Monetary Policy
Domestic pressures behind Australian rate rise
Members of the Reserve Bank of Australia's rate-setting board voted to hike rates last month on domestic economic grounds, minutes of the 6 November meeting reveal.
Canada surprises markets with quarter-point cut
The Bank of Canada's rate-setting board voted unexpectedly on Tuesday to cut its benchmark overnight rate by 25 basis points to 4.25%.
New Zealand to webcast monetary policy statements
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand is set to webcast the news conference that will follow this Thursday's rate decision.
CEPR proposes solution for fiscal dilemma
Game theory and inflation targeting could provide the best solution to the problem of fiscal policy impacting monetary policy, a paper published by the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) finds.
Kazakhstan raises rates by 200 basis points
The National Bank of Kazakhstan's rate-setting board voted on Friday to hike its benchmark official refinancing rate by two percentage points to 11%.
No clear answer on when Japan will raise rates
Toshihiko Fukui, the governor of the Bank of Japan, emphasised on Monday that uncertainty still clouds the central bank's rate outlook.
Bernanke keeps door open for rate cut
The Fed chairman's concern over the effects of renewed turmoil in financial markets lent weight to expectations of a rate cut in December.
SARB policies here to stay regardless of Zuma
Tito Mboweni, the governor of the South African Reserve Bank, moved to assure markets on Thursday night that inflation targeting would remain whether or not the South African presidency changed hands.
Mishkin wants changes to lead to medium-term focus
Frederic Mishkin, a governor at the Federal Reserve, said on Thursday that he hopes the decision to increase the frequency and expand the content of the central bank's economic projections will stop Fed watchers' obsessive focus on where rates are…
Czechs hike rates to 3.5%
The Czech National Bank's rate-setting board voted on Thursday to hike rates by 25 basis points to 3.5% after inflation rose to a six-year high in October.
FOMC members disagree on risks to growth
Stock markets around the world rose sharply on Wednesday after Donald Kohn, the vice chairman of the Federal Reserve, suggested that the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) would cut rates in December. Kohn's comments differ sharply from those made by…
South African inflation rampant despite rate hikes
Two 50 basis point rate hikes have failed to dampen rising inflation in South Africa, new statistics showed on Wednesday.
Poland hikes rates to combat inflation
The National Bank of Poland's rate-setting board voted on Wednesday to raise the benchmark reference rate by 25 basis points to 5% after inflation rose above the central bank's target in October.
Uncertainty clouds outlook for rates in Norway
Svein Gjedrem, the governor of the Bank of Norway, said on Wednesday that the central bank's interest rate decisions may diverge from the forecasted rate path because of the heightened uncertainty caused by the global financial turmoil.
Transition economies set for inflation dilemma
Central and Eastern European economies may have to face steep sacrifice ratios in order to keep inflation within the target range for euro accession, says Kryzsztof Rybiski, the deputy president of the National Bank of Poland.
Mexico holds rates at 7.5%
The Bank of Mexico's rate-setting board voted on Friday to hold its benchmark rate at 7.5%.
Hungary holds rates on inflation fears
The National Bank of Hungary's rate-setting board voted on Monday to hold rates at 7.5% after the central bank's inflation report revealed inflation would decline more slowly than anticipated.
Israel holds rates at 4%
The Bank of Israel's rate-setting board voted on Monday to keep rates at 4% for the third consecutive month.
Saudi Arabia - Annual Report 2006/07
Real GDP rose by 4.3% over the course of the 2006/07 financial year.
Turkey to "monitor closely" second-round hikes
The minutes of the Central Bank of Turkey's November rate-setting meeting have revealed that the potential second round effects of rising food and energy prices will be closely monitored.
Poor data raises chances of UK rate cut
Worse-than-expected growth and woeful housing statistics have increased the likelihood that the Bank of England will move to cut rates next month.
Hakkarainen new deputy at Bank of Finland
Pentti Hakkarainen, a member of the board at the Bank of Finland, is set to succeed Matti Louekoski as deputy governor in January 2008.
Globalisation gives greater role to communication
The globalisation of financial markets has made central bank communication more important than ever, says Mario Draghi, the governor of the Bank of Italy.
Markets certain on rate cut despite Fed's stance
In spite of repeated claims by Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) members that the risks between inflation and growth are now balanced, interest rate futures traders believed on Wednesday that a December cut is more likely than ever.