Monetary Policy
Poland leaves rates unchanged
The ten-strong rate setting council of the National Bank of Poland voted to keep its reference rate at 5.75% as inflation fell but remained above target.
Political spat threatens further BoJ appointments
Japan's main opposition party has rejected yet another candidate for a senior role at the Bank of Japan.
IMF urges central bankers to hike rates
Policymakers would be better off reacting to the recent surge in commodity prices by raising rates, new research published by the International Monetary Fund states.
Don't just focus on rates: Japan's Shirakawa
Though the increased attention given to monetary policy is welcomed, other aspects of central banking should receive more publicity, said Masaaki Shirakawa, the governor of the Bank of Japan.
How globalisation impacts rate-setting in India
Despite a relatively low degree of openness, India's domestic monetary conditions are highly influenced by global factors, research published by the International Monetary Fund finds.
Iceland confounds expectations with rate hold
The Central Bank of Iceland surprised markets on Thursday, opting to hold rates, rather than raise them.
Pakistan raises rates 150bp
The State Bank of Pakistan hiked rates to 12% on Thursday.
Fed minutes reveal some reluctance to cut rates
Most members of the Federal Open Market Committee viewed the decision to cut rates by a quarter point in April as a close call, the minutes of the meeting reveal.
Recovery requires more than Fed cuts: Warsh
Returning the economy to equilibrium requires actions more befitting than changes in the federal funds rate alone, noted Kevin Warsh, a governor at the Federal Reserve.
Inflation targeting a dangerous fad, says Stiglitz
Joseph Stiglitz, the Nobel Prize-winning economist and Columbia University professor, has panned inflation targeting as a "fad" that could lead to economic disaster.
Bank voted 8-1 in favour of May hold
Only one of the Bank of England's nine Monetary Policy Committee members voted to cut rates earlier this month, a sign of the Bank's intent to fight inflation.
Leave rates at record high, IMF tells NZ
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has called on the Reserve Bank of New Zealand to avoid cutting rates until clearer signs of a slump emerge.
Discomfort over inflation led RBA to hold
Despite signs that domestic demand is weakening, Reserve Bank of Australia opted to leave rates at a 12-year high of 7.25% in May on the back of "uncomfortably high" inflation figures.
We must avoid the errors of the 70s: Trichet
Jean-Claude Trichet, the president of the European Central Bank (ECB), has warned that the world's central bankers risk a return to the dark days of the 1970s if they cut rates in the current climate.
Lomax decides to quit the Bank
Rachel Lomax, a deputy governor at the Bank of England, will leave when her term ends at the end of June.
Ghana raises rates by 175bp
The Bank of Ghana has hiked its benchmark interest rate to 16% on the back of soaring inflation.
Bernanke letter confirms interest payment plans
Ben Bernanke, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, has called on Congress to allow the institution to pay interest on banks' reserves - a move reported earlier this month. The change will stop interbank charges falling below the federal funds rate.
Bundesbank expects euro inflation to accelerate
The Bundesbank on Monday said it expects inflation to increase further in the coming months and that the measure could stay above the European Central Bank's (ECB) target in the long term.
Core inflation no better than other measures
New research published by the Philadelphia Federal Reserve dismisses claims that core inflation is a better predictor of total inflation.
Fed's Pianalto defines inflation
Sandra Pianalto, the president of the Cleveland Federal Reserve, has clarified the difference between relative-price pressures and inflation.
Turkey shifts stance on rates
Turkey has leapfrogged Iceland as the European state with the highest interest rate after the country's central bank backed a 50 basis-point hike on Thursday.
Denmark raises rates
The Nationall Bank of Denmark lifted its key rate by 10 basis points on Friday in a bid to support the krone.
Russia’s monetary dilemma
Time is running out for Russia to deal with its “problem of success”. There are three possible ways forward, writes Bill Allen
Argentina’s crippling fear of floating
Argentina’s history of crises has haunted successive generations of policymakers, argues Vladimir Werning