Monetary Policy
Bank of Japan's monthly economic report - December
The Bank of Japan said that the economy was continuing on a recovery trend although there were weak spots, notably in production.
Hungary passes amendments to central bank law
Hungary's president has signed into force a controversial set of amendments to the law governing the country's central bank, which gives the prime minister the ability to appoint a majority of the bank's monetary board.
Slovakia leaves rate unchanged
The Slovakian central bank maintained interest rates on Tuesday 21 December, as was widely expected by markets.
BoE Inflation attitudes survey
The Bank of England's latest inflation attitudes survey reveals expectatsions hovering about 2.4% (compared to 2.3% in the August survey).
Fund: Pakistan on course, but inflation a worry
The IMF has released details of its recent article IV surveillance of Pakistan.
A not-so-merry Christmas message
Giving the Henry Thornton lecture at the Cass Business School in London on Wednesday 15 December, the economic historian Barry Eichengreen gave his view on the international financial system, and issued a worrying warning to those that downplay the…
US forgives $4.1 billion of Iraqi debt
The US concluded a bilateral agreement on Friday 17 December to write off debts of $4.1 billion owed to it by Iraq, and expressed the hope that other countries would follow its example.
Norges Bank's December Economic Bulletin
The December issue of Norges Bank's Economic Bulletin includes articles on benchmark rates in the long-term bond market, credit risk models and managing financial crises.
Turkey to join inflation targeters in 2006
Turkey's central bank will start "formal" inflation targetting in 2006, according to its Monetary and Exchange Rate Policy document for 2005.
Interest rate round-up
A number of central banks adjusted their interest rates in the last week, some in line with market expectations and others providing a surprise.
Japanese experts comment on dollar prospects
Three Japanese experts gave their views on the dollar yen exchange rate and the prospect of central bank intervention at a panel discussion on December 17. The dollar has further to fall, they suggested, but Asian central banks will not liquidate their…
FOMC Minutes, 10 November
Minutes from the Federal Reserve's 10 November FOMC meeting released on 16 December revealed that policy makers wrestled with the best way to foreshadow the course of short-term interest rates.
Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin, Winter 2004
The Bank of England released its Quarterly Bulletin Winter 2004, on 17 December. In the report the bank said it has underestimated the strength of the pound in the past 18 months, while another article concludes that UK household debt "remains affordable…
Sweden's Heikensten on economic governance in EMU
In a speech on 'Strengthening economic governance in the EMU - A comment' given on 15 December, Lars Heikensten of the Sveriges Riksbank said better and more efficient methods of following up Member States' public finances are needed. Budget discipline…
SNB's Roth on life in a two-headed monetary system
In a speech on 'Life in a two-headed monetary system: The Swiss experience' given on 29 November, Jean-Pierre Roth of the Swiss National Bank said the birth of the euro has fundamentally changed the shape of the international monetary system with the…
New distribution of work at Sveriges Riksbank
On 14 December the Executive Board of the Riksbank decided to implement a number of changes in the Board's distribution of work. The decision is part of a process of change that, among other things, aims to clarify the responsibilities between the…
Slovak gov't to nominate Barto NBS vice-governor
Martin Barto, currently a board member of the National Bank of Slovakia (NBS), is to be nominated by the Slovak government to serve as the central bank's vice-governor, according to Finance Ministry spokesman Peter Papanek.
Unions to oppose Bank of France agreement
Four unions which represent 72 per cent of staff at the Bank of France have said they will oppose an employment agreement signed by managers and minority unions, Le Monde reported.
Brazil urges charges against former central banker
A congressional report published on Tuesday 14 December recommended that Brazil's former central bank president Gustavo Franco and others be indicted on money laundering charges.
Denmark's Andersen to step down Oct 2005
The governor of Denmark's central bank, Bodil Nyboe Andersen, has informed the government that she wishes to retire in October, 2005, when she turns 65.
Veteran appointed to Ukraine's central bank
Volodymyr Stelmakh, who headed Ukraine's Central Bank between 2000 and 2002, secured overwhelming approval from parliament on Thursday 16 December to return as the bank's new chairman.
White House may pick Bernanke for advisers' panel
The White House is considering appointing Federal Reserve Board member Ben S. Bernanke to be chairman of the president's Council of Economic Advisers, officials confirmed on Thursday 16 December according to the Washington Post.
Greenspan will not replace Snow at US Treasury
Reports this week said Alan Greenspan will not be the one to head the US Treasury after John Snow leaves. An approach to the Fed chairman was made at arm's length but has been declined by senior Republicans.
Bank of Canada appoints deputy governor
The Board of Directors of the Bank of Canada announced on Friday 17 december the appointment of Tiff Macklem as Deputy Governor of the Bank and a member of the Bank's Governing Council, effective from 29 December.