Monetary Policy
Copom blames inflation for interest rate inaction
The central bank of Brazil said on Thursday 29 May that its decision to hold interest rates last week was down to "persistent inflation". AEBrazil reported that minutes released by the bank said it is premature to conclude that inflationary pressure has…
Bangladesh currency, the taka, to float
From Saturday 31 May Bangladesh will float the taka freely on the foreign exchange markets, the BBC reported. The announcement on Thursday came after the government agreed to a proposal to float made by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Zimbabwe central bank prints emergency cash
Zimbabwe's bank note producers are working non-stop to bring an end to the cash shortage after extra printing paper arrived in Harare on Thursday. The governor of the central bank told Zimbabweans not to panic, the BBC reported.
Thai central bank chief: Baht is now stable
Thailand's central bank governor said on Friday 30 May that the baht has gained stability against the dollar following its recent appreciation, according to Dow Jones.
IMF's Kohler proposes Carstens as deputy MD
IMF Managing Director Horst Kohler proposeed the appointment of Mexico's Deputy Secretary of Finance Agustin Carstens as Deputy Managing Director of the IMF, 29 May.
IMF's Rogoff – dollar decline a good thing
Ken Rogoff, the iMF's chief economist, welcomed the fall in the dollar on Thursday 29 May, saying it is good for the world economy but may pose problems for Germany with deflation, according to a Reuters report.
Dubai to ban protestors from IMF-World Bank mtg
The Dubai authorities have said they will prevent protestors from entering the UAE during the September 2003 joint meeting of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, according to Sapa-AFP. Up to 20,000 people, including around 25 heads of state…
Korean economy in serious condition: BOK governor
Governor Park Seung of the Bank of Korea said on Thursday 29 May that low growth and high unemployment pose a threat to the economy which has been heading toward a downturn since the third quarter of last year, according to the Korea Times.
Survey says number of forex players may fall
A future with fewer players in the global foreign exchange market is the main finding of a new survey, says a report by Chris Swann, former foreign exchange correspondent at the Financial Times. CentralBankNet takes a look at the main findings of the…
Parry on prospects for the economy
In a speech on 'Prospects for the National and Local Economies: A Monetary Policymaker's View' Robert Parry of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco said a bright spot in the national economy is consumer spending and the most likely outcome, in his…
Economic Insights from the Dallas Fed
The latest edition of the Dallas Fed's Economic Insights, Vol 8, No 2, 2003 'The Creation of Public Choice Theory', profiles economist James M. Buchanan and examines his public choice theory.
Should Iraq dollarize or float? A policy analysis
This article from Stern Business School asks 'Should Iraq dollarize, adopt a currency board or let its currency float? A policy analysis.' It says there are good reasons to think that the dollar or euro would not make an ideal currency for a major oil…
Former Russian c banker appointed to Sistema board
Ex-president of the central bank of Russia Viktor Gerashchenko has become a member of the Consultative Board of the Sistema joint-stock financial corporation, according to a report by the ITAR-TASS news agency.
ECB economist - Deflation concerns are excessive
Otmar Issing of the European Central Bank said on Wednesday 28 May that deflation concerns are excessive and that currently, this is like a Pavlovian reflect, according to a report by Reuters.
Fed's Parry: Economy still in soft patch
President Robert Parry of the San Francisco Federal Reserve said on Wednesday May 28 that the Fed still has room to lower rates in spite of forecasts of stronger growth.
Germany accused of cooking OECD's books
An OECD spokesman admitted on Wednesday May 28 that an influential report was doctored at the request of the German government in order to provide a more flattering picture, according to a report in the Daily Telegraph.
China unlikely to allow locals to trade HK stocks
China's state press has said domestic traders in China are unlikely to be allowed access to international stock markets soo, reports Channel News Asia.
Bosnia to withdraw controversial c bank member
After a meeting on Wednesday 28 May, Bosnia-Hercegovina Presidency Chairman Borislav Paravac said Cvijetin Nikic would be withdrawn from duty as a member of the governing board of the Bosnia-Hercegovina Central Bank.
Fukui statement to the House of Representatives
In his statement concerning the Bank's Semiannual Report on Currency and Monetary Control Toshihiko Fukui of the Bank of Japan said the bank believes that the existing economic model, which supported Japan's postwar economic growth, needs to be replaced,…
BoJ Monetary Policy minutes, April 7 & 8
Minutes of the Bank of Japan's Monetary Policy Meeting on 7 and 8 April 2003, released 23 May. The majority of members agreed that it was appropriate to maintain the current stance in the guideline for money market operations, and continue to provide…
Olson on the prospects for economic growth
In a speech on 'Assessing Prospects for Economic Growth in the United States' Mark Olson of the Federal Reserve said the recent news from oil and financial markets and about consumer confidence clearly suggests that the reduction in risks associated with…
A fine line between deflation and inflation
An article in the Financial Times says that if the Federal Reserve continues with its current policies, inflation could become a threat, but a change could see further contraction it contends. On asset price bubbles the author says the world economy…
The role of asset prices in shock transmission
The Bank of England Working Paper entitled 'The role of asset prices in transmitting monetary and other shocks' constructs a framework within which the ability of asset prices to convey information about the underlying shocks hitting the economy can be…
New governor Bernanke is shaking up the Fed
In a few short months, Ben Bernanke has done what other Fed governors have not: taken center stage from Chairman Alan Greenspan on some of the most controversial topics before the board. An article published by Steve Liesman for CNBC says Bernanke sheds…