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China says revaluation to slow reserves rise
The rapid build-up in China's foreign exchange reserves should slow following the revaluation this year of the renminbi, the People's Bank of China said on Wednesday 30 November.
Document shows plan to shake up EU payments system
The European Union's payments system is set for a wide-ranging overhaul to cut down on the cost of cross-border transactions and save up to 100 billion euros ($117.7 billion), a European Commission document quoted by Reuters showed on Thursday 1 December.
Mizuno says BOJ should shorten policy debate
Bank of Japan board member Atsushi Mizuno said in a speech the BOJ should not spend too much time debating over policy with the government or financial markets to avoid being "late" in shifting policy.
ECB raises rates, but says no series planned
The European Central Bank raised its main interest rate, for the first time in five years, by 0.25% to 2.25% on Thursday 1 December in a move that had been widely expected.
Fed's Bies on developments in regulatory capital
In the speech 'Recent developments in regulatory capital' given on 30 November Susan Bies of the Federal Reserve said concerns raised by a US study of the effects of proposed Basel II bank capital standards may have delayed US implementation of the rules…
Federal Reserve Board - Beige Book, November 2005
The Federal Reserve published its November 2005 Beige Book survey on 30 November. US economic activity increased across the country through mid-November but the housing market has cooled and high energy prices have raised concern about consumer spending…
Trichet on growth potential & structural reforms
In the speech 'Growth potential, labour productivity and structural reforms in Europe' given on 10 November Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said we need structural reforms to make sure that the soil is fertile enough for the seeds of technological…
Regulators may never police hedge fund conflicts
The US Securities and Exchange Commission is trying hard not to look incompetent in advance of its hedge-fund registration deadline in February, according to this article published on Monday 28 November.
Yuan reform takes time
According to this article published on Monday 28 November, it's likely that China will permit further appreciation of its currency. What's certain, it says, is that Beijing won't allow itself to be seen as bowing to pressure.
Comment: Frosty start for Bundesbank and new govt
Relations between the German Bundesbank and the new coalition government of Angela Merkel have got off to frosty start. Bundesbank president Axel Weber has been critical of plans to consolidate public finances.
ECB's Tumpel-Gugerell on SEPA
In the speech 'SEPA: making the dream become a reality' given on 15 November Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell of the ECB said the ECB acts as a helping hand to create, out of the many different national payment schemes, one pan-European scheme for each of the…
ECB's Bini Smaghi says rates could rise
The European Central Bank could raise its official interest rate to 2.25 pct from 2.00, when the bank's governing council meets tomorrow, said ECB executive Lorenzo Bini Smaghi on Wednesday 30 November
BOJ deputy suggests 1% inflation benchmark
Bank of Japan deputy governor Kazumasa Iwata said the consumer price index needs to show a year-on-year rise of 1 pct over a period of 1-1/2 to two years to ensure that deflation is defeated, the Nikkei News Service reported.
Riksbank research on exchnage rates
Sweden's Riksbank has initiated cooperation with a number of external researchers as a complement to the bank's regular research to make a broader, more in-depth analysis of the development of the Swedish krona and its determinants.
FSF meets with the hedge fund community
The Financial Stability Forum (FSF) recently convened two informal workshops of senior members of the hedge fund community, their counterparties, and financial authorities.
ECCB to host development conference
The St. Kitts-based East Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) has announced it will be hosting its ninth annual development conference on Thursday 1 December in the Sir Cecil Jacobs Auditorium at the ECCB Headquarters.
BoE's Walton sees no rush for rate move
David Walton, the newest member of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee, told the Times that inflation could easily remain above the Bank's 2 percent target for some months while economic growth seemed to have recovered somewhat.
Mexico's Ortiz targets inflation, spurs growth
While the Federal Reserve has been busy raising interest rates, the Bank of Mexico has headed in the other direction, cutting its key rate on 24 Nov for the fourth consecutive month, this article published Wednesday notes.
Hedge funds bet Asia will boost gold reserves
According to this article published on Tuesday 29 November, hedge funds, after sending the gold price to an 18-year high, are looking to China and other Asian central banks as the next big drivers of the precious metal.
ECB paper: Near-rational exuberance
This ECB Working Paper published November 2005 studies how the use of judgement or "add-factors" in macroeconomic forecasting may disturb the set of equilibrium outcomes when agents learn using recursive methods.
Sveriges Riksbank Economic Review 3rd Quarter 2005
The Sveriges Riksbank has published its Economic Review for the 3rd Quarter 2005. This special edition is devoted to Dag Hammarskjold, whose 100th anniversary was marked with a seminar illustrating his work as an economist and his time at the Riksbank…
Comment: Euro adoption order changes
Slovakia's decision on Friday 25 November to join the Exchange Rate Mechanism II (ERM II) with immediate effect took markets by surprise. Policymakers had been saying they were aiming at mid-2006 for joining the ERM II, which serves as a crucial…
OECD says ECB should leave rates 'unchanged'
The OECD joined in on the debate over an expected increase in eurozone interest rates, warning Tuesday 29 November that the cost of borrowing should be left "unchanged."
Fed's Ferguson: Market stress may affect policy
Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Roger Ferguson said in a speech released on Monday 28 November that central banks may consider changing interest rates if financial stresses on markets or institutions put financial stability at risk.