Monetary Policy
Bergo on flexible inflation targeting
In the speech 'Flexible inflation targeting' given on 23 January Jarle Bergo of Norges Bank asks how does the central bank relate to the fact that we do not know precisely how the world is or how it will be in the future?
Heikensten on the current economic situation
In the speech 'Monetary policy and the economic situation' given on 26 January Lars Heikensten of the Sveriges Riksbank said we are some way into a cautious upswing both in the world economy and the Swedish economy.
Norges Bank reveals January gold sale
Norges Bank said Wednesday it has sold 16 tonnes of gold bars in January and is planning to sell the remainder of the Central Bank's holdings of gold bars at a later time.
Norges Bank reduces interest rates
Norges Bank's Executive Board decided on Wednesday to reduce the sight deposit interest rate by 0.25 percentage point to 2.00 per cent with effect from 29 January.
Wellink optimistic on eurozone recovery, high euro
Nout Wellink said Wednesday that although the strong euro may have a negative effect in the short term it will benefit the region in the longer term. He also expressed optimism for the recovery in the eurozone economy.
Ukrainian, Belarusian c bankers to meet in Minsk
During a meeting of the consultation council of the Ukrainian and Belarusian central banks, to be held on 30 January in Minsk, participants plan to discuss the economic situation and the implementation of monetary and credit policy.
BSP says inflation under control despite weak peso
Philippine's central bank governor Rafael Buenaventura has said he expects the country's consumer price index to show a "manageable" rise of 3.0 to 3.5 percent year-on-year in the first two months of the year, despite a weaker peso.
Prodi warns Europe over devaluation
European Commission's president, Romano Prodi, warned Tuesday that it would be a "tragedy" if Europe responded to the plummeting dollar with devaluation. He also renewed his criticism of the stability and growth pact saying it did nothing to promote…
Uzbekistan reimposes currency controls
Uzbekistan has secretly reimposed currency controls, according to bankers in the country, after telling the IMF in October it had made its currency, the sum, convertible.
Greenspan on economic flexibility
In a speech on 'Economic flexibility' given on 26 January, Alan Greenspan of the Federal Reserve warned U.S. policy-makers worried about the loss of jobs not to heed calls for an increase in protectionist trade barriers, saying such a move could be …
Trichet on European financial markets integration
In a speech on 'The integration of European financial markets' given on 26 January, Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said the potential gains from monetary union will only be fully realised if remaining barriers to integration of European financial markets…
BoE's King at the Panel on EU/US Cooperation
In opening remarks to the Panel on EU/US Cooperation given on 26 January, Mervyn King of the Bank of England asks why the gap in the level of productivity between the US and the UK is so persistent, and what are the obstacles that prevent the gap from…
OECD: China unlikely to move to float currency
According to an OECD economist, China is unlikely to move soon to float its currency despite foreign pressure, but needs to reform its domestic financial system to gain greater flexibility in the exchange rate.
Fukui : easing policy will boost money supply
Bank of Japan Governor Toshihiko Fukui said on Tuesday 27 January that BOJ policies will feed through to growth in Japan's money supply and help the country escape from deflation.
G7 want Asian FX rise, no dollar fall- IIE
The Group of Seven leading industrial nations want to put pressure on China and other Asian nations to let their currencies rise, a leading IIE economist said on Monday 26 January.
Bank officials named in BCCI court case
Peter Cooke, former head of the Bank of England's supervisory department, and two other senior staff, were identified on Monday 26 January as officials alleged to have lied or misled the inquiry into the collapse of BCCI.
Rise of the single regulator
Over the last decade, more and more countries have established unified financial supervisors. CentralBankNet reports on the latest research into this trend.
Bank of Japan's Monetary Policy Meeting Minutes
Minutes of the Bank of Japan's Monetary Policy Meeting on 15 and 16 December 2003, released 23 January. The bank's Policy Board agreed that the currency market needed close monitoring although some members felt the economic impact of the high yen had…
Bank of England calls claims over BCCI "desperate"
The Bank of England accused the Bank of Credit and Commerce International's liquidators of desperation and paranoia on Monday.
Bank of Japan Monthly Report, January 2004
The Bank of Japan published the English version of its January 2004 Monthly Report of Recent Economic and Financial Developments on 22 January. It raised its assessment of the economy, saying strong exports are boosting output and beginning to filter…
Trichet says no need to change growth pact
In a speech on 'Economic reform in Europe' given on 26 January, Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said the ECB does not see any need for changes to the eurozone's rules on budget deficits, which he described as "appropriate".
Duisenberg fined in drink driving case
Wim Duisenberg, the former president of the European Central Bank, has been fined EUR300 for drink driving after being breathalysed before Christmas.
Bank of Canada appoints Godin as adviser
The Bank of Canada has announced the appointment of Pierre Godin to the position of adviser. The appointment is for an 18-month period and Mr Godin will be joining the Bank in mid-March.
French minister calls on ECB to tackle FX
French Industry Minister Nicole Fontaine called on the ECB on Thursday 22 January to "seriously address" the problem of currency market instability.