Monetary Policy
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…
No radical policy changes at Bank of Canada
The Financial Post's Madelaine Drohan says in this article that anyone who thinks Canada's monetary policy is going to change dramatically with David Dodge at the Bank of Canada is dreaming in technicolour. It just isn't going to happen. Printed in the…
Euro lessens Emu dependence on US - BoF Trichet
Europe's economy has become less dependent on U.S. developments since the launch of the euro in January 1999, Bank of France Governor Jean-Claude Trichet, a member of the European Central Bank's (ECB) Governing Council, said in an interview published Dec…
BOJ's Hayami highlights risks to Japan economy
Japan's central bank governor said on Dec 22 the deflation risks that have hamstrung economic recovery for years were back in the picture, while the top economic planner hinted that growth may have already contracted.
IMF Koehler praises Turkey govt, but action needed
Horst Koehler, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, stressed on Dec 21 that the $7.5 billion in new financing the IMF is providing Turkey is a short-term measure to ensure a liquidity crisis in the banking sector doesn't derail wider…
Cuba to aim for 5 percent economic growth in 2001
Cuba set a 2001 economic growth target of 5 percent on Dec 21 but said one of its strategic priorities would be reducing its swelling current account deficit.
ECB plays down danger of eurozone price difference
The European Central Bank said Dec 21 said diverging eurozone inflation rates were not a flaw of a one-size fits all monetary policy, provided that the differences proved to be only short-lived.
Welteke-far too soon to signal lower ECB rates
Bundesbank President Ernst Welteke said on Dec 21 Europe was well equipped to withstand an economic slowdown in the United States and that it was far too soon to signal lower interest rates in the euro zone.
No change in Cyprus rates post deregulation-c.bank
Interest rates in Cyprus are expected to remain steady in the immediate future as the economy dismantles the rigid rate control regime from January 1 2001, the island's central bank governor said on Dec 21 2000.
Bank of Portugal says 2000 growth 2.75% to 3.25%
The Bank of Portugal envisages that the country should register economic growth in 2000 of between 2.75 per cent and 3.25 per cent.
CNB Bank Board leaves interest rates unchanged
The Bank Board of the Czech National Bank CNB, which Dec 21 discussed the 12th status report on monetary and economic development, made no changes in the interest rates, spokesman Milan Tomanek told reporters after the session. The repo rate thus…