Monetary Policy
BoJ members called for cautious stance - minutes
Minutes released Wednesday 16 August showed some members of the Bank of Japan's policy board called for a cautious policy stance at their last meeting to avoid leading markets to think the central bank's rushing to raise interest rates.
RBA's Macfarlane facing final hearing
The Australian House of representatives economics committee will hold a public hearing on Friday 18 August with the Reserve Bank governor, Ian Macfarlane.
SNB's Roth sees continued rate hikes
Swiss National Bank president Jean-Pierre Roth said in an interview with Swiss Sunday paper NZZ am Sonntag that the SNB will continue its policy of gradual interest rate hikes.
Fan Gang to join PBOC committee
China's Cabinet said Friday 11 August it had appointed economist Fan Gang to the People's Bank of China's monetary policy committee, an advisory body to the central bank.
Fed probably will skip rate increase next month
According to this article published Wednesday 9 August, by John Berry of Bloomberg, the best guess is probably that there won't be a rate increase in the US next month.
Communications breakthrough reaps reward for Fed
According to this article from the Financial Times, published Wednesday 9 August, Ben Bernanke will probably be pleased with the muted market reaction that followed the FOMC's latest interest rate decision.
Richmond's Lacker first to dissent under Bernanke
This article published Tuesday 8 August by Bloomberg notes that Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond president Jeffrey Lacker disagreed with the Fed's decision to forgo an interest-rate increase.
China to use ex rate for economic structure
The People's Bank of China said in its monetary policy report released Wednesday 9 August that it will use the exchange rate to adjust the nation's economic structure.
Thailand to keep rates steady
The Bank of Thailand will probably keep its benchmark interest rate on hold for the rest of the year after borrowing costs quadrupled since August 2004, the central bank governor told Bloomberg in an interview on Monday 7 August.
Central banker has big boots to fill
According to this article, published Saturday 5 August by The Age, the man who will replace Ian Macfarlane at the Reserve Bank of Australia will have a tough time.
ECB's Liebscher says ECB may raise rates higher
European Central Bank council member Klaus Liebscher was quoted on Monday 7 August as saying in an interview that the eurozone central bank is ready to raise interest rates further.
ECB's Bini Smaghi sees further policy tightening
European Central Bank executive committee member Lorenzo Bini Smaghi said in an interview published Sunday 6 August that he sees further increases in euro zone interest rates in the next months.
RBA Statement on Monetary Policy, August 2006
The Reserve Bank of Australia published its August 2006 Statement on Monetary Policy on 4 August. The RBA raised its inflation forecasts but said the risks to the outlook were balanced.
Belgium's Quaden says all things possible
Belgian National Bank governor Guy Quaden said in a radio interview it is possible for the European Central Bank to control inflation at the same time as promoting growth.
Trichet says further rate rises may be 'warranted'
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet said Thursday 3 August more interest rate increases may be "warranted" after the bank increased eurozone rates for the fourth time in eight months.
Ghana's Acquah says economy is resilient
Dr. Paul Acquah, governor of the Bank of Ghana, said the real sector of the economy in the first half of the year was robust in spite of the rising petroleum prices and the effect on domestic fuel prices.
Surprise as Bank of England tightens early
The Bank of England raised interest rates by a quarter-point on Thursday 3 August, bringing the official bank rate to 4.75% after a year on hold.
Comment: BoE brightens silly season slumber
The Bank of England surprised practically everyone on 3 August by raising rates by 25 basis points. The Bank's next Inflation Report, to be released on 9 August, and the minutes from the August meeting will make intriguing reading. The move will also the…
The Old Lady can afford to be patient
According to this article by the Financial Times, published on Wednesday 2 August, there is a big difference between the predictability of the ECB's plans on Thursday, and the uncertainty surrounding the Bank of England's decision the same day.
BoJ will raise rates at slow pace
Bank of Japan policy board member Atsushi Mizuno said Wednesday 2 August that the central bank will raise short-term interest rates at a "slow" pace while cautiously watching economic and price situations.
Gono's monetary policy unsound and ineffective
According to this article published by the NewZimbabwe website on Tuesday 1 August, the Zimbabwean economic meltdown is rooted in a crisis of political governance and legitimacy.
Comment: Has Trichet's gambit paid off?
The ECB heads into this week's monetary policy meeting with markets fully expecting a 25 basis point hike. Has the decision to have an unscheduled meeting, which effectively pre-announced the decision, changed the prospects for the course of eurozone…
Mishkin to be sworn in after Aug 8 Fed meeting
Federal Reserve Governor-designate Frederic Mishkin will not take office in time to participate in the next Fed policy-setting meeting on 8 August, a Fed spokesman told Reuters on Thursday 27 July.
Central banks need not divine bubbles
According to this article by Samuel Brittan of the Financial Times, published Friday 28 July, the question of whether central bankers should target asset prices will not go away.