Monetary Policy
Good news for c bank but weaknesses continue
FEATURE - The Central Bank had quite a good day on 3 April, managing to hold the dollar down to 2.8 pesos but also increasing its reserves by 4m dollars.
Duma approves c bank management structure changes
RUSSIA - The State Duma, in debates on amendments to the Central Bank law in the second reading on Friday, voted to give the National Banking Council the powers of a management body at the Central Bank.
Bank of England leaves key lending rate at 4.0 pct
UK - The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee on Thursday left its key lending rate unchanged at 4.0 percent for the fifth month in a row despite signs Europe's second biggest economy is recovering.
Bank of England News Release
NEWS RELEASE - Bank of England Maintains Interest Rates at 4.0%, 4 April.
Speech by Ian Macfarlane, Governor, RBA, 4 Apr
SPEECH - In a speech titled 'The Australian Economy: Past, Present and Future' Macfarlane said the central bank was under no pressure to rush a move on interest rates, seeking to dampen market speculation of an imminent rate rise.
Speech by M Moskow, President, Chicago Fed, 3 Apr
SPEECH - In his speech 'The Impact of Open Markets and Expanded Trade on Economic Development' the Chicago Fed chief noted that economists have recently become more bullish on the prospects for U.S. economic growth and said, "On balance, we believe the…
ECB holds key interest rate unchanged at 3.25 pct
GERMANY - The European Central Bank left interest rates unchanged on Thursday, reinforcing expectations its easing cycle had ended with the euro zone economy now on track to recovery.
ECB Press Conference
PRESS CONFERENCE - Introductory statement by Willem F. Duisenberg, President of the European Central Bank, Christian Noyer, Vice-President of the European Central Bank, Frankfurt, 4 April.
ECB Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - Monetary Policy Decisions, 4 April.
Aus PM welcomes RBA decision not to raise rates
AUSTRALIA - Prime Minister John Howard has welcomed the Reserve Bank of Australia's decision not to increase interest rates at its meeting today.
Japan prices to keep falling gradually - Hayami
JAPAN - Bank of Japan (BOJ) Governor Masaru Hayami said on Thursday he expected prices to continue to fall gradually as the economy deteriorated further although pressure from weak exports and excess inventories was easing.
Yugoslavia readies forex law ahead of new IMF deal
YUGOSLAVIA - Yugoslavia said on Wednesday it would fully liberalise the exchange rate regime for its dinar currency and scrap floating ranges to help secure a new three-year loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Speech by H Kohler, Managing Director, IMF, 21 Mar
SPEECH - In the speech titled 'The Monterrey Consensus and Beyond: Moving from Vision to Action' Kohler hailed the proposed document Monterrey Consensus saying that he was encouraged by the unprecedented degree of agreement about what is required to…
Bangladesh considering floating the taka - c bank
BANGLADESH - Bangladesh central bank governor Fakhruddin Ahmed said on Wednesday his country might consider floating the taka currency in an effort to further deregulate the money market.
Australia's RBA leaves rates unchanged at 4.25 pct
AUSTRALIA - The Reserve Bank of Australia Wednesday left interest rates unchanged following its April board meeting, despite expectations in some circles that it would begin the tightening cycle.
Speech by Anne Krueger of the IMF, 20 Mar
SPEECH - In the speech titled 'Growth and Reform in Russia' Krueger said Russia should aim for economic growth of between 4%-6% a year for the next 10-15 years.
Reserve Bank of Australia - Chart Pack
REPORT - A Collection of Graphs on the Australian Economy and Financial MarketsLast updated, 28 March 2002.
IMF stresses Polish c bank must remain independent
POLAND - The International Monetary Fund expects a limited reduction in official Polish interest rates in 2002, as 900 basis points of cuts over the past 12 months take effect, but it harshly criticized government coalition members' attacks on the…
President of Bank of Estonia's earnings
ESTONIA - The pay of the Estonian central bank's President Vahur Kraft totalled 874,186 kroons (EUR 56,000) in 2001, of which the 12-month salary made up 486,360 kroons.
BOJ to cut retirement money for its directors
JAPAN - The Bank of Japan (BOJ) said Friday it will cut retirement allowances for all its directors in line with the government's recent decision on pay cuts for executives of public corporations.
Fed's Hoenig - US economy likely to grow strongly
US - The U.S. economy is likely to grow strongly, Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank governor Thomas Hoenig said Tuesday.
Hayami - Financial system conditions remain severe
JAPAN - The condition of the Japanese financial system remains severe and the Bank of Japan will do its utmost to ensure financial stability, BOJ governor Masaru Hayami said Tuesday.
Banjul joins single currency
GAMBIA - The Gambia has joined five other countries in the West African sub-region in the introduction of a single currency, the West Africa Second Monetary Zone ( WAMZ).
Portugal has budget woes, not crisis - c bank
PORTUGAL - Portugal's Central Bank Governor Vitor Constancio said on Monday the country was facing budget problems as its deficit widened but not an economic crisis.