Central Banks
UAE governor rejects Greenspan advice
The United Arab Emirates will keep the dirham pegged to the dollar despite calls from former Fed chairman Alan Greenspan to float its currency.
Fed exacerbating stagflation risk: Meltzer
The Federal Reserve's current policies mark a return to the dark days of the 1970s and carry the same threats, says Allan Meltzer, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University.
SWFs to cover bank shortfall for private equity?
Not content with buying up sizable stakes in the big investment banks, sovereign wealth funds could now take their business as well.
Norway posts $3.4 billion loss
The Bank of Norway was NKr17.6 billion ($3.4 billion) in the red last year, accounts published on Thursday 28 February reveal.
Stability requires public-private coordination
The close cooperation of policymakers and market participants is essential for achieving sustainable growth and preserving stability, said Lucas Papademos, the vice president of the European Central Bank.
Policy shifts improved inflation outlook
The decline in the level, persistence and volatility of inflation across industrialised countries since the mid-1980s is due in part to improvements in monetary policy, finds a Bank of England working paper.
Zhou set to stay at People's Bank?
Zhou Xiaochuan, the governor of the People's Bank of China, could remain governor of the central bank according to local media reports.
Bernanke changes tack, cautions on inflation
Ben Bernanke, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, has said that the inflation picture in the US has worsened since the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) last met.
Markets underestimate ECB's inflation fears
Bets on interest rate decisions fail to take into account the seriousness of the inflation situation in the eurozone, said Axel Weber, the president of the Bundesbank who also sits on the European Central Bank's (ECB) governing council.
Poland raises rates to 5.5% in surprise move
The National Bank of Poland has voted to raise rates unexpectedly by a quarter point.
Further Fed cuts likely on Kohn comments
Donald Kohn, the vice chairman of the Federal Reserve, has hinted that more rate cuts are needed in order to insure against an economic calamity.
Controlling inflation stabilises growth
Monetary policy's dual objectives - stabilising inflation and stabilising economic activity - complement rather than contradict one another, said Frederic Mishkin, a governor of the Federal Reserve.
Turkey reveals rationale for latest cut
The Central Bank of Turkey lowered rates for the sixth straight month in February because monetary policy still supported disinflation, the minutes of the meeting show.
Hungary abandons euro peg
The Hungarian authorities have abandoned the forint's peg to the euro and moved to a floating exchange rate in a bid to lower inflation and speed up euro-accession.
US Treasury supports IMF gold sales, urges reform
The US Treasury has shifted its stance on International Monetary Fund (IMF) gold, saying it will now back the sale of about 8% of the Fund's reserves.
Ex-minister questions Czech independence
Jan Mladek, a Czech member of parliament and former government minister, has claimed that Vaclav Klaus, the president of the Czech Republic, is abusing his power to appoint senior members of the Czech National Bank's staff.
Qatar SWF to invest up to $15 billion in banks
The Qatar Investment Authority will spend between $10 billion and $15 billion buying up stakes in banks, the head of the sovereign wealth fund has revealed.
Emergency Fed cut an effort to appear decisive
The Federal Reserve voted to slash rates by 75 basis points to demonstrate decisiveness, minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee's (FOMC) January meeting reveal.
Progress masks greater threat of severe crisis
Financial innovation and greater macroeconomic stability may have made financial crises in developed countries less likely than in the past, but potentially more severe, research published by the Bank of England finds.
How the Fed is tackling turmoil
The Federal Reserve has acted in line with its dual mandate in taking the four measures made to rein in the recent bout of market turmoil, said Frederic Mishkin, a governor at the central bank.
Hanke attacks Fed at IEA seminar
Professor Steve Hanke of Johns Hopkins University rebuked the Federal Reserve for its conduct of monetary policy at a conference on Tuesday 26 February on "The State of the Economy" hosted by the Institute of Economic Affairs in London.
US mulling sanctions for Iranian central bank
The US Treasury Department could impose sanctions on the Central Bank of Iran after allegations emerged that the institution is helping the country's banks avoid American sanctions.
London calling for Czech governor Tuma?
The Czech government has nominated Zdenek Tuma, the governor of the Czech National Bank, to become the next president of the London-based European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
Prices force China to stick with policy stance
A top Chinese central banker confirmed that the People's Bank's monetary policy stance will remain tight after inflation hit a fresh 11-year high.