Central Banks
BoE minutes show inflation concerns worry MPC
Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee members said in minutes released Wednesday 20 September that inflation is likely to speed-up and growth will stay around the long-term average.
Central banker of the year announced
Several publications announced awards for the world's central bankers this week, including a Euromoney award for Lebanon' s central bank governor Riad Salameh for his management of the crisis during Israel's recent onslaught.
China adds other currencies to reserves
Hu Xiaolian, head of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE), said in an article carried in the latest issue of the Emerging Markets magazine that China has cut the proportion of US dollars assets in its foreign exchange reserve in recent…
China's mushrooming forex reserve
This article published by Asia Times Online on Tuesday 19 September says that although massive levels of foreign exchange reserves represent the strength of an economy, it brings more problems than benefits.
ECB's Weber not worried on Iran reserves threat
A threat by the Central Bank of Iran to move its foreign exchange reserves out of dollars into other currencies, notably the euro, should not necessarily be a cause for concern, European Central Bank Governing Council member and Bundesbank President Axel…
Hedge funds take backseat to Asian central banks
According to this article from Bloomberg, published Friday 15 September, hedge funds are taking a backseat to Asian central banks.
Technology diffusion within central banking
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York Staff Paper "Technology diffusion within central banking: The case of real-time gross settlement" examines the diffusion of real-time gross settlement (RTGS) technology across all 174 central banks.
Sweden's Rosenberg on monetary policy in Sweden
In the speech 'Monetary policy in Sweden' given on 18 September Irma Rosenberg of the Sveriges Riksbank said prospects for economic activity and inflation indicate that less expansionary monetary policy is called for in future.
Oman begins automated clearing
Oman's central bank has started its automated clearing house system for handling bulk electronic credit and debit transfers, according to the Oman Daily Observer.
Barker says MPC surprised by house price jump
Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee member Kate Barker told the Daily Telegraph the recent jump in UK house prices has surprised the MPC.
RBA's Stevens on capital flows and monetary policy
In the speech 'Capital flows and monetary policy' given on 17 September Glenn Stevens of the Reserve Bank of Australia said short-term fluctuations in exchange rates do not pose as much risk to internationally exposed businesses as medium-term…
Govt and RBA reaffirm policy
Treasurer Peter Costello and Reserve Bank of Australia governor Glenn Stevens, who began his term on Monday 18 September, have reaffirmed the government's agreement with the RBA on monetary policy.
Fed panel to discuss targets for inflation
According to this article published on the International Herald Tribune's site Monday 18 September, Ben Bernanke is stepping up his push for an inflation target at the Federal Reserve.
RBNZ Monetary Policy Statement, September 2006
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand published its September 2006 Monetary Policy Statement on 14 September. The report said the New Zealand economy continues to show resilience.
RBA's Stevens on risk and the financial system
In the speech 'Risk and the financial system' given on 15 September Glenn Stevens of the Reserve Bank of Australia said lower macroeconomic volatility had been one factor encouraging a marked increase in the debt that households were content to carry in…
Summers: Central banks should make reserves work
Developing countries hold $2 trillion in excess reserves, but make almost no profit on the money, former U.S. Treasury secretary Lawrence Summers said on Thursday 14 September.
FMC report shows Fed governors get richer
The Federal Reserve Board's governors have grown steadily richer in the last year as President George Bush's appointments have reshaped the board of governors, research by the Financial Markets Center shows.
Canada's Jenkins on weathering economic shocks
In the speech 'Weathering economic shocks: The importance of flexibility' given on 13 September Paul Jenkins of the Bank of Canada issued a warning to federal and provincial governments that they should not use their windfalls to take actions that would…
Sweden's Ingves on financial crises
In the speech 'Financial crises in an international perspective' given on 12 September Stefan Ingves of the Sveriges Riksbank said we do not need more regulation and supervision.
IMF Global Financial Stability Report, Sep 2006
The International Monetary Fund published its Global Financial Stability Report for September 2006 on 12 September. In the report the IMF warned that the risks of a global slowdown had increased due to higher interest rates, surging oil prices and an…
Tietmeyer may become 'God's banker'
According to the Catholic News website, Pope Benedict has sounded out former Bundesbank president Hans Tietmeyer for the key post as head of the Institute for Religious Works, better known as the Vatican Bank.
Market stable after rate hike, BOJ minutes show
Bank of Japan board members agreed in minutes released Wednesday 13 September that the money market had been stable after it raised interest rates in July for the first time in six years.
Minutes: Riksbank unanimous on Aug 29 rate hike
The minutes from the Riksbank's 29 Aug monetary meeting released Tuesday 12 September showed the board was unanimous in its decision to hike the repo rate 0.25 percentage points to 2.50 pct.
Mizuno says BOJ to gradually lift rates
Bank of Japan board member Atsushi Mizuno said in an interview published Wednesday 13 September policy makers remain committed to gradually raising interest rates even after recent signs of slower economic growth.