank's (ECB) first-ever auction of six-month loans was more than four times oversubscribed, indicating the high level of tension in the region's money markets.
We had no choice, Bernanke tells lawmakers
The Federal Reserve had no choice but to intervene and put taxpayers' money at risk earlier this month by backing a fire sale of the assets of Bear Stearns, a leading American investment bank, its chairman said on Wednesday in testimony before US…
Hungary raises rates by half a point
The National Bank of Hungary hiked rates by 50 basis points on Monday 31 March from 7.5% to 8%.
Australia leaves rates at 12-year high
The Reserve Bank of Australia left rates at 7.25% - their highest level since April 2006.
Bank of Japan survey shows confidence on the wane
The Bank of Japan is likely to adopt a more dovish monetary policy stance and revise growth estimates downwards on the back of a poorer-than-expected Tankan survey.
Sri Lanka rebuts IMF report
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has countered claims, made in an International Monetary Fund report, that poor decision-making has contributed to high inflation in the country.
FSF to suggest radical solutions to turmoil
The Financial Stability Forum (FSF) is set to propose a series of unorthodox measures for fighting the credit crunch, say media reports.
Turkish disinflation delayed by global conditions
Rising global uncertainty and rampant food and energy price growth may lead to some delay in reaching the inflation target, the March Monetary Policy Committee Meeting minutes of the Central Bank of Turkey state.
Commodity price shocks in a small open economy
Commodity price shocks significantly contribute to the exchange rate fluctuations and business cycles in a small open economy, recent research by the Bank of Canada shows.
Anchoring inflation key - Finland's Liikanen
The anchoring of inflation expectations in line with price stability is of prime importance, said Erkki Liikanen, the governor of the Bank of Finland. Rising commodity prices should not be allowed to generate second round effects on euro area inflation.
King: change needed in bank regulation
Much thought will need to be given to the structure and nature of banking regulation in the future given the recent challenges presented by the financial turmoil, admitted Mervyn King, the governor of the Bank of England. "Serious thinking and…
China stands firm on monetary policy
The People's Bank of China said on Monday 31 March, after its first quarter monetary policy committee meeting, that it would maintain its firm attitude to monetary policy, using instruments "in a measured manner".
ECB in a quandary as inflation rises sharply
The European Union's statistics office said on Monday 31 March that consumer price inflation accelerated to 3.5% this month from 3.2% in February, the biggest rise since June 1992, further exacerbating the European Central Bank's (ECB) monetary policy…
"Unscrupulous dealers" attacking Iceland's economy
David Oddsson, the chairman of the board of directors at the Central Bank of Iceland, suspects that "unscrupulous dealers" are trying to bring down the Icelandic financial system by circulating rumours about the country's bank and central government.
Treasury shake-up to grant Fed more power
The US Treasury has unveiled a series of recommendations for a major restructuring of financial services regulation, which will allot broad new powers to the Federal Reserve to attack systems risk, including the ability to send SWAT teams into any…
Major reforms in view for IMF
The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has backed a resolution that would achieve a major change in the representation of many emerging countries as well as allowing poorer countries a bigger say in the way the Fund is run.
Kansas City's subprime loan record
Subprime borrowers in the 10th district are having difficulties with payment delinquencies running above the national average, according to a recent report by the Federal Reserve of Kansas City.
New Zealand set for slowdown - Bollard
New Zealand will see a moderate slowdown in economic activity reflecting weaker household spending, business investment, the negative effects of dry weather conditions and the impact of the exchange rate on exporters, stated Alan Bollard, the governor of…
Kenya's IFRS and Basel 2 challenges
A practical challenge Kenyan banks challenge in complying with International Financial Reporting Standards and Basel 2 is the use of complex financial models to measure risks in their portfolio, explained Njuguna Ndung'u, the governor of the Central Bank…
RBA's Stevens on the future of liquidity provision
It is likely that arrangements for providing liquidity will continue to be discussed, said Glenn Stevens, the governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia.
Fed's Stern ponders on asset-price stance
Gary Stern, the president of the Minneapolis Federal Reserve, has acknowledged that the central bank may need to review its policy of non-interference with asset prices in the wake of the recent turmoil.
Decade-high inflation will not impact BoJ policy
The Bank of Japan remains more likely to cut than hike rates this year despite inflation climbing to its highest level since the 1990s in February, according to analysts.
We need banking secrets to help: Fed's Rosengren
The Federal Reserve's regulatory role has been essential in allowing the central bank to deal with the current turmoil, a top official claimed on Friday.
Fed's Mishkin makes his point on inflation
In one of his strongest advocacies of inflation targeting since joining the Federal Reserve in 2006, Frederic Mishkin argued that countries should adopt a specific point objective for price stability rather than having a target range.