Monetary Policy
Brazil cuts rates to 16 per cent
Brazil's central bank cut its benchmark lending rate to a three-year low on Wednesday 14 april to 16 per cent.
Flexible yuan may not ease overheating- IMF
The International Monetary Fund's chief economist Raghuram Rajan said on Wednesday 14 April that it was unclear if any loosening of the Chinese yuan's peg to the dollar would prevent overheating of the Chinese economy.
Too early to judge inflation trend- SF Fed's Parry
Outgoing San Francisco Federal Reserve President Robert Parry said on Wednesday 14 April that the Fed will have to raise interest rates "at some point" to head off inflation, but rising prices are not a concern yet.
Japan sees continued economic recovery
Japan's government will not upgrade its assessment of the economy in a monthly report to be released on Friday 16 April, but will say a recovery in business conditions is broadening, according to a draft seen by Reuters.
Balcerowicz says Polish euro entry may be delayed
Poland's national bank President Leszek Balcerowicz said the country may not be ready to adopt the euro by 2007 because the government has failed to cut spending.
Macfarlane on the world economy and Australia
In a speech on 'The World Economy and its Implications for Australia' given on 14 April, Ian Macfarlane of the RBA said we are still waiting for the durability of the world economic recovery to be sufficiently recognised so that the major central banks…
Fukui's statement to House of Representatives
In a statement before the Committee on Financial Affairs given on 23 March (published 14 April) Toshihiko Fukui of the Bank of Japan said in contrast to a year ago, positive signs are steadily increasing in Japan's economy.
US Treasury's Taylor on monetary policy modeling
In the speech 'Monetary Policy Modeling: Where Are We?' given on 12 April, John Taylor US Treasury Under Secretary said the success of quantitative modeling in the field of monetary policy is clear, and this is due in large part to the "translational…
Bank of Japan's Monetary Policy Meeting Minutes
The Bank of Japan released the minutes from its 26 February and 15, 16 March Monetary Policy Meetings on Wednesday 14 April. Minutes from the March meeting showed members felt that the downtrend in prices was slowing and expectation of price declines was…
SF Fed's Parry sees US rates 'maybe' at 3.5%
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco President Robert Parry said in an interview that U.S. interest rates cannot remain at their 1958 lows forever and will have to rise at some point, perhaps to 3.5 per cent.
Fed Reserve Bank of Chicago - Annual Report 2003
The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago has published its Annual Report for the year ended 2003. The main article explores the issues that confront the payments industry as it adopts new payment standards and discusses the appropriate policy role for the…
Fed's McTeer unconcerned over US inflation
There are no concerns about inflation emerging even as the U.S. economy is growing "on all cylinders," said Robert McTeer, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
Eichengreen urges controlled yuan float
Barry Eichengreen, a senior policy adviser to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during the Asian financial crisis has said that China should immediately stop pegging the yuan to the US dollar and instead move to a controlled float of its currency.
IMF stops Vietnam lending program
The International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday 13 April that it has stopped its multi-million dollar lending program to Vietnam after a long-running dispute with the country's central bank over disclosure of its foreign reserves.
Eichel tells FAZ Welteke actions 'unacceptable'
Ernst Welteke faced strong criticism from the German government on Tuesday 13 April when the finance minister said in an interview with a German daily that it was unacceptable that the official took a free hotel stay from a private bank under Bundesbank…
Fed's Ferguson on macroeconomic outlook
In a speech on 'Macroeconomic Outlook and Uncertainties' given on 8 April, Roger Ferguson of the Federal Reserve said the macroeconomic outlook for the United States is favourable, overall. There is the possibility that an adverse shock will expose an…
Fed's Poole on trade, wages, employment
In a speech on 'Trade, wages and employment' given on 25 March, William Poole of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis said only pessimists believe that U.S. entrepreneurs will be unable to compete successfully in world markets using new technology…
Bank of Japan Monthly Report, April 2004
The Bank of Japan published its April 2004 Monthly Report of Recent Economic and Financial Developments on 13 April. In the report the BOJ said that the prospects for a sustained economic recovery remained bright.
RBNZ paper on inflation targeting central banks
This RBNZ paper tests the standard quadratic approximation to central bank preferences on data from Australia and New Zealand, two of the earliest explicit inflation targeting countries.
Bank of Canada cuts interest rates to 2 per cent
The Bank of Canada announced on Tuesday 13 April that it is lowering its target for the overnight rate by one-quarter of one percentage point to 2 per cent.
Fukui pledges to maintain current monetary policy
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui reaffirmed to parliament on Tuesday 13 April his commitment to maintain the current super-easy monetary policy framework, until the prolonged deflation comes to an end.
Gov't and Bundesbank agree to work together
The German Government has agreed to work together with the Bundesbank over the Ernst Welteke scandal, it was reported on Tuesday 13 April, as both organisations try to prevent their conflict from escalating.
Russia to revise exchange rate mechanism
The Russian Central Bank will revise its mechanism for setting exchange rate targets, Central Bank Deputy Chairman Konstantin Korishchenko declared. According to him, the bank is considering the possibility of changing its exchange rate policy.
ECB's Papademos on Stability and Growth Pact
In a speech on 'Some reflections on the Stability and Growth Pact' given on 5 April, Lucas Papademos of the ECB said recent experience has taught us that there is room for improvement in the implementation of the rules. So it would help to strengthen…