Monetary Policy
Riksbank brings rate decision forward to Thursday
The Riksbank has opted to bring its rate decision forward a fortnight to this Thursday, coinciding with the European Central Bank's (ECB) and the Bank of England's votes.
Mexico hints at cut on signs of slowdown
The Bank of Mexico kept rates on hold for the third straight month on Friday, but signalled it could soon cut.
Euro prices, jobs plunge, paving way for big cut
The chances of the European Central Bank's Governing Council making their biggest-ever cut next week rose on Friday after inflation plummeted to just above the central bank's target and unemployment rose.
Rate cuts not working: Riksbank's Nyberg
The impact of the Riksbank's rate cuts on the real economy has been weakened by a breakdown in the monetary transmission mechanism, Lars Nyberg, a deputy governor at the central bank, has said.
Russia hikes to strengthen rouble
The Central Bank of Russia has raised its key rate by a full percentage point to a three-year high in a bid to shore up the battered rouble.
India to lend FX until July to counter stress
The Reserve Bank of India has agreed to support the overseas operations of its banks by providing three-month foreign-currency loans until next July.
Poland makes surprise cut on signs of slowdown
The National Bank of Poland cut rates for the first time in more than two-and-a-half years on fears that the global slowdown would hamper export demand.
BoJ minutes: board divided over size of cut
The majority of the Bank of Japan's board members agreed that the central bank was right to cut rates for the first time in seven years last month. But views differed on what the size of the rate cut should be.
ECB's Bini Smaghi: don't use the d-word
The term deflation is often misused as a catch-all phrase to describe every kind of negative development, said Lorenzo Bini Smaghi, a member of the European Central Bank's executive board.
China slashes rates
China chopped more than a percentage point off its lending rate on Wednesday in a further sign of Beijing's fears the global slowdown will spark a severe slump in export demand.
Saudi cuts rates, boosts liquidity
The Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency made a fresh bid to boost the health of its ailing banking industry on Sunday.
Malaysia acts on signs of slowdown
Bank Negara Malaysia on Monday cut its key rate after keeping borrowing costs on hold for more than two and a half years.
Variety is key to forecasting bank rate
A range of financial instruments are needed to accurately measure expectations of future Bank of England policy rates, research by the Bank finds.
ECB cut "appropriate" - Belgium's Quaden
Guy Quaden, the governor of the National Bank of Belgium, has deemed the European Central Bank's half-point cut on 8 October appropriate.
Fed's Bullard sounds knell on rate moves
With the effective federal funds rate trailing the Fed's target by more than 60 basis points and interbank spreads for longer-term loans remaining well above pre-crisis levels, one of the regional Federal Reserve presidents has acknowledged further rate…
Price plunge won't herald deflation: ECB's Mersch
Though a fall in the price index at some point in 2009 is likely, such a slump should not be seen as a harbinger of deflation, Yves Mersch, the governor of the Central Bank of Luxembourg and a member of the European Central Bank's (ECB) Governing Council…
Japan holds, warns recovery to "take some time"
The Bank of Japan left rates on hold at 0.3% on Friday and warned that the country's ailing economy was unlikely to recover soon.
BoE's Gieve: further reductions required
Further reductions in bank rate may be necessary, said Sir John Gieve, the deputy governor responsible for financial stability at the Bank of England.
Swiss shock with 100 basis-point cut
The Swiss National Bank (SNB) surprised markets on Thursday by slashing its rate-target band by a full percentage point on signs of a sharp slowdown.
Turkey changes tack and cuts rates
The Central Bank of Turkey has shifted its monetary policy stance and cut rates on signs of slowing growth and below-target inflation in the years to come.
Croatia counters liquidity tensions
The Croatian National Bank on Thursday cut its reserve requirement by three basis points in a bid to ease liquidity strains.
Bank's Besley: inflation below target in 2009
Inflation is likely to fall below target next year despite the upward pressure on inflation from the weakening pound, said Timothy Besley, a member of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee.
Euro a solution for currency risk: Hungary's Simor
Euro adoption could help eliminate potentially dangerous currency mismatches, said Andras Simor, the governor of the National Bank of Hungary.
Bank could have cut by 200bp
Members of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee, who shocked markets earlier this month when they slashed rates by 150 basis points, had considered an even bigger cut.