Monetary Policy
Volcker to probe Iraq oil for food program
Paul Volcker, the former chairman of the Federal Reserve, began a high-level investigation on Wednesday 21 April into allegations of kickbacks and bribes in the UN-run oil-for-food program for Iraq.
Interview with ECB president Jean-Claude Trichet
In an interview published on Friday 23 April, Jean-Claude Trichet said the European Central Bank is proud to be a central bank with one of the highest levels of predictability. He also said he was struck by the pessimism shown by many on the potential…
Meirelles: Brazil's inflation target won't change
Brazilian Central Bank President Henrique Meirelles said on Thursday 22 April that the strict inflation targets set for 2004 and 2005 would not budge despite investor fears they may hinder badly needed growth.
Fed's Ferguson: no threat from current account gap
Speaking on Friday April 23, Roger Ferguson, Vice Chairman of the Federal Reserve, said that there was no reason to fear that the process of reining in big US trade deficits would disrupt global economic activity.
Trichet defends ECB stance on rates
ECB president Jean-Claude Trichet said in an interview that the bank is "neutral" on interest rates but insisted any changes in the economic outlook will be considered. He also said the sharp rise in oil prices poses a risk to the global economy unless…
Kansas Fed's Hoenig expects US growth this year
The president of the Kansas Fed said Thursday night that he expects a 4 1/2 percent to 5 percent increase in U.S. gross domestic product this year.
Constancio: EU's 10 new members must curb deficits
Vitor Constancio, the governor of the central bank of Portugal, said Friday that the 10 countries set to join the European Union on May 1 should remain outside the eurozone until their public deficits are well below the EU's three percent limit.
Welteke's parting words
Here we republish Ernst Welteke's personal statement on his resignation from the Bundesbank. In the statement Welteke said the Bundesbank's independence continued to be flouted and that the trust between himself and the Ministry of Finance had been …
Parry on the U.S. and regional economies
In a speech on 'The U.S. and Regional Economies: A Monetary Policymaker's Perspective' given on 21 April, Robert Parry of the San Francisco Fed said interest rates will eventually need to rise "significantly" to head off inflation but the US economy can…
Padoa-Schioppa on financial markets in Asia
In a speech on 'The role of financial markets in sustaining economic growth in Asia' given on 20 April, Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa of the ECB said if it is to be expected that exchange rate flexibility is the long-term outcome of the growth process currently…
Lambert: Boring Bankers - Should we listen?
In the speech 'Boring Bankers - Should we listen?' given on 22, April Richard Lambert of the Bank of England discussed the importance of good communications to modern central banks.
Canada's Dodge at H of C Finance Committee
In his opening statement to the House of Commons Finance Committee given on 21 April, David Dodge of the Bank of Canada said preliminary indications are that growth in the first quarter of this year was marginally below 3 per cent. The Bank's view, he…
Fed Res Bank of Philadelphia - Annual Report 2003
The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia has published its Annual Report for the year ended 2003. In the report President Anthony Santomero said he expects the economy will grow at a "healthy pace" and job growth will accelerate through 2004.
Federal Reserve Board - Beige Book, April 2004
The Federal Reserve released its April 2004 Beige Book survey on 22 April. The U.S. economy showed "widespread" growth from mid-February through early April with only modest inflation, the survey said.
Fukui to visit Washington for G-7, IMF meetings
Bank of Japan (BOJ) Governor Toshihiko Fukui will visit Washington for a five-day stay from Thursday 22 April to attend weekend meetings of the Group of Seven (G-7) finance ministers and central bank chiefs, the BOJ said Wednesday.
Meirelles tells Wall St Brazil is on right track
Brazilian Central Bank President Henrique Meirelles attempted to calm investor worries over Brazil on wednesday 21 April by stressing that the economy would meet its fiscal targets for 2004.
IMF upgrades outlook for world economic growth
The International Monetary Fund said in its twice-yearly World Economic Outlook report that it was lowering its 2004 eurozone growth estimate by a tenth of a point from its forecast last September, to 1.7 percent.
Report says China to move towards floating rates
A senior Chinese official told the UK Financial Times that Beijing no longer favours a fixed exchange rate and will move toward a floating system as part of reforms to loosen capital controls and give market forces more scope, the newspaper reported…
ECB's Trichet on structural reforms
In a lecture on the occasion of the receipt of the EFR-Business Week Award 2004 given on 20 April, Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said that European governments need to speed up economic reforms in order to improve the euro zone growth rate.
Canada's Dodge sees global rates rise in 2005
In his opening statement to the Senate Banking, Trade and Commerce Committee on 20 April David Dodge of the Bank of Canada said the main uncertainty for the outlook continues to relate to how the Canadian economy adjusts to global developments. But…
Greenspan on the state of the banking industry
In a speech on 'The state of the banking industry' given on 20 April, Alan Greenspan of the Federal Reserve said that the United States banking system is in good shape to deal with rising interest rates and inflationary pressures will be reasonably well…
Sweden's Heikensten on financial developments
Sveriges Riksbank Governor Lars Heikensten on Tuesday 20 April spoke in Vastervik at a seminar. Besides touching upon future developments in inflation, Heikensten discussed some financial aspects.
Bank of England MPC Minutes 7/8 April
Minutes of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee Meeting were released on 21 April for the meeting of 7 and 8 April 2004. Eight of the nine MPC members opted to keep interest rates unchanged with only deputy governor Andrew Large supporting a…
BOJ's Suda says must tolerate rate rises
Bank of Japan Policy Board member Miyako Suda said on Wednesday 21 April that small rises in interest rates need to be tolerated because they reflect Japan's recovering economy.