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Chicago Fed National Activity Index, July 2006
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index for July 2006, published 23 August, was -0.12 in July, down from +0.43 in June. Two of the four broad categories of indicators in the index made small positive contributions.
New external debt statistics released
The BIS, IMF, OECD and the World Bank have released improved debt statistics.
Barbados central bank on Basel II progress
Banks in Barbados are moving ahead with implementing the Advanced IRB guidelines in Basel II for 2012.
Duguay on Canada's response to global changes
Canada has responded well to a dramatic change in its terms of trade, according to Pierre Duguay, a deputy governor of the Bank of Canada.
Riksbank conference on central bank governance
Sweden's central bank is hosting an international research conference on governance in central banks.
Indian rates may not rise-former governor
India's central bank may hold back on further interest rate hikes this year, according to a former Reserve Bank of India governor, Bimal Jalan.
Fed seeks to reassure over housing slowdown
Overall rises in disposable income should offset a possible increase in the saving rate due to a softening housing market, Federal Reserve chairman, Ben Bernanke, said in a letter to a congresswoman released on Wednesday 30 August.
Brazil surprises with half-point cut
Brazil's central bank slashed its interest rates by a larger-than-expected 0.5% on Wednesday.
ECB keeps rates steady
The European Central Bank left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 3% as expected.
IMF on transparency and supervision in Africa
The IMF has published a new country report that looks at monetary and financial policy transparency in central Africa.
Reserve Bank of India's annual report
The Indian central bank released its annual report for 2005-2006 on 30 August 2006.
Stanley Fischer on the new economic powers
The governor of the Bank of Israel, Stanley Fischer, discusses the political and economic implications of the rise of Asian economies.
Bernanke's opening speech at Jackson Hole
A speech by Ben Bernanke notes that, as in the past, the social and political opposition to openness can be strong.
Tunisia holds rates
Tunisian interest rates were unmoved after the monthly meeting of the central bank's executive board on Tuesday.
Nigeria plans an oil investment fund
The Central Bank of Nigeria said it is working on a national investment fund that will manage a proportion of its external reserves.
IMF boost for developing countries
China, South Korea, Turkey and Mexico seem set to win increases in their IMF quotas at the expense of some European countries.
Fed minutes indicate a "close call"
Minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee showed a 9-1 vote on 8 August in favour of keeping interest rates on hold.
Sweden raises rates
Sweden's central bank raised it benchmark interest rate by 0.25% in a move anticipated by the market.
NBER paper on optimal monetary policy
An NBER research paper on optimal monetary policy concludes that, in the presence of price stickiness, policymakers should focus their efforts actions towards low inflation volatility.
Trinidad and Tobago governor's inflation speech
Rocketing food prices are to blame for the rising inflation according to Ewart Williams, governor of the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago.
Ghana goes for risk-based supervision
The governor of the Bank of Ghana, Paul Acquah, set out how the central bank plans to move towards a risk-based framework for banking supervision.
BIS paper on business continuity
A new paper from the Bank of International Settlements sets outs business continuity principles for financial market participants and authorities.
Jackson Hole attendees stick to the script
Central bankers and academics at the Fed's annual Jackson Hole conference in the United States discussed the impacts of globalisation at length, but gave away little on immediate policy directions.
Interest rates round-up
A brief round-up of recent interest rate decisions in central banks in emerging markets.