Monetary Policy
Jenkins on modern central banking in Canada
In a speech om'Modern Central Banking: A Canadian Perspective' Paul Jenkins of the Bank of Canada said there is no doubt that today we have a better understanding of what monetary policy can do and cannot do, who should be responsible for it, and how it…
Fed's Greenspan on the economic outlook
In testimony on 'The economic outlook' Alan Greenspan of the Federal Reserve said the economic information received in recent weeks has not, in his judgment, materially altered the outlook. Nonetheless, the economy continues to be buffeted by strong…
Secrets of a soon to be missed central banker
Speaking on Tuesday 20 May, UK chancellor Gordon Brown spoke in glowing terms of Sir Edward George, the soon to depart governor of the Bank of England. "I will miss Eddie" he said, and went on to reveal a few central banking secrets, including the case…
Britain misses its euro connection
An article in the Financial Times says that it shouldn't be forgotten that the decision over whether Britain joins the euro is a political rather than an economic one. Both Gordon Brown and Tony Blair, the authors argue, are guilty of dressing the…
BCCI defence costing Bank of England £1m a month
The High Court in London heard on Monday 19 May that the Bank of England is spending more than £1m a month to fight allegations that it recklessly mishandled the regulation of BCCI, according to the Financial Times.
Economic analysts dismiss threat of US 'deflation'
At its twice yearly meeting in Washington the Shadow Open Market Committee said deflation fears are unfounded and misguided, according to VOA News.
IMF urge currency flexibility for Kenya's c bank
The IMF has apparently been encouraging the central bank of Kenya to allow the exchange rate to be more flexible than it has been in the past, according to the Daily Nation.
RBNZ unveils schools monetary policy competition
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand on Wednesday May 21 launched its second Monetary Policy Challenge aimed at secondary school economics students. The competition involves teams of students becoming, in effect, central bankers. Participants will need to…
Deutsche Bundesbank Monthly Report, April 2003
The Bundesbank said in its April 2003 monthly report that consumer prices continued to rise in March, albeit at a somewhat slower pace than before. The seasonally adjusted increase went down to 0.2%. The year-on-rate of increase fell to 1.2% from 1.3% in…
Bank of England MPC Minutes 7/8 May 2003
Minutes of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee Meeting were released on 21 May for the meeting of 7 and 8 May 2003. The minutes showed that Christopher Allsopp, Kate Barker, Marian Bell and Stephen Nickell voted for a 25 basis point rate cut…
Trade Union leader appointed to BOE's Court
UK chancellor Gordon Brown announced the appointment of the head of the Trades Union Congress, Brendan Barber, to the court of directors of the Bank of England on Wednesday.
Bank of England voted 5-4 to hold rates
Policy makers at the Bank of England voted by a narrow five to four margin to keep its lending rate unchanged at 3.75pc earlier this month, BizWorld reports. The four MPC members calling for a rate cut were all external members of the Committee.
Bosnian Presidency reappoints c. bank governor
Peter Nicholl was reappointed governor of the central bank of Bosnia-Hercegovina on Tuesday by Borislav Paravac, the Bosnian President. Nicholl agreed to stay Governor of the central bank until the end of 2004, following which current Vice-Governor…
Keeping it real - Trichet is an Ali G fan
Governor of the Bank of France Jean Claude Trichet recently revealed he is a fan of Ali G, a comedy character from the UK, reports the Independent.
Bank of England - Annual Report 2003
The Bank of England has published its Annual Report for the year 2003. In his last foreword to the annual report, governor Eddie George said the Bank did not appreciate fully the extent and speed of the changes it was about to experience - changes which…
Greenspan: Economic signals still mixed
In testimony on Wednesday 21 May Alan Greenspan said the Federal Reserve is ready and able to tackle deflation if necessary in the unlikely event of falling prices, the washington Post reports. The Federal Reserve would not be "out of business" policy…
UK inflation stays at highest level in five years
The Office for National Statistics said on Wednesday 21 May the underlying annual inflation rate in the UK - the measure targeted by the Bank of England - was 3 per cent in April, unchanged from the previous month, reports the Financial Times
Peter Nicholl welcomes Presidency decision
Governor Nicholl welcomes the decision of the Presidency of BH on the new Governing Board of the CBBH, 20 May.
Brazil central bank under pressure to cut rates
Several of Brazil's top government officials have echoed the call of industry bosses for a cut in the central bank's prime interest rate from 26.5 per cent, according to a report in the Financial Times. In what was described as an unusually harsh tone,…
Russian court orders arrest of ex Turkmen c banker
The Russian courts have ordered the arrest of Hudayberdi Orazow, former chairman of the central bank of Turkmenistan who fled to Russi, according to the Turkmen Press news agency.. Orazow left Turkmenistan when wanted by the Turkmen authorities in…
Duisenberg - Financial market and monetary policy
In a speech on 'New economy, financial markets and monetary policy' Wim Duisenberg of the European Central Bank said with the benefit of hindsight, he can say that the ECB was right to have reacted relatively cautiously when the world discussed the "new…
Bundesbank's Remsperger on monetary policy
In a speech on 'Monetary Policy: How relevant are other policymakers?' Hermann Remsperger of the Bundesbank said the main conclusion for Germany is that there is virtually no scope for stimulating fiscal action. The government has envisaged a budget …
BoJ announces change in money market guidelines
The Bank of Japan on Tuesday 20 May said it will lift its target balance of current accounts held by private financial institutions at the central bank to around 27 to 30 trillion yen ($230 billion-$256 billion) from the previous target of around 22 to…
CIS Eurasian community bankers sign protocol
Central bank governors from the Eurasian Economic Community have signed a draft agreements on EAEC cooperation in currency regulation and control, as well as integration of the currency market, reports ITAR-TASS