Monetary Policy
Fed minutes show uncertainty on future hikes
Federal Reserve policymakers at their May meeting considered raising a key interest rate by half a percentage point before deciding on a quarter-point increase, minutes published Wednesday 31 May showed.
BoJ's Fukui on quantitative easing
In a speech given on 1 June Toshihiko Fukui of the Bank of Japan said the central bank's quantitative easing policy, which lasted for nearly five years till March 2006, helped in bringing recovery back to the deflation-hit Japanese economy.
BoJ's Haru urges caution on rate moves
Bank of Japan board member Hidehiko Haru said on Thursday 1 June that the central bank need not end its zero interest policy too fast, and must avoid surprising markets.
BOJ's Fukui sees slow rate rises
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui said the central bank would raise interest rates slowly and would proceed without focusing on one particular economic indicator, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday 1 June.
Comment: Fed ponders communication strategy
The minutes of the US Fed's last monetary policy meeting, released this week, have enhanced the perception of an uncertain FOMC, and strengthened the view that further rate increases will be required. A close look at recent events show that the issue of…
Which news moves the euro area bond market?
This ECB Working Paper explores a long dataset (1999-2005) of intraday prices on German long-term bond futures and examines market responses to major macroeconomic announcements and ECB monetary policy releases.
Yellen on monetary policy in a global environment
In the speech 'Monetary policy in a global environment' given on 27 May Janet Yellen of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco said a depreciation in the U.S. dollar could increase the need for tighter Federal Reserve monetary policy.
PBOC to increase yuan flexibility
The People's Bank of China said in its first quarter monetary report that it will increase the flexibility of the yuan's exchange rate mechanism and intervene less in determining the currency's value.
ECB's Wellink says ECB should raise rates
European Central Bank council member Nout Wellink said in an interview that interest rates need to be increased because of rising inflation expectations.
Rybinski on inflation targeting, challenges ahead
In the speech 'Inflation targeting and the challenges ahead' given on 18 May Krzysztof Rybinski of the National Bank of Poland said that since 1990, when the pioneering Reserve Bank of New Zealand first introduced inflation targeting, over twenty…
BoE's Blanchflower approved by committee
The parliamentary Treasury Select Committee endorsed on Tuesday 30 May David Blanchflower's appointment to the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee.
ECB's Papademos on globalisation, inflation
In the speech 'Globalisation, inflation, imbalances and monetary policy' given on 25 May Lucas Papademos of the ECB said that globalisation had helped contain prices in the past, but the risks to inflation were now rising due to buoyant world growth.
Central Bank of Sri Lanka - Monetary Policy Review
According to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka's Monetary Policy Review for May 2006, both exports and imports expanded further in March 2006 with imports growing at a faster rate mainly due to the increase in the petroleum imports.
Central bankers eye Norway's clarity on rates
According to this article published by the Financial Times on Friday 26 May, Norges Bank's "subversive" transparency is attracting a great deal of attention in central banking circles.
Fed can't ignore stock, home prices says Bernanke
Fed chairman Ben Bernanke said in a written response to a senator that the US central bank cannot turn a blind eye to price changes for stocks and homes when deciding on interest rates, but should take action only when they threaten the overall economy.
Ingves on the Riksbank and monetary policy
In the speech 'The Riksbank and monetary policy' given on 23 May Stefan Ingves of the Sveriges Riksbank reiterated that monetary policy will need to be less expansionary in future so that inflation does not exceed the 2% target.
Blanchflower is 'no shrinking violet'
The Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee's latest member, David Blanchflower, told the Treasury Select Committee on Wednesday 24 May that his commitment to the rate setting MPC will form his "primary responsibility."
Bank of Canada raises rates
The Bank of Canada announced Wednesday 24 May that it is raising its target for the overnight rate by one-quarter of one percentage point to 4 1/4 per cent. The move had been widely expected.
BOJ member sees reserve cut problem
According to minutes of the Bank of Japan's April 10-11 board meeting, published Wednesday 24 May, a policy maker said a rapid reduction in reserves by the central bank may spur speculation of an interest-rate increase from near zero.
Mersch says ECB will have to lift rates further
European Central Bank Governing Council member Yves Mersch said in an interview that eurozone interest rates will need to keep rising because of increased risks to price stability but that there was no fixed schedule.
BOJ's Fukui sees rates rising slowly - report
The Bank of Japan will raise interest rates gradually to keep inflation under control while also giving the economy time to recover, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun quoted BOJ governor Toshihiko Fukui as saying in an interview published Tuesday 23 May.
New MPC member set for grilling
The newest member of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee is likely to face some tough questions when he faces MPs for his "confirmation" hearing on Wednesday 24 May, the FT reported.
Roach urges new monetary policy approach
In comments published on Monday 22 May, Stephen Roach of Morgan Stanley said he is worried that central banking's recent record will not be judged kindly by history.
Rato says more Fed hikes may be needed
International Monetary Fund chief Rodrigo Rato said on Monday 22 May that the Federal Reserve may need to continue raising interest rates depending upon how US economic conditions evolve.