Monetary Policy
ECB hits out at France and Germany
The European Central Bank called for "complete compliance" with the EU's stability and growth pact in its monthly report released on Thursday 9 October, according to Expatica. The ECB said the pact was vital to success of the single European currency,…
New colourful US $20 bill in circulation
The Federal Reserve's new $20 bill came into circulation on on Thursday 9 Octobe, NBC4 Columbus reports. The new greenback is no longer just green. With the help of blue and peach tones, a new eagle, watermarks, and other safety features, officials hope…
Fed's Ferguson says productivity key in long-term
Fed governor Roger Ferguson said on Wednesday 8 October that productivity growth, while posing a short-run economic challenge, was crucial to long-term U.S. economic health, according to a report by Reuters.
Fundamentals in place for economy upturn says Bies
Federal Reserve governor Susan Bies said on Wednesday 8 october that the building blocks are in place for better growth in the tepid U.S. economy, according to a report by Reuters. "Business investment increased over spring and summer, and the household…
ECB launches web page for forecasters' survey
The European Central Bank launched a web page dedicated to the results of the ECB's Survey of Professional Forecasters (SPF) on 9 October. Since 1999 the ECB has conducted this quarterly survey among forecast experts from both financial and non-financial…
Mboweni reviews the SARB and its activities
In the speech 'Review of the Central Bank and its Activities: 1998 - 2003. A Preliminary Assessment' given on 29 September Tito Mboweni of the South African Reserve Bank said that over the past five years many challenges were faced head-on by the Bank…
Yam at the Australasian Macroeconomics Workshop
In his 'Opening Remarks at the 2003 Australasian Macroeconomics Workshop' given on 22 September, Joseph Yam of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority said the Asia-Pacific region needs more co-operation and exchange of ideas in the monetary and financial…
'The Region' : Minneapolis Fed September 2003
The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis has published its regular magazine, The Region, for September 2003. The issue includes an interview with Allan H. Meltzer, author of A History of the Federal Reserve and architect of the Shadow Open Market…
Improving monetary policy with inflation targets
In the Bank of Canada Working Paper "A Simple Test of Simple Rules: Can They Improve How Monetary Policy is Implemented with Inflation Targets?" the authors evaluate whether an assortment of simple rules could improve how the Bank of Canada implements…
Bank of England Court to meet in Nottingham
The Court of the Bank of England is to meet in Nottingham at the Council House on 15 October 2003. The meeting is part of a programme of formal meetings of Court outside London.
Ex-BoE governor George joins Nestle board
Former governor of the Bank of England Sir Edward George has swapped gold bars for chocolate bars after being appointed to the board of Nestle, the world's largest food and confectionary company, according to the Daily Telegraph. He follows in the wake…
Kansas City Fed's Hoenig sees solid growth ahead
Speaking on Tuesday 7 October, Kansas City Fed chief Thomas Hoenig said that the Federal Reserve's current policy stance was appropriate for an economy that needed to grow faster than its long-run sustainable pace in order to bring down the unemployment…
Australia's reserve bank holds rates steady again
The Reserve Bank of Australia held interest rates unchanged for the sixteenth month in a row on Wednesday 8 October, according to Pacific Business News. The rate remained at 4.75 per cent despite fears of a housing bubble.
Engle, Granger win Nobel prize for economics
The Nobel prize for economics, established by Sweden's central bank in 1968, was awarded to Robert Engle and Clive Granger on Wednesday 8 October, according to Associated Press, for their work on time series modelling and co-integration, where time…
Broaddus: The Economy Where is it Headed and When?
In a speech on 'The Economy: Where is it Headed and When?' given on 30 September J. Alfred Broaddus of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond said "When I fire up my lawn mower each weekend, the engine usually runs a little roughly for a minute before it…
Chicago Fed's Moskow on manufacturing
In a speech given on 30 September, Michael Moskow of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago said distinguishing whether the decline in manufacturing is simply related to near-term fluctuations in the business cycle or part of a larger structural change can…
Bond markets and long-term interest rates
The European Central Bank published the second edition of a report entitled "Bond markets and long-term interest rates in European Union accession countries" on 6 October. This update presents the results of a recent survey, which was designed jointly by…
Welteke at the 2003 IMF/World Bank Annual Meeting
In a speech at the 2003 IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings in Dubai given on 23 September, Ernst Welteke of the Deutsche Bundesbank said we have to make sure that the economic upswing stabilizes and broadens in a sound financial environment. The IMF and the…
Interview with central bank governor, Congo DR
Interview with the governor of the Central Bank of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Jean-Claude Masangu Mulongo. In the interview, published by IRIN News, the Governor talks about the introduction of the new 10- and 20-Congolese franc bank notes, and…
China's PM defends currency peg
China's premier Wen Jiabao has said that China's policy of pegging the yuan to the US dollar was "based on market demand and supply and is in line with China's reality", according to a BBC report. "To keep the renminbi (yuan) stable at an appropriate and…
Aus dollar up as RBA ponders rate rise
The Australian dollar rose sharply higher on speculation that the Reserve Bank of Australia would raise interest rates on Wednesday 8 October for the first time in 15 months, the Daily Telegraph reported. However traders dismissed the talk, saying the…
Germany's Eichel says European economy improving
German finance minister Hans Eichel has said Europe needs stability and growth, according to AFX Europe. Bank of France governor Jean-Claude Trichet said at the meeting of French and German finance ministers and central bank governors that the ECB puts…
Boardroom split at the Reserve Bank
SPECIAL FEATURE - Until recently, the question of whether banks or other firms should combine the role of chairman and CEO was one on which well-intentioned people would differ. UK corporate governance codes favour a split. US companies tended to combine…
Remsperger on inflation differentials in the EMU
In a speech on 'Inflation differentials in EMU: causes and implications' given on 13 September, Hermann Remsperger of the Deutsche Bundesbank said the ECB's Governing Council, in its recent clarification of its monetary policy strategy, spelled out its…