Monetary Policy
Interview with Bank of Japan's Fukui
In an interview with Reuters, published on Wednesday 24 January, Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui said he is not sure how quickly board members can agree on lifting rates.
Rates should rise if confident, says BoJ's Suda
The Bank of Japan needs to avoid spending too much time examining data and policy makers should raise interest rates as long as they're confident in the outlook for the economy, BoJ board member Miyako Suda said in a speech Thursday 25 January.
BoE's King on UK inflation and monetary policy
In a speech given on 23 January Mervyn King of the Bank of England said inflation in the UK could fall quite sharply this year and that there was room for reasonable people to disagree about the timing or level of interest rate changes. On Wednesday the…
Redrado on monetary policy in Argentina
In the speech 'Overview of monetary and financial policy in Argentina' given on 20 December Martin Redrado of the Central Bank of Argentina said the main obstacle to implementing inflation targeting is the small size of the financial system.
Minutes show BoE split 5-4 on rate increase
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee voted 5-4 in favour of the surprise rate hike on 11 January, minutes of the meeting published Wednesday 24 January showed.
BoJ policymakers say rate rise is likely
A few Bank of Japan policymakers said the central bank should raise interest rates in January if it were to gain confidence about the economic outlook, according to minutes of the policy board's December meeting, which were released Tuesday 23 January.
Bini Smaghi says ECB rate may rise further
ECB board member Lorenzo Bini Smaghi told La Repubblica in an interview published Tuesday 23 January that the ECB's rate is "still accommodating" and may have to rise further if growth expectations are confirmed to avoid excess liquidity.
Chicago Fed's Moskow announces plans to step down
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago president Michael Moskow confirmed on Monday 22 January he will retire on 31 August.
Stark on monetary policy: a view from the ECB
In the speech 'Objectives and challenges of monetary policy: a view from the ECB' given on 19 January Jurgen Stark of the ECB said the ECB retains the freedom to move interest rates whenever it considers it necessary to control inflation pressures,…
Why did the Bank of Japan freeze interest rates?
According to this article published by MoneyWeek on Monday 22 January, the Bank of Japan's decision last week to hold interest rates steady has unleashed a storm relating to its independence from political pressure.
Taking personalities out of monetary policy
The Working Paper 'Taking personalities out of monetary policy decision making? Interactions, heterogeneity and committee decisions in the Bank of England's MPC' from the Centre for Dynamic Macroeconomic Analysis identifies significant interactions…
Cleveland Fed's Pianalto on economic conditions
In the speech 'National and regional economic conditions' given on 18 January Sandra Pianalto of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland said financial markets seem confident that the Federal Reserve will bring inflation back down, but there is a risk…
Bank of Canada Monetary Policy Report Update
The Bank of Canada released its January 2007 Monetary Policy Report Update on Thursday 18 January. Canada's economy will pick up this year and next, while global growth slows, according to the report.
Coroner's report on death of BoE's Walton
Former Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee member David Walton was killed by a rare flesh-eating bug, a coroner's officer report has shown.
Economists may review RBA testimony
Australian lawmakers are likely to invite economists to review the twice-yearly testimony of Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Glenn Stevens, Bloomberg reported Friday 19 January.
Fed's Mishkin on house prices in monetary policy
In the speech 'The role of house prices in formulating monetary policy' given on 17 January Frederic Mishkin of the Federal Reserve said the Fed should not get involved with trying to burst or even slow the growth of housing bubbles because it would lose…
Fukui says BoJ not bowing to pressure
The Bank of Japan will try to change interest rates slowly but has no timetable for such moves at present, central bank governor Toshihiko Fukui said Thursday 18 January.
Fed adviser Reinhart to leave for AEI
Vincent Reinhart, one of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's top advisers on interest rates, is leaving the central bank, a statement said Wednesday 17 January.
Stark says ECB criticism has little support
European Central Bank board member Juergen Stark said in a speech on Wednesday 16 January that criticisms of the ECB by some politicians have very little support and are simply a reflection of some countries' failure to adapt to monetary union.
Rosenberg: Introducing own path for the repo rate
In the speech 'Riksbank to introduce own path for the repo rate' given on 17 January Irma Rosenberg of the Sveriges Riksbank said the central bank will start issuing its own repo rate forecasts when it publishes its predictions for inflation.
Theater of the absurd surrounds BOJ's decision
According to this article from Bloomberg, published Wednesday 17 January, the Bank of Japan may be about to lose even more of the credibility is has worked to restore.
BoT says cut rates to spur economy
The Bank of Thailand said Wednesday 17 January it cut its key interest rate for the first time in more than three years to spur the economy after currency controls.
Paper on monetary policy by committee
The Meeting Paper from the Society for Economic Dynamics 'The dynamic (in)efficiency of monetary policy by committee' develops a model where the value of the monetary policy instrument is selected by a heterogenous committee engaged in a dynamic voting…
UWE paper on monetary policy uncertainty
It is widely believed that institutional arrangements influence the quality of monetary policy outcomes. Judged on its 'transparency' characteristics, therefore the Bank of England should do better than both the Bundesbank and ECB, according to the…