Central Banks
Monetary policy conduct of the Swiss National Bank
The Bank of Japan Working Paper "Monetary policy conduct of the Swiss National Bank: the experience from 2001 to 2004" published May 2006 investigates the monetary policy conduct of the SNB during the period 2001 to 2004 and the accompanying financial…
Fed minutes show uncertainty on future hikes
Federal Reserve policymakers at their May meeting considered raising a key interest rate by half a percentage point before deciding on a quarter-point increase, minutes published Wednesday 31 May showed.
BoJ's Fukui on quantitative easing
In a speech given on 1 June Toshihiko Fukui of the Bank of Japan said the central bank's quantitative easing policy, which lasted for nearly five years till March 2006, helped in bringing recovery back to the deflation-hit Japanese economy.
ECB's Financial Stability Review, June 2006
The European Central Bank published its June 2006 Financial Stability Review on 1 June. In the report the ECB said an abrupt unwinding of the US current account deficit could put sharp downward pressure on the dollar and lead to a rise in US long-term…
ECB announces distribution of responsibilities
Within the framework of its collective responsibility for the overall functioning of the business areas of the European Central Bank, the Executive Board of the ECB agreed Thursday 1 June on a distribution of responsibilities among its members, with…
BoJ's Haru urges caution on rate moves
Bank of Japan board member Hidehiko Haru said on Thursday 1 June that the central bank need not end its zero interest policy too fast, and must avoid surprising markets.
BOJ's Fukui sees slow rate rises
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui said the central bank would raise interest rates slowly and would proceed without focusing on one particular economic indicator, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday 1 June.
Russian reserves hit all time high
Russia's gold and foreign exchange reserves, boosted by record world oil prices, have touched an all-time high of $243.3 billion, the central bank said on Thursday 1 June.
Adviser says China should buy gold with reserves
China should use its foreign-currency reserves to buy gold and oil as a hedge to guard against the risk of a sudden drop in the U.S. dollar, according to a member of the central bank's advisory board.
Comment: Fed ponders communication strategy
The minutes of the US Fed's last monetary policy meeting, released this week, have enhanced the perception of an uncertain FOMC, and strengthened the view that further rate increases will be required. A close look at recent events show that the issue of…
Which news moves the euro area bond market?
This ECB Working Paper explores a long dataset (1999-2005) of intraday prices on German long-term bond futures and examines market responses to major macroeconomic announcements and ECB monetary policy releases.
Yellen on monetary policy in a global environment
In the speech 'Monetary policy in a global environment' given on 27 May Janet Yellen of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco said a depreciation in the U.S. dollar could increase the need for tighter Federal Reserve monetary policy.
Bank of Jamaica to stick with US dollar reserves
The governor of the Bank of Jamaica, Derick Latibeaudiere, has said that the central bank will continue to maintain Jamaica's net international reserves (NIR) in U.S. dollars.
Former Fed chair Volcker faults US policy
Former chairman of the Federal Reserve Paul Volcker has said US policy abroad is too abrasive.
PBOC to increase yuan flexibility
The People's Bank of China said in its first quarter monetary report that it will increase the flexibility of the yuan's exchange rate mechanism and intervene less in determining the currency's value.
ECB's Wellink says ECB should raise rates
European Central Bank council member Nout Wellink said in an interview that interest rates need to be increased because of rising inflation expectations.
Rybinski on inflation targeting, challenges ahead
In the speech 'Inflation targeting and the challenges ahead' given on 18 May Krzysztof Rybinski of the National Bank of Poland said that since 1990, when the pioneering Reserve Bank of New Zealand first introduced inflation targeting, over twenty…
IMF names Liam P. Ebrill as HR director
Rodrigo de Rato, Managing Director of the IMF, on Friday 26 May named Liam P. Ebrill to the position of Director of the Human Resources Department to succeed Jorge Marquez-Ruarte.
IMF's Rato offers condolences after earthquake
Rodrigo de Rato, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, made a statement offering his deepest condolences on Sunday 28 May regarding the earthquake affecting Indonesia.
BoE's Blanchflower approved by committee
The parliamentary Treasury Select Committee endorsed on Tuesday 30 May David Blanchflower's appointment to the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee.
Bush nominates Henry Paulson as Treasury Secretary
US President George W. Bush on Tuesday 30 May said he would appoint Hank Paulson, chief executive of Goldman Sachs, to take over from John Snow as treasury secretary.
ECB's Papademos on globalisation, inflation
In the speech 'Globalisation, inflation, imbalances and monetary policy' given on 25 May Lucas Papademos of the ECB said that globalisation had helped contain prices in the past, but the risks to inflation were now rising due to buoyant world growth.
Central Bank of Sri Lanka - Monetary Policy Review
According to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka's Monetary Policy Review for May 2006, both exports and imports expanded further in March 2006 with imports growing at a faster rate mainly due to the increase in the petroleum imports.