Monetary Policy
Hayami rules out early quantitative easing steps
Bank of Japan Gov. Masaru Hayami said Jan. 23 that an instruction issued to bank executives to study ways to boost liquidity in the nation's money market does not mean the central bank will take additional quantitative monetary easing measures any time…
Chile's economy to grow relatively fast - cbank
Chile's Central Bank forecast Jan. 23 economic growth between 5.6 and 5.9 percent for the years 2001 and 2002 respectively, as well as 3.4 and 2.9 percent inflation for the respective periods. In a monetary political report, the bank explained that the…
What Drives Productivity Growth?
Kevin J. Stiroh considers the debate on the best way to explain the sources of productivity growth in a forthcoming Economic Policy Review for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
US welfare reform: progress and prospects
Following a conference at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York October 2000 "Welfare reform, four years later: progress and propects", preliminary drafts of papers are now available from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York Research and Market Analysis…
Mini interview with Austria's Klaus Liebscher
Following is a summary of the Market News International interview with European Central Bank (ECB) Governing Council member and Austrian National Bank Governor Klaus Liebscher that was conducted on Jan. 22.
Japanese interest rates held at 0.25%
At the Monetary Policy Meeting held Jan 19, the Bank of Japan decided, by majority vote, to maintain the uncollateralized overnight call rate at an average of around 0.25%.
Mexican cbank governor outlines monetary policy
The governor of the Bank of Mexico, Guillermo Ortiz Martinez, has submitted a preview of the Monetary Policy Programme for 2001 and has confirmed an aggressive tightening of the money supply by managing short-term benchmark interest rates and bank…
Paraguay inflation ends 2000 at 8.6 pct
Paraguay achieved its goal of posting single-digit inflation for the second year in a row as the consumer price index ended 2000 at 8.6 percent, the Central Bank said Dec 29, 2000.
Euro recovery likely to continue, says ECB
European Central Bank President Mr Wim Duisenberg reaffirmed Dec 29 that ECB interest rates were on hold for some time and said the euro's recovery was likely to continue. Mr Duisenberg said that the risks to price stability were not very "concrete" at…
Ecuador inflation slows in Dec 2000 to 2.5 pct
Ecuador's consumer price inflation slowed to 2.5 percent in December 2000 compared with 5.6 percent a year earlier, the Institute of Statistics (INEC) said on Dec 29.
Brazil Central Bank sees 2001 inflation below 4%
Brazil's key IPCA inflation index will end 2001 below the government's target of four percent, the country's central bank said in its quarterly inflation report released on Dec 29.
U.S. slowdown to hit Britain-BoE's George
Bank of England governor Eddie George has warned that fallout from an economic slowdown in the United States will affect Britain in 2001 but will not bring a "nightmare scenario", the BBC said on Dec. 29, 2000.
US in economic slowdown but far from recession-IMF
The International Monetary Fund has said that the United States is facing a slowdown in growth that will curb the global economic expansion. But the US economy is far from a recession and is nowhere near contracting, added the IMF's first deputy managing…
Bank of Israel cuts interest rates by 0.2%
The Bank of Israel lowered its key lending rate for January by a moderate 0.2 percent to 8% Dec 28, in line with economists' expectations. This is the lowest interest rate in a decade.
BCEAO calls for diversification of production base
The board of directors of the Central Bank of West African States or BCEAO has urged member states to further diversify their production bases, accelerate integration and the implementation of common sector policies within member countries.
Hungary fin min expects good teamwork with c.bank
The existing good working relations with incumbent Finance Minister Zsigmond Jarai will provide the basis for a good partnership between the Finance Ministry and the National Bank of Hungary in the future, Mihaly Varga told reporters on Dec 28.
Greek cenbank demands tight budget, wage policy
Bank of Greece Deputy Governor Nicholas Garganas said in a newspaper interview on Thursday that Greece should continue its tight fiscal and wage policy to help bring down inflation.
Tosovsky warns of threats to CNB independence
On Dec 27, Czech National Bank (CNB) governor Josef Tosovsky said attacks on the central bank were increasing and could affect its credibility. The attackers include opposition Civic Democrat (ODS) leader Vaclav Klaus, who blames the CNB's policies for…