Central Banks
Examining monetary policy press conferences
This ECB working paper studies how explanations of monetary policy decisions at press conferences are perceived by financial markets, and finds that ECB press conferences provide substantial additional information to financial markets beyond that…
Trichet says monetary policy still accommodative
Speaking to the European parliament on Monday, Jean-Claude Trichet, the president of the ECB, said monetary policy was accommodative even after the recent quarter-point rate rise.
King warns on inflationary pressures
Mervyn King served notice that rates may have to rise even though the Bank of England sees inflation as likely to drop back this year from March's breach of the 3% target.
Williams gets second term as T&T governor
The Central Bank of Trinidad & Tobago reappointed Ewart Williams for a second five-year stint as governor a month before his contract was due to run out.
Prospects for India's economy - Reddy
The Reserve Bank of India will try contain inflation at close to 5%, said Dr Y.V. Reddy, the central bank's governor, in a speech in Chile.
Fed's Hoenig on recent economic developments
US economic conditions will improve in the coming months, said an optimistic Tom Hoenig, CEO of the Kansas City Fed.
Ireland's Hurley on monetary policy
Ireland has benefited from the euro, explained John Hurley, the governor of the Central Bank of Ireland, but challenges remain in dealing with rising credit growth and housing prices.
Weber on monetary policy and communication
Communication is an important element in fostering the effectiveness of monetary policy, explained Axel Weber, the president of Germany's Bundesbank.
Three new directors for the Bank of Canada
Jim Flaherty, Canada's minister of finance, named three new directors for the central bank's board.
Iraqi central banker dies in ambush
A senior official from Iraq's central bank died after his car was ambushed by gunmen in Mosul on Monday.
Trichet's verdict on euro hopefuls
Speaking at a press conference after the ECB's rate rise last week, Jean-Claude Trichet, gave his assessment of countries striving to join the euro.
NZ dollar falls after central bank sales
New Zealand's dollar fell against the US dollar and yen as the Reserve Bank of New Zealand intervened to sell the kiwi.
SARB raises rates as inflation soars
The South African Reserve Bank raised the key repo interest rate by 50 basis points to 9.5% on 7 June, after inflation surged through the upper band of the central bank's 3% to 6% target range in April.
Chicago Fed paper on mobile payments
Will mobile payments go the way of the stalled smart-card revolution of the 1990s? This Chicago Fed letter looks at these new payments fit into the larger payment system.
South Korea keeps key rate unchanged at 4.5%
The central bank of South Korea today decided to keep its key interest rate steady for the tenth month in succession, in an effort to boost economic recovery.
Peru's rates steady as inflation remains subdued
Peru's central bank yesterday held the overnight lending rate unchanged for the thirteenth consecutive month at its five-year high of 4.5%. Infaltion remains low and stable, despite rapid economic growth.
South Africa's reserves surge in one month
New data from the South African Reserve Bank has revealed that net gold and foreign exchange reserves rose to $25.48bn in May from $24.59bn the previous month. Gross reserves were also up to $27.85bn from $27,02bn.
NZ interest rate up to record 8%
The markets were taken by surprise on 7 June when the New Zealand central bank raised its key interest rate to a record 8% from 7.75%, in efforts to stem inflation.
Indonesia cuts for twelfth time since May 2006
As widely expected, Bank Indonesia reduced its policy interest rate - used as a reference for bill sales - by a quarter point to 8.5% today, taking advantage of the lowest inflation rate in six months. It was the twelfth rate cut since May 2006.
Brazil cuts lending rate to record low of 12%
Following the recovery of the Brazilian currency, which has held inflation at an eight-year low, the central bank lowered the benchmark lending rate by half a percentage point to a record low of 12%.
Bank of England maintains bank rate at 5.5%
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has voted to maintain the official bank rate paid on commercial bank reserves at 5.5%.
Australia keeps rate at six-year high
Glenn Stevens, Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, announced on 6 June that the central bank would keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged for the sixth meeting in succession. Rates remain unchanged at a six-year high of 6.25%.
Cyprus surprises with unchanged repo rate
The Central Bank of Cyprus has raised the interest rate on its marginal lending facility and on the overnight deposit facility by 25 basis points. However, the rate on the central bank's main refinancing operations (repo rate) remains unchanged at 4.5%.
ECB lifts rates to 4%
The European Central Bank has raised its key interest rates by 25 basis points to 4%, taking rates in the eurozone to their highest level for six years. This latest increase means that interest rates have doubled in 18 months.