Monetary Policy
BoJ's Muto says rate hikes support growth
A hawkish monetary policy by the Bank of Japan would be consistent with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's emphasis on pro-growth policies, central bank deputy governor Toshiro Muto told the Nikkei daily on Wednesday 3 January.
PBOC's Wu expects Fed rate cuts in 2007
The US Federal Reserve is expected to cut rates in 2007 and that will reinforce the dollar's downwards bias and the yuan's tendency to rise, a senior Chinese central banker was reported by the Financial News as saying.
Central banks will give less of the same in 2007
According to this article published by Bloomberg on Tuesday 26 December, current forecasts suggest there might be fewer changes in key central bank interest rates in 2007.
Sweden's Riksbank unanimous on recent rate rise
Minutes released Tuesday 2 January showed Swedish central bank policymakers were unanimous in raising the repo interest rate by 25 basis points to 3.00 percent on 14 December.
BOJ minutes show divergence with markets on views
Minutes from the Bank of Japan's 15-16 November policy board meeting published Friday 22 December showed some members saw a "divergence" between the central bank and market participants over how to assess the economic climate in light of some weak data.
Is the RBI being irrationally exuberant?
According to this article from Rediff News, published Saturday 16 December, asks whether the Reserve Bank of India's recent decision to raise interest rates is an exercise in "rear window" economics.
BoE committee voted unanimously to hold rates
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee voted unanimously to hold its key repo rate unchanged at a five-year high of 5.00, minutes released Wednesday 20 December showed.
NBP holds rates steady
The National Bank of Poland kept interest rates unchanged Wednesday 20 December, as widely expected, despite strong economic growth.
ECB's Stark says eurozone rates still low
European Central Bank (ECB) Chief Economist Juergen Stark said Thursday 14 December the bank's interest rate policy is still accommodative and noted that levels are low.
Sweden's Riksbank raises rates to 3%
The Sveriges Riksbank increased its repo rate to 3.00 pct from 2.75 pct Friday 15 December in response to rising inflation combined with continued good levels of economic activity.
BoJ poised to leave rates unchanged - report
The Bank of Japan is expected to keep interest rates unchanged next week in its final policy board meeting for 2006, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported Wednesday 13 December, without citing sources.
SNB raises interest rates by 25 basis points
Swiss National Bank (SNB) president Jean-Pierre Roth told a half-yearly press conference on Thursday 14 December the SNB will continue to pursue its strategy of gradual normalisation of monetary policy if the economy behaves as expected.
US Fed keeps benchmark rate unchanged
The U.S. Federal Reserve held key interest rates steady at 5.25 percent for a fourth straight meeting on Tuesday 12 December, while renewing a warning that risks from inflation remain.
Norges Bank raises rates to 3.50%
The Norwegian central bank said Wednesday 13 December it has decided to raise the sight deposit rate to 3.50 pct from 3.25 pct, effective from Thursday.
Side effects for ECB transparency
This article from the Financial Times, published Monday 11 December, says that a mixture of good luck and good judgment has made this a good year for the ECB.
Fed's FOMC likely to hold US interest rates
The US economy is in fairly good shape despite the flagging housing and auto industries, suggesting the Federal Reserve will leave US interest rates unchanged at its meeting Tuesday 12 December.
BoJ's Iwata on monetary policy in Japan
In the speech 'The role of money and monetary policy in Japan' given on 10 November Kazumasa Iwata of the Bank of Japan said the BoJ's new framework introduced two perspectives on examining economic activity and prices.
Belgium's Quaden says don't panic on rate levels
Belgian National Bank governor Guy Quaden said Monday 11 December eurozone countries have no cause for alarm over interest rates and currency levels.
Bernanke promotes Fed's profile, not his
According to this article published by Bloomberg on Monday 11 December, deflating the aura around his job may be Ben Bernanke's greatest triumph so far at the Federal Reserve.
NY Fed: Deflationary shocks & monetary rules
The New York Fed Staff Report "Deflationary shocks and monetary rules: An open-economy scenario analysis" considers the macroeconomic transmission of demand and supply shocks in an open economy.
Brazil central bank considered rate cut
Brazil's central bank said Thursday 7 December in minutes from its last Copom meeting that it doesn't expect an eventual pick up in economic activity to stoke inflation.
RBNZ Monetary Policy Statement, December 2006
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand published its December 2006 Monetary Policy Statement on 7 December. The report said medium-term inflation pressures remain persistent.
ECB raises interest rates to 3.5%
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet said Thursday 7 December it was essential to act in a "firm and timely manner" to safeguard price stability in the eurozone,after the bank raised interest rates from 3.25pct to 3.5pct.
Fed's Kohn on monetary policy and uncertainty
In the speech 'Monetary policy and uncertainty' given on 1 December Donald Kohn of the Federal Reserve said policy makers should avoid relying on any single indicator because of uncertainties surrounding the accuracy of economic data and public behaviour.