Central Banks
Atlanta Fed's Barron on a viable payments future
In the speech 'Making a commitment to a viable payments future' given on 5 October Patrick Barron of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta said that our payments system is going through a difficult transition. Today, the development of new technology and…
Interview with ECB's Trichet
ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet said in an interview with Russian newspaper Izvestia this week that the ECB was committed to maintaining steady prices. "As regards our present position, I said in Athens on 6 October that the present interest rate of 2…
Gordon Brown welcomes Bank of England appointment
Following the appointment this week of Sir John Gieve to succeed Sir Andrew Large as Bank of England Deputy Governor for Financial Stability, UK Chancellor Gordon Brown said Sir John brings a wealth of experience to the job.
CBN to lose over 1,000 staff
About 1,040 staff at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) lost their jobs this week following the implementation of the CBN's "Project Eagles" restructuring and re-engineering exercise.
Ivory Coast to keep BCEAO job
The president of the Ivory Coast said on Tuesday 18 October that his country will not relinquish the governorship of the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO).
Book by governor of Barbados cb
Dr Marian Williams, governor of the Central Bank of Barbados, has published her third book. The book contains ideas about the policies and approaches which Barbados and the Caribbean might adopt in the new global environment.
Greenspan: global giant but awkward legacy
According to this article published on Tuesday 18 October, the Fed's sway over world markets was arguably at its peak in 1998. Before both the launch of the euro and the massive reserve accumulation in Asia that has bestowed China and others with…
Russian central banker charged with taking bribe
The Moscow prosecutor's office has indicted the deputy chief of the Federal Tax Service lending institutions department and a Russian central bank official for large-scale bribery, according to Interfax and other reports this week.
Politicians walk out on Fazio testimony
Bank of Italy governor Antonio Fazio faced another snub on Tuesday 18 October when centre-left opposition party members walked out of a parliamentary hearing where he was speaking about Italy's 2006 budget.
Comment: FX interventions
Most central banks have moved away from actual foreign exchange market interventions and now use communication, or verbal intervention, as a policy instrument to influence exchange rates when deemed necessary and desirable.
Bank of Canada Monetary Policy Report, Oct 2005
The Bank of Canada released its October 2005 Monetary Policy Report on 20 October. The latest report says the global and Canadian economies have continued to grow at a solid pace, and the Canadian economy now appears to be operating at full production…
NY Fed Staff Paper on Treasury securities
The U.S. Treasury announced in August 2005 that it is exploring whether to provide a backstop securities lending facility for U.S. Treasury securities. The New York Fed Staff Paper "Why is the U.S. Treasury contemplating becoming a lender of last resort…
Zimbabwe plans new currency
Zimbabwe will have a new currency next year, the central bank governor announced on Thursday 20 October , the Zimbabwe Observor reports.
NY Fed's Geithner on challenges in risk management
In the speech 'Challenges in risk management' given on 18 October Timothy Geithner of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said the increased complexity of financial systems reduces the vulnerability of individual firms to risk, but adds to uncertainty…
Lambert on challenging times for monetary policy
In the speech 'Challenging times for monetary policy' given on 19 October Richard Lambert of the Bank of England said the central bank is "determined" to prevent higher oil prices from fanning inflation, suggesting he's unlikely to favor another interest…
Vietnam eases foreign currency controls
Vietnam has decided to loosen restrictions on the use of foreign currencies in the country.
Comment: What drives the price of debt?
How, in a world where the amount of debt is rising rapidly, can credit spreads remain so low or even fall? And is this a sign of strength and stability, or a cause for concern?
Monetary policy predictability in the euro area
This Norges Bank Working Paper evaluates the ability of market participants to anticipate monetary policy decisions in the euro area and in 13 other countries.
Bank of England's MPC voted 9-0 to hold rates
Minutes from the Bank of England's 5 and 6 October meeting, released 19 October, showed that all nine members of the Monetary Policy Committee voted to keep interest rates at 4.5 percent this month, not even discussing arguments for a cut.
FSI Award - 2006 competition rules announced
The Financial Stability Institute (FSI) announced on Tuesday 18 October that it will give the 2006 FSI Award to the author of the best paper submitted.
Fed's Santomero on the evolving role of the FOMC
In the speech 'The evolving role of the FOMC: An insider's perspective on monetary policy' given on 17 October Anthony Santomero of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia said the transition to a new Federal Reserve chairman will be a smooth one.
BoE's Lomax on UK monetary policy
In the speech 'UK monetary policy: The international context' given on 17 October Rachel Lomax of the Bank of England said the central bank has to be careful not to dislodge inflation expectations at a time when the outlook for world oil prices remains…
EU banking sector stability report
The European Central Bank published a report on EU banking sector stability, prepared by the Banking Supervision Committee of the European System of Central Banks on 17 October.