Central Banks
Norges Bank's monetary policy conference 2006
On Thursday 30 March, Norges Bank is holding a monetary policy conference in connection with the publication of Norges Bank's Annual Report for 2005.
SARB slows forex buying
The Reserve Bank of South Africa slowed its buying of US dollars to $345m last month from $1,289bn in January, figures published Tuesday showed.
Bank of Canada raises rates to 3.75%
The Bank of Canada announced Tuesday that it is raising its target for the overnight rate by one-quarter of one percentage point to 3 3/4 per cent.
Libya appoints new central bank governor
Libya's top legislative and executive body has appointed Farhat Omar Bin Guidara as the new central bank governor, replacing Ahmed Mohammed Moneisi.
Japan's Abe says BOJ should be transparent
Japan's top government spokesman said on Tuesday 7 March that it was important that the Bank of Japan's monetary policy is transparent.
Comment: Busy week for policymakers
This week is a busy one for monetary policymakers, with policy meetings taking place in Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. Here is a brief look at what's been on the mind of central bankers in these countries.
Ex-Buba Milow on govt gold grip
In Saturday's issue of Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, the former Bundesbank branch office manager Christian Milow wrote at length about "The grip of the government on gold" ("Der Griff des Staates nach dem Gold").
ECB publication of an enhanced 'Blue Book'
The European Central Bank on Monday 6 March published a statistical addendum to the publication "Payment and securities settlement systems in the European Union and in the acceding countries" (known as the "Blue Book") incorporating 2004 data.
Kyrgyz Rep's Sarbanov 'temporarily discharged'
Kyrgyzstan's central bank chairman Ulan Sarbanov has been removed from office temporarily due to a legal suit filed against him.
Comment: BoJ to end QE this week?
Friday's inflation data has added to feverish speculation that the Bank of Japan (BoJ) will end its "quantitative easing" policy later this week. However, the departure from its zero-interest rate policy is still months off and the question of the…
China won't cut dollar reserves - PBOC's Zhou
People's Bank of China governor Zhou Xiaochuan said in an interview that the country will not reduce its US dollar foreign exchange assets but intends to adjust the mix of its reserves.
Japan's debt straitjacket is out of style
Amid the euphoria over the end of deflation and a likely change in the Bank of Japan's policy, this recent article says it's easy to forget that Japan remains addicted to borrowed money.
PBOC official says 'no timetable' on controls
China has "no timetable" for further easing of its foreign exchange controls, a state news agency quoted a senior official as saying on Friday 3 March .
Greenspan: The $7 million dollar man
Top publishers are lining up to bid on the memoirs of former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan - and the price tag could reach out-of- this-world proportions.
Sultanov elected speaker of Kyrgyz parliament
Former governor of the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic, Marat Sultanov, was elected Speaker of the Kyrgyz parliament on Thursday 2 March by a majority of 45 votes, Itar-Tass reported.
Yosano not sure to give view at BOJ meeting
Japanese economy and banking minister Kaoru Yosano said on Friday 3 March that the Bank of Japan should decide when to end its quantitative easing policy and that he wasn't sure if the government would give its view at the BOJ's upcoming meetings.
BOJ set to end ultra-easy policy - report
Senior Bank of Japan officials have decided to submit a proposal to end the central bank's super-loose monetary policy at next week's BOJ board meeting, two Japanese news agencies reported on Friday 3 March.
Monetary policy by committee: Why and how?
In this De Nederlandsche Bank Working Paper, published February 2006, Alan Blinder discusses two questions: Why have so many central banks switched from individual to group decision making, and how?
West's gold vanishing in China once again
China will soon release statistics showing that it has passed Japan as the biggest holder of foreign currency the world has ever seen, according to this article published on Sunday 26 February.
Renminbi Settlement System goes live
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited (BOCHK) jointly announced on Thursday 2 March the launch of the new Renminbi Settlement System (RSS) on 6 March 2006.
Papademos to be named ECB chief economist - report
European Central Bank (ECB) vice president Lucas Papademos will replace Otmar Issing as chief economist in May, the Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported, citing unnamed sources close to the bank.
ECB poses no objection to Stark's appointment
At Thursday's meeting, 2 March, the Governing Council of the ECB adopted an opinion on a recommendation from the Council of the European Union on the appointment of a new member of the Executive Board of the ECB.
ECB raises rates, says more rises are possible
The European Central Bank raised its benchmark interest rate on Thursday 2 March for the second time in three months and suggested more hikes are possible as economic growth and inflation accelerate.
Report says BOJ considering 'reference rate'
The Bank of Japan is considering setting a 'reference rate' on inflation to guide markets on its monetary policy intentions, Jiji Press and other media reported.