Central Banks
ECB's Target 2 delayed
The ECB has announced that the launch of Target 2 has been further delayed. The first group of countries will move to the EU's new large-value payment system on 19 November 2007, 11 months later than originally planned.
Comment: Activism the ECB way
Yesterday, 9 November, Jean-Claude Trichet explained how the ECB's decision to leave interest rates unchanged for more than two years should not be equated to non-activist monetary policy.
Turkish interest rate cut
The Central Bank of Turkey (CBRT) yesterday, 8 November, cut short-term interest rates by 25 basis points, bringing the overnight borrowing rate and the lending rate to 13.75 percent.
ECB's Weber sees inflation risks
Bundesbank president and ECB governing council member, Axel Weber, told reporters at a news conference on 8 November that risks to price stability have increased in the eurozone in recent weeks, primarily due to a rebound in economic growth, soaring oil…
Comment: The ECB clarifies collateral policy
President Jean-Claude Trichet's clarification yesterday that the ECB would only accept sovereign debt with a rating of A- or higher as collateral for loans to commercial banks, is likely to have policymakers in Italy and Greece and a number of eurozone…
ARB sees "modest" inflation threat
The Australian Reserve Bank said in its monetary policy statement released on Monday 7 November that it expects "a modest" increase in inflation rate and hinted that interest rates would remain on hold this year.
BoK feels the pinch
Bank of Korea (BoK) officials are up in arms about alleged plans by the government to scrap some of the central bank's 16 regional headquarters and cut its payroll.
Brazilian CB reduces number of meetings
The Central Bank of Brazil will lengthen the period between its interest rate policy meetings to 44 days from the current 30 days.
Colombian CB continues to sell reserves
The Colombian central bank sold $114 million in foreign exchange reserves to the government last week.
Euro ministers warn against rate hikes
Finance ministers meeting in Brussels renewed their calls for the European Central Bank to refrain from interest rates hikes.
Jordan's interest rates on the move
The Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ) governor, Umayya Touqan, announced on Sunday 6 November that interest rates on repurchase agreements for a week would be raised by 25 basis points.
SARB publishes Monetary Policy Review
The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) released its bi-annual Monetary Policy Review yesterday. It expects the main inflation rate to stay inside its 3-6 percent target range over the next two years, although the outlook has deteriorated because of high…
New York Fed's Foreign Exchange Operations Report
According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's Treasury and Federal Reserve Foreign Exchange Operations quarterly report for July-September 2005, the U.S. monetary authorities did not intervene in the foreign exchange markets during the quarter.
Interview with PBOC's Tang Xu
In an interview published on Wednesday 2 November, Tang Xu, director-general of the research bureau of the People's Bank of China, said China's economy has already achieved its long-awaited landing even with growth rates around 9 percent.
Swaziland appoints new board member
Finance Minister Majozi Sithole has appointed Swaziland Finance and Development Corporation CEO Vincent Mhlanga to the Central Bank of Swaziland's Board of Directors.
Ireland's Hurley ranked tops for pay
Central Bank of Ireland governor John Hurley was listed as the third-highest paid governor in the twelve-nation eurozone this week, even though he leads the smallest central bank.
Lazear may replace Bernanke on Advisory Council
US President George W Bush may replace Ben Bernanke with Edward Lazear as chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, a report quoted sources as saying.
With Bernanke at bat, Fed will target inflation
According to this recent article, Ben Bernanke will devote significant staff resources to further study on issues he has spoken and written about, when he takes over at the Fed. And the advantages of his approach will become overwhelming enough in the…
Former World Bank chief moves to Citigroup
Citigroup said this week that James D. Wolfensohn, 71, who left as president of the World Bank last spring after 10 years at the helm, would serve as a global strategy adviser to senior management and clients.
Further rapid fx reserve rise undesirable - PBOC
A further rapid increase in Chinese foreign exchange reserves is undesirable, an official with the People's Bank of China told Market News.
Greenspan questions gold holding, notes usefulness
In testimony to Congress on Thursday 3 November Alan Greenspan said why the Fed holds gold is a very interesting question and it's one that has been debated at length on rare occasions within government.
New deputy governor appointed to ECCB
Trevor Brathwaite, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, International Financial Services and Economic Affairs, St Lucia, was appointed Deputy Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) this week.
Fed may be on road to neutral monetary policy
The Federal Open Market Committee will make the 13th consecutive rate increase at its next meeting on 13 December, as it continues on its way to the so-called neutral level, according to this article published on Wednesday 2 November.
Russia's gold, fx reserves exceed foreign debt
The Central Bank of Russia's gold and foreign currency reserves considerably exceed the state foreign debt and total more than $150 billion, President Vladimir Putin has said.