Monetary Policy
BoE’s Sentance: rate policy to offset fiscal tightening
Bank of England’s Andrew Sentance says monetary policy can compensate for the negative impact of fiscal tightening on demand
ECB’s Stark contests IMF paper
Jürgen Stark argues that an inflation target at the 4% level would do more harm than good
BoJ board split on doubling liquidity scheme
Bank of Japan fixed-rate funds operations scheme to be doubled to ¥20 trillion, two board members dissent
BoJ study: low rates not enough
Bank of Japan study shows that low interest rate commitment was insufficient in stimulating growth
RBA reviews the way it measures CPI
A report by the RBA proposes changes to the way future CPI is reported and measured
BoE unanimously backed rate hold
The Bank keeps rates steady as the MPC remains cautious over the road to recovery
Iceland trims rates on króna strength
Central Bank of Iceland cuts to 9% despite fears over Icesave dispute
RBA justifies March rate hike
Signs of revival in economic activity convinced board members to hike rates by a quarter point
Interview: Kim Choong-soo
New Bank of Korea governor on independence, collaboration and challenges going forward
Fed’s Hoenig dissents again
Kansas City Fed president disagrees with commitment to keep low rates for an “extended period"
Bank’s Dale: QE a success
Spencer Dale discusses the merits of quantitative easing and its impact on the wider economy in the past year
China’s Zhou not flustered by higher-than-forecast inflation
People’s Bank of China governor Zhou Xiaochuan keeps a cool head as inflation increases by more than expected spooking analysts and markets, says central bank will keep to plans
Chinese inflation spike scares investors
Chinese consumer prices rise more than consensus forecast in February, sparking fears that the economy is overheating
We know better now: Canada’s Carney
Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney reviews lessons learnt as the central bank celebrates its 75th anniversary
Rate round-up
Swiss, New Zealand, Korean and Peruvian central banks all opt to hold rates
ECB: current rates remain appropriate
The latest information from the European Central Bank confirms that the economic recovery in the euro area is on track but is likely to remain uneven
UK public’s price expectations moderately rise
GfK NOP survey on inflation attitudes from the Bank of England shows expectations remain stable
NY Fed’s Sack prepares market for smooth exit
Markets head Sack says tightening cycle “like no other in history”
RBA’s Lowe latest to dismiss inflation target hikes
Reserve Bank of Australia assistant governor Philip Lowe says IMF paper’s suggestion of raising inflation targets not sensible, says higher targets would damage supply side
BoE’s Barker on the future of policymaking
Kate Barker draws on her nine years of service at the Bank of England to highlight some of the challenges facing policymakers
BoJ’s Nakamura declares ordinary policy tools redundant
In a high profile speech in Fukuoka last month, Bank of Japan’s Seiji Nakamura tells business leaders that ordinary channels of the transmission mechanism are not working
Weber signals ECB could relax debt rules
Comments come after Austrian governor deemed power of rating agencies unacceptable; paves way for ECB to accept Greek debt even if downgraded
Fund economist: Lost Decade shows need for higher inflation targets
IMF economist Daniel Leigh points to evidence from Japan’s Lost Decade that shows hiking targets would have shorn output losses
Interview with Takatoshi Ito
Takatoshi Ito, a professor at the University of Tokyo, discusses whether recent comments by Japan’s finance minister undermine the central bank’s independence