Central Banks
Swiss monetary framework a model of distinction
The Swiss National Bank's unique monetary policy model has allowed the real economy to escape the worst of the financial turmoil, says the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
SWFs scaling back dollar holdings, says FT
Sovereign wealth funds are reducing their dollar holdings, the Financial Times has reported.
Berlin calls off note-printer auction
The German government has abandoned plans to sell its federal printing works.
Hawkish Hoenig emphasises need for speed
Thomas Hoenig, the president of the Kansas City Federal Reserve, described the current federal funds rate as accommodative and said that it was important to move from this stance "in a timely fashion".
We must win public's trust: RBA's Stevens
Glenn Stevens, the governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, has said that central bankers must contain inflation expectations regardless of whether recent rises in inflation are exogenous or endogenous.
HKMA - Banking Stability Review
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority's (HKMA) Banking Stability Review has found the territory's banking system robust.
Canada - Monetary Policy Report
The Bank of Canada's latest Monetary Policy Report identifies three significant developments affecting the Canadian economy: protracted weakness in the US economy, ongoing turbulence in global financial markets, and sharp increases in certain commodity…
US inflation soars to 5%
The key measure of US annual inflation surged to its highest level since 1991 in June, figures out Wednesday reveal.
Czechs hit out after media ignores warning
The Czech National Bank on Wednesday attacked a leading Czech daily's decision to publish the financial information of its senior employees despite an earlier warning by the central bank.
Senator condemns Fed
A US Senator has attacked Federal Reserve policy and called on Washington to deprive the central bank of some of its rate-setting responsibility.
Ex-Polish PM to head IMF's European department
Marek Belka, a former Polish prime minister and finance minister, will become the new head of the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) European Department. He will be the first Central European to take the role.
Riksbank decision unanimous
All six members of the Riksbank's Executive Council backed the decision to raise rates a quarter point to 4.5% earlier this month.
Yellen on Fed's response to subprime crisis
Janet Yellen, the president of the San Francisco Federal Reserve, has underlined the central bank's commitment to addressing the mortgage and foreclosure crisis.
Canada holds rates, warns on inflation
The Bank of Canada on Tuesday opted to keep rates at 3% but warned inflation was set to soar above 4%, double the institution's target.
Olympic banknotes spark queues in Hong Kong
The release of special banknotes to mark the Beijing Olympics has prompted queues outside the Bank of China's Hong Kong branches.
UK inflation surges to 16-year high
British headline inflation rose to 3.8% in the year to June, its highest level since 1992.
BoE's Sentance on the inflationary threat
In the face of the current oil and commodity price pressures, policymakers cannot expect to maintain the benign world of steady growth and consistently low inflation, said Andrew Sentence, a member of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee.
Rates restraining demand: RBA
The Reserve Bank of Australia's rate-setting board believes rates, which it has held at a 12-year high of 7.25% since March, are beginning to restrain demand.
Fed will lend to Fannie and Freddie
The Federal Reserve has authorised the New York Federal Reserve to lend to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) that insure half of the US's home loans.
FDIC seizes Californian bank
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), a US regulator, has taken control of IndyMac, a California-based lender with total assets of $32 billion.
King declines bumper pay hike
Mervyn King, the governor of the Bank of England who has repeatedly called on UK employers to avoid hiking wages in line with rising inflation, has refused a salary increase that would have seen his pay soar by more than a third.
UAE speeds up cheque processing
The Central Bank of the UAE has introduced a new cheque-clearing system that will vastly reduce the time taken to process cheques.
UAE's Suwaidi wins fifth term
Sultan Bin Nasser al-Suwaidi, the governor of the Central Bank of the United Arab Emriates (UAE), will serve another four-year term.
BoE's Jenkinson on innovation and risk
Nigel Jenkinson, the executive director responsible for financial stability at the Bank of England, highlighted a number of frictions and market imperfections that lower the effectiveness of financial innovation.