Monetary Policy
Fed's Greenspan on budget process reforms
In testimony on 'Budget process reforms' given on 21 April, Alan Greenspan of the Federal Reserve said huge budget deficits pose a danger to the nation's long-term economic health.
BoJ's Fukui sees economy recovering
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui said on Thursday 21 April that the world's second-largest economy remained on a recovery track in spite of cautious business sentiment.
Ferguson says Fed right to watch prices
Speaking on Wednesday 20 April, Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Roger Ferguson said the US central bank was correct to keep its eye on inflation pressures, but noted some volatile components contributed to a surprisingly big rise in core consumer prices in…
IMF's Rato sees S American inflation decline in 05
The head of the International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday 20 April that Latin America is likely to see a further decline in inflation in 2005, despite higher oil prices.
Phil Fed's Santomero on the recent business cycle
In a speech on 'A policymaker's reflections on the recent business cycle' given on 12 April, Anthony Santomero of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia said the United States is on track for solid growth with relatively stable prices, but high oil…
Buba's Stark on changing global economic structure
In a speech on 'The changing global economic structure: a view from Europe' given on 14 April Jurgen Stark of the Deutsche Bundesbank said the future international role of the EU will depend on the speed and the results of the adjustment and reform…
HKMA Annual Report 2004
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority on Tuesday 19 April published its Annual Report for 2004. The Report reviews trends and events in monetary and banking affairs and reports on the HKMA's work during the year. It also sets out plans for the coming year.
Bank of England MPC Minutes, 6 & 7 April
The minutes from the 6 & 7 April meeting of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee published on Wednesday 20 April showed policy makers voted 7- 2 to keep interest rates unchanged this month, the same split as in March, with the majority saying…
Fed's Yellen positive on inflation outlook
Janet Yellen, the president of the San Francisco Federal Reserve bank, said she is upbeat about the outlook for inflation and watching closely to see whether the economy hit a soft-spot in March.
Pianalto: Fed should extend inflation forecasts
The Federal Reserve would gain credibility by being more clear, and extending its inflation forecasting time horizon would help, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland said in a speech on Tuesday 19 April.
Poole warns not to expect predictable rate rises
A top Federal Reserve policy-maker said on Tuesday 19 April that US inflation prospects are good but markets should not expect a re-run of last year's predictable pattern of interest rate rises.
Buba and German govt in united front after tension
The German government and the Bundesbank presented a unified image on economic matters following a meeting in Berlin called after reports of rising tensions over fiscal policy reforms.
Fed's Bies on the economy and personal finances
In a speech on 'The economy and managing personal finances' given on 18 April, Susan Bies of the Federal Reserve said the US central bank must step up its vigilance against inflation but indicated that she believed "measured" interest-rate rises could…
Fed redesigns financial education website
The Federal Reserve announced on Monday 18 April that it has redesigned its financial education website to increase the use of Federal Reserve educational materials and promote financial education in the classroom.
ECB's Tumpel-Gugerell on EU-China relations
In the speech 'The next dimension for EU-China relations' given on 19 April, Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell of the ECB said Chinese action on foreign exchange is "crucial for the adjustment of global imbalance".
ECB nominee says growth hit by confidence
The eurozone economy "is not growing sufficiently" because of a lack of consumer and business confidence, Italy's designated appointee to the European Central Bank (ECB)'s executive board said on Tuesday 19 April.
EU's Almunia says China move on rates uncertain
It is impossible to gauge how or when China will decide to adjust its fixed currency peg, the European Union's top monetary official said on Monday.
The econometrics of macroeconomic modelling
Four researchers who are affiliated with the Research Department in Norges Bank have published a book on empirical macroeconomic modelling. The book has its origin in empirical research on inflation which has been carried out in Norges Bank over the past…
Fed's Geithner on economic policy and productivity
In a speech on 'Economic policy and the sustainability of US productivity growth' given on 12 April, Timothy Geithner of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said imbalances in the US fiscal and current accounts could hurt future investment, productivity…
Dodge on Canada and global economic forces
In a speech on 'How Canada is adjusting to global economic forces' given on 15 April, David Dodge of the Bank of Canada said that the Canadian economy is adjusting to powerful global forces and explained what the central bank is doing to help the…
When will China loosen its peg?
This article says that China was likely to have been conspicuous by its absence at the G7 gathering in Washington on the weekend of 16-17 April. Beijing is moving at its own pace on currency reform, it says, and it would seem just a matter of time before…
PBOC's Xiaoling on informal financing
In the speech 'Relax control on informal financing to promote resource allocation' given on 17 February (published 18 April), Wu Xiaoling of the People's Bank of China said China's financial sector is not flexible enough to accommodate the relatively…
UK's Brown rejects IMF recommendations
The Statement by the IMFC, the Fund's governing body, released on SaturdayApril 16 calls for surveillance by the Fund over all countries to remaincentral to its work.
G7 communique from Washington meeting
The financial ministers and central bankers of the Group of Seven nations met in Washington on Saturday 16 April. Their statement repeated a call for "more flexibility in exchange rates" where it was lacking.