Monetary Policy
Chinese inflation reaches 6.5%
China's consumer price index rose 6.5% in August, prompting speculation that the People's Bank of China will be forced to raise rates again.
Rate signals and CB transparency
Interest rates should be added to the list of signals that central banks can reveal in order to be transparent, according to a paper published by the Centre for Economic Policy Research.
Cyprus holds rates
The Central Bank of Cyprus decided to leave its benchmark rate at 4.5% on Monday.
Deputy looks to explain Japan's low inflation
Toshiro Muto, a deputy governor of the Bank of Japan, said he believes there are three reasons why the country's inflation rate has remained low in spite of economic growth.
Bank of Russia to widen eligible collateral
The Central Bank of Russia (CBR) intends to expand the list of paper involved in the refinancing mechanism with 'securities of non-rated borrowers', according to the Russian newspaper Kommersant. "This should make life easier for second- and third-tier…
Riksbank to publish repo path, hikes rates
The executive board of the Riksbank will publish forecasts for the future repo rate path and a number of other important variables in connection with each monetary policy meeting. The central bank decided on Thursday to raise the repo rate by 25 basis…
Poland looking to join ERM2, says Skrzypek
Poland will be able to cut its general government deficit to below 3% of GDP by 2009, as pledged by the government, which would allow it to join the exchange rate mechanism ERM2 the same year, deems National Bank of Poland (NBP) governor Slawomir…
BoE holds rates, aids markets
The Bank of England voted on Thursday to keep the base rate at 5.75% after offering the previous day to inject extra funds into the money markets next week if liquidity problems persist.
ECB holds rates, offers injection
The European Central Bank (ECB) decided Thursday to keep its benchmark rate at 4%, after promising extra liquidity to the markets Wednesday.
Bank of Canada holds rates
The Bank of Canada said on 5 September that it is maintaining its target for the overnight rate at 4.5%. The operating band for the overnight rate is unchanged, and the bank rate remains 4.75%.
Japanese deputy discusses housing
Kazumasa Iwata, a deputy governor of the Bank of Japan, discussed links between the housing market and monetary policy at a symposium sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City on 1 September.
Fed's Lacker "unconvinced" of need for cut
Jeffrey Lacker, the president of the Richmond Federal Reserve intimated that he was not yet convinced of the necessity for a cut in the Fed's overnight policy rate, and said that, although he would back a cut if necessary, he remained wary of inflation.
Australia keeps benchmark rate unchanged
As widely expected, the Reserve Bank of Australia left its overnight cash rate target unchanged on Wednesday at an 11-year high of 6.5%. The central bank had previously raised borrowing costs on 8 August, the first move since November last year.
ECB rate setting analysed
This paper, published by the Institute for Monetary and Financial Stability, uses the ordered-probit technique and variables noted in the European Central Bank's (ECB's) Monthly Bulletin to investigate how the central bank sets rates.
Gambia holds rates at 15%
The Central Bank of the Gambia said that an increase in food prices meant that it had to keep its benchmark rediscount rate at 15%.
Central Bank of Libya - 2005 Annual Report
Legislation passed in 2005 has led to a more independent Central Bank of Libya. The Banking Law Number 1 allowed the central bank greater autonomy in deciding monetary and credit policy, and banking supervision.
Bernanke keeps markets guessing
In a wide-ranging review of the causes of the turbulence in financial markets and the role of housing finance in triggering it, Ben Bernanke, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, committed the Fed to take action as needed to promote financial stability.
Targeting is the best approach - Canada's Duguay
Pierre Duguay, a deputy governor of the Bank of Canada, said that the central bank would continue to use inflation targeting as part of its monetary policy.
Close call on Czech rate decision
The Czech National Bank's monetary policy board voted 4-3 in favour of a quarter-point rate hike on Thursday. The increase raises the benchmark two-week repo rate to 3.25%.
Japan unaffected by Fed decision says Mizuno
Atsuki Mizuno, a member of the Bank of Japan's monetary policy board, said Thursday a Federal Reserve rate cut would not stop a possible Japanese hike.
Albanian governor promotes transparency
Ardian Fullani, the governor of the Bank of Albania, highlighted the central bank's efforts to create a more transparent monetary policy framework in a recent speech.
Estonia delays euro entry
The Bank of Estonia has said that Estonia would not meet EU criteria for eurozone accession in the years 2008-2009 and thus would not be able to adopt the common currency in 2010.
Thailand holds rates
The Bank of Thailand decided Wednesday to keep its benchmark interest rate, the one day repurchase rate, at 3.25%.
Poland increases rates
The National Bank of Poland decided Wednesday to hike interest rates by a quarter despite inflation remaining below the central bank's target rate. The benchmark reference rate is now 4.75%.