Monetary Policy
Brazil's COPOM committee says inflation 'benign'
Brazil's central bank said in minutes from its last COPOM meeting released Thursday 26 October that inflation remains under control, paving the way for more interest rate reductions.
ECB's Bini Smaghi on monetary tightening
In the speech 'Three questions on monetary tightening' given on 26 October Lorenzo Bini Smaghi of the ECB said central banks face a difficult task in deciding when to stop tightening monetary policy.
Trichet on the ECB's Annual Report 2005
In a presentation of the ECB's Annual Report 2005 to the European Parliament on 26 October Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said reiterated that further tightening of ECB monetary policy will be warranted if the eurozone recovery continues in line with its…
RBNZ holds rates unchanged, Sweden hikes
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand left its official cash rate unchanged at 7.25 pct on Thursday 26 October reflecting slowing economic growth. Swedish interest rates were raised in a widely expected move.
Fed's Lacker - rebel without a pause
This article published Wednesday 25 October notes that Richmond Fed president Jeffrey Lacker has become the first Federal Reserve policy-maker in eight years to dissent from his colleagues for three consecutive meetings.
Buba's Weber warns inflation fall is temporary
Bundesbank President Axel Weber said the current decline in inflation rate is temporary and does not necessarily signal a long-term easing of inflationary risks, according to an interview with Tagesspiegel newspaper published Wednesday 25 October.
ECB's Wellink says rates still 'very low'
European Central Bank council member Nout Wellink said in an interview published Monday 23 October interest rates in the euro region are ``very low'' and the speed of economic growth could risk fueling inflation.
Study urges improved Fed communications policy
A new study commissioned by Macroeconomic Advisers, headed by former Fed governor Larry Meyer, reveals most leading US financial market participants do not want the US central bank to adopt an inflation objective, a mild form of an inflation target.
NBH to change framework of issuing press releases
The National Bank of Hungary (NBH) announced on Thursday 19 October that it is changing its practice of issuing press releases on the Monetary Council's regular rate-setting meetings.
Parra says Venezuelan inflation may exceed target
The president of Venezuela's central bank, Gaston Parra, has said inflation is likely to end the year about 4 percentage points above the government's target range of 10 percent to 12 percent.
SF Fed's Yellen on prospects for the U.S. economy
In the speech 'Prospects for the U.S. economy' given on 16 October Janet Yellen of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco said it makes sense for the Federal Reserve to hold monetary policy stable "for a time" because the full effect of 17 rate…
ECB 'attentive' to inflation risk- Gonzalez-Paramo
ECB board member Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Paramo refused to contradict market expectations of another eurozone rate hike in December, Expansion reported on Thursday 19 October.
BOJ's Muto on recent conduct of monetary policy
In the speech 'Recent conduct of monetary policy' given on 21 July (published 16 Oct) Toshiro Muto of the Bank of Japan said for the effects of monetary policy to filter through into the economy both financial markets and financial institutions have an…
ECB's Liebscher sees December rate hike
European Central Bank governing council member Klaus Liebscher told the FAZ newspaper on Wednesday 18 October that market expectations of a December interest rate increase are accurate, but said the ECB has no pre-determined view on rates for 2007.
BOJ share view on modest expansion - minutes
According to minutes released Wednesday 18 October, all members of the Bank of Japan's policy board agreed that the domestic economy would continue to expand moderately.
Bank of England voted 7-2 to hold rates
The Bank of England's two newest Monetary Policy Committee members, Andrew Sentance and Timothy Besley, both voted for higher interest rates at this month's meeting, minutes released Wednesday 18 October showed.
Norway's Bergo on monetary policy
In the speech 'Cyclical developments, monetary policy and the krone exchange rate' given on 28 September Jarle Bergo of Norges Bank said the cyclical upturn in the Norwegian economy continues, with strong growth since mid-2003.
Treasury Committee to look into MPC process
The Treasury Select Committee has said it expects to look into the appointment process to the Bank of England's interest rate-setting Monetary Policy Committee some time next year.
Bank of England governor may be outvoted on rates
This article from Reuters, published Thursday 12 October, asks whether Mervyn King could be outvoted for the second time at the Bank of England's next rate-setting meeting.
Bank of Japan's Fukui not ruling out rate hike
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui said Friday 13 October he is not ruling out a possible interest rate increase before the end of the year, noting that the Japanese economy is expected to continue its recovery led by solid domestic demand and brisk…
Trichet endorses rate hike expectations
European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet on Thursday 12 October again endorsed market expectations of a further hike in euro zone interest rates by the end of the year.
Sweden's Ingves on the economic situation
In the speech 'The economic situation' given on 12 October Stefan Ingves of the Sveriges Riksbank said it is reasonable to assume that further increases in the repo rate will be necessary.
Fed minutes suggest rates may stay on hold
The Federal Reserve may keep interest rates on hold for an extended period after minutes of its September policy meeting, released Wednesday 11 October, showed the central bank was still wary of inflation risks.
BoE's Besley: Second round price pressures exist
Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee member Tim Besley warned Thursday 12 October that second-round inflationary pressures still exist despite the drop in oil prices.