Central Banking staff
Follow Central Banking
Articles by Central Banking staff
Bini Smaghi says ECB rate may rise further
ECB board member Lorenzo Bini Smaghi told La Repubblica in an interview published Tuesday 23 January that the ECB's rate is "still accommodating" and may have to rise further if growth expectations are confirmed to avoid excess liquidity.
Buba's Fabritius sees German GDP growth down
Bundesbank executive board member Hans Georg Fabritius said in a speech German GDP growth is expected to be 1.75% this year, down from a 2.7% growth rate in 2006.
IMF chief calls for flexible yuan, warns BoJ
The head of the International Monetary Fund said Monday 22 January that greater flexibility in China's exchange rate will help Asian economies cope with potential risks from sharp capital inflows.
Chicago Fed National Activity Index, December 2006
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index for December 2006, published 22 January, was +0.04 in December, up from -0.30 in November. Three of the four broad categories of indicators in the index made negative contributions.
Buba's Weber warns on German wage hikes
Bundesbank president Axel Weber warned Friday 19 January that sharp wage increases in Germany could set off a new round of inflation and hinder the European Central Bank's price stability goal.
Role of MAS enhanced with Banking Amendment Bill
The Monetary Authority of Singapore's role as the central bank was enhanced on Monday 22 January when Parliament passed the Banking Amendment Bill, Channel News Asia reported.
ECB's Liikanen says inflation remains a big risk
European Central Bank Governing Council member Erkki Liikanen said there were still upside risks to inflation in the eurozone, Finnish national broadcaster YLE reported Sunday 21 January.
PBOC advisor says yuan rise may increase surplus
Further yuan appreciation could cause China's trade surplus to increase rather than shrink, a leading advisor to the Chinese central bank told a conference on Sunday 21 January.
ECB denies Trichet, Juncker, Almunia meetings plan
The European Central Bank denied a report on Monday 22 January which claimed Jean-Claude Trichet, Eurogroup chief Jean-Claude Juncker and EU commissioner Joaquin Almunia had agreed to hold informal meetings on the sidelines of the ECB's monthly press…
Ministers concerned over settlement plan - report
European finance ministers have raised doubts about the European Central Bank's plan to provide its own settlement system for eurozone securities transactions, the Financial Times reported Monday 22 January.
Why did the Bank of Japan freeze interest rates?
According to this article published by MoneyWeek on Monday 22 January, the Bank of Japan's decision last week to hold interest rates steady has unleashed a storm relating to its independence from political pressure.
Stark on monetary policy: a view from the ECB
In the speech 'Objectives and challenges of monetary policy: a view from the ECB' given on 19 January Jurgen Stark of the ECB said the ECB retains the freedom to move interest rates whenever it considers it necessary to control inflation pressures,…
Richmond Fed's Lacker on the economic outlook
In the speech 'Economic outlook' given on 19 January Jeffrey Lacker of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond said the possibility of resurgent inflation remains the biggest risk to policymakers.
Fukui on future challenges for Asian economies
In a speech given on 22 January Toshihiko Fukui of the Bank of Japan called for the monetary authorities in Asia to forge closer links to limit the effect of massive money flows into the region.
Philadelphia Fed Business Outlook Survey, Jan 2007
According to the firms surveyed for the Philadelphia Fed's January 2007 Business Outlook Survey, economic conditions in the region's manufacturing sector improved in January.
Bank of Japan Monthly Report, January 2007
The Bank of Japan published the English version of its January 2007 monthly report on Monday 22 January. In the report the BOJ left its assessment of economic and financial developments largely unchanged, saying the economy continues to expand moderately.
Zimbabwe: Yet another challenging year for Gono
According to this recent article from the Financial Gazette, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono's turnaround efforts are likely to be gambled on short-term succession politics.
New developments in Kozlov murder case
A woman was charged on Friday 19 January in connection with the murder of Russian central banker Andrei Kozlov.
Hungary plans central bank independence increase
Hungary's government is proposing an amendment to the country's Central Bank Act to increase the independence of monetary policy makers, a spokesman at the Finance Ministry has said.
Economists may review RBA testimony
Australian lawmakers are likely to invite economists to review the twice-yearly testimony of Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Glenn Stevens, Bloomberg reported Friday 19 January.
BoT's Tarisa says exports likely to decline
Bank of Thailand governor Tarisa Watanagase on Thursday 19 January said the Thai economy would grow at a slower pace this year since exports are likely to decline.
Coroner's report on death of BoE's Walton
Former Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee member David Walton was killed by a rare flesh-eating bug, a coroner's officer report has shown.
Bank of Canada Monetary Policy Report Update
The Bank of Canada released its January 2007 Monetary Policy Report Update on Thursday 18 January. Canada's economy will pick up this year and next, while global growth slows, according to the report.
Bini Smaghi on global capital & monetary policies
In the speech 'Global capital and national monetary policies' given on 18 January Lorenzo Bini Smaghi of the ECB said central banks must be careful not to overreact to declines in real bond yields, which may reflect special factors related to…