Central Banks
The Bank of Japan’s high-wire act
An end to deflation is in sight, but Japan’s monetary-policy makers still fear the dangers of a collapse of the yen and of the bond markets, says Andrew Smithers.
Performance measurement in central banks
Iain Thomson suggests ways central banks can incorporate best practice in commercial-sector performance measurement.
Should reserve management be farmed out?
Why some do and some don’t outsource reserve management. Nick Carver reports.
The ECB’s collateral framework
Francesco Papadia rebuts criticisms that the way the ECB treats government securities keeps market spreads artificially low.
The new Banca d’Italia
Mario Draghi’s first actions as governor have brought a much-needed breath of fresh air to the Banca d’Italia. Isabella Bufacchi reports from Rome.
Managing liquidity risk in a global system
In this exclusive article, Sir Andrew Large worries about the robustness of the financial system in times of stress – and calls for greater clarity from policymakers about lender-of-last-resort issues.
Reflections on central banking
How has central banking changed in the past generation? Alan Greenspan gave his considered views at Jackson Hole in August 2005.
Greenspan’s legacy
Allan Meltzer explains how Alan Greenspan’s leadership of the Fed has re-written the rules of monetary-policy making.
Federal Reserve's Monetary Policy Report, Feb 2006
The Federal Reserve published its February 2006 Monetary Policy Report to the Congress on Wednesday 15 February. The U.S. economy should continue to perform well in 2006 and 2007. But higher energy prices will probably exert some restraint on activity…
Bernanke says more rate rises 'may' be necessary
Ben Bernanke told Congress on Wednesday 15 February that more US rate hikes "may" be necessary as the threat of higher inflation persists despite a year-and-a-half of steady tightening.
Sweden's Rosenberg on monetary policy
Sveriges Riksbank deputy governor Irma Rosenberg gave a speech on Tuesday saying new information made available since January appears to confirm indications in December that the development of economic activity is stronger than expected.
Fed nominees emphasise inflation control
The two nominees for the Federal Reserve Board, Randall S. Kroszner and Kevin M. Warsh, said on Tuesday 14 February, in testimony to the Senate Banking Committee that controlling inflation was the key to maintaining economic growth in the United States.
Greenspan remains relevant in gold debate
This article published on Friday 10 February looks at recent comments by Alan Greenspan that the recent strength of the gold price is all down to the uncertain international political situation. Overnight developments in the US support Greenspan's thesis…
Let's cut the bullion about holding gold
This article published on Saturday 11 February asks whether the Reserve Bank of Australia has made a costly blunder in its management of Australia's international reserves. This task is surely a litmus test of a central bank's financial acumen, it says.
Pianalto on economic forecasts and monetary policy
In the speech 'Economic forecasts and monetary policy' given on 13 February Sandra Pianalto of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland said recent economic reports offer hints that the US economy may have rebounded from the weakness seen in the last three…
Alan Greenspan in memoir talks
According to Reuters, Alan Greenspan is in talks with major publishers about writing a memoir and bidding has already hit $5 million.
Report says China to set up reserve centre
The People's Bank of China will set up a foreign reserve operations center in Shanghai, the China Business News has reported.
Comment: Indonesia and the IMF
The Indonesian finance minister, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, has indicated that the country is considering the early repayment of its outstanding debt to the IMF. The prospect of early repayment raises some interesting questions and policymakers are likely to…
Stark formally nominated for ECB job
Austrian finance minister Karl-Heinz Grasser said EU finance ministers formally nominated Bundesbank vice-president Juergen Stark as Otmar Issing's successor at the European Central Bank.
RBA Statement on Monetary Policy, February 2006
The Reserve Bank of Australia published its February 2006 Statement on Monetary Policy on 13 February. Global economic conditions are continuing to provide a favourable environment for the Australian economy, according to the report.
Fed announces Michelle Smith to stay on
The Federal Reserve Board on Friday announced that Michelle A. Smith will continue in her position as Assistant to the Board and Director of the Office of Board Members. The Board had previously announced that she would be leaving to work for former…
Central banks invest in riskier assets
Just under half of the central banks responding to a recent survey have increased their investments in "new" asset classes in the past year.
Riksbank reshuffles division of work
The Executive Board of Sweden's Riksbank made a decision on 2 February on the division of work between the members of the Board.
Developing corporate bond markets in Asia
Thirty participants including high-level officials from central banks in Asia and the Pacific, the European Central Bank and the BIS took part in the BIS/PBC seminar held in Kunming, China on 17-18 November 2005.