Monetary Policy
Canada cuts rates further
Canada's central bank cut its key interest rate by a quarter-point on Tuesday, saying the country's economy needs the stimulus to ward off the effects of a recession in the United States.
India cuts rates by 1%
The Reserve Bank of India slashed its key short-term lending rate by a full percentage point on Monday. It was the central bank's first reduction in rates since March 2004.
Price-level targeting brings gains
Adopting an optimal price-level target instead of an optimal inflation-targeting regime can bring additional welfare gains, a new paper from the Bank of Canada finds.
Bank reforms money market operations
The Bank of England set out plans for three major reforms of its money market operations, including proposals for two new facilities aimed at alleviating the tensions that have kept prices for interbank loans well above historical norms.
Iceland slashes rates as economy faces meltdown
The Central Bank of Iceland has cut its key rate by 350 basis points on the back of the meltdown in the country's banking sector.
Norges Bank cuts on signs of swift slowdown
Norges Bank on Wednesday lopped half a point off its key rate on signs real economic activity would slow at a faster rate and to a greater degree than predicted.
Russian reserve requirements cut to 0.5%
The Central Bank of Russia on Tuesday slashed its reserve requirements to 0.5%, a move which analysts say could add $2.7 billion-worth of liquidity into the system.
India slashes reserve ratio by 150 basis points
The Reserve Bank of India on Friday lowered its reserve requirement ratio by 150 basis points in a bid to ease liquidity tensions brought on by the global turmoil.
BoJ minutes reveal thinking behind dollar funding
The minutes of the Bank of Japan's Monetary Policy Meeting on 18 September reveal discussions that led to the central bank introducing dollar fund-supplying operations against pooled collateral as a temporary measure.
Asia makes rate cut 'truly global'
China cut rates for the second time in as many months on Wednesday, supporting the joint action by six of the most important central banks to loosen policy. A host of other Asian central banks have also replicated the Federal Reserve-led move.
FOMC September minutes: balancing risks
Both downside risks to growth and upside risks to inflation were a significant concern to the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), the minutes from the 16 September meeting reported.
Global central banks cut as system teeters
Six central banks have taken the unprecedented step of cutting rates by half a point in unison in an attempt to avert a global financial-market meltdown.
HKMA cuts discount rate by full percentage point
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) on Wednesday cut the rate at which it lends to banks through its discount window by 100 basis points.
Australia slashes rates by 100 basis points
The Reserve Bank of Australia shocked markets on Tuesday, opting to cut its key rate by a full percentage point to 6%, the steepest margin since 1992.
High commodity prices and the Canadian dollar
A new paper from the Bank of Canada examines the impact of the recent surge in energy and non-energy commodity prices on the loonie.
China's impact on global inflation
Research from the Bank of Canada examines the effect of China on the inflation rate in other countries.
Bundesbank's Weber on monetary policy
Monetary policy should react to the financial cycle in a more symmetric way, said Axel Weber, the president of the Bundesbank.
Phillips curve is flattening
A new paper from the Reserve Bank of Australia finds that the Phillips curve, which measures the relationship between unemployment and inflation, has flattened in recent years.
Trichet comments raise prospect of December cut
The European Central Bank (ECB) kept rates on hold again on Thursday, but more-dovish-than expected comments from Jean-Claude Trichet, the central bank's president, signalled the Governing Council could cut before the end of 2008.
Trichet: Slovakia should go further with reforms
Slovakia's government should implement structural reforms to foster price stability, said Jean-Claude Trichet, the president of the European Central Bank.
Turkey justifies September hold
The Central Bank of Turkey's rate-setting committee in September opted to keep rates on hold despite an improvement in the inflation outlook.
Fed's Fisher still warning on inflation
Richard Fisher, the president of the Dallas Federal Reserve who is considered the Federal Open Market Committee's (FOMC) most hawkish member, has signalled that he would still not back a rate cut.
Issues for central banks' collateral frameworks
Research from the International Monetary Fund highlights four issues for central banks' collateral frameworks.
RBA justifies September rate cut
A slowdown in demand allowed for a cut in the cash rate by 25 basis points to 7%, according to minutes from the September board meeting of the Reserve Bank of Australia.