Central Banks
Riksbank reallocates gold and for ex reserves
Sweden's Riksbank said it intends to sell up to 10 tonnes of the gold reserve in the period from 27 September 2005 to 26 September 2006.
Interview with ECB president Jean-Claude Trichet
In an interview published on Wednesday 21 September, European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet called for determined economic reforms from the next German government as well as other European nations.
Paraguay's banking regulator chief resigns
Paraguay's banking regulator Rodrigo Ortiz has resigned from his post, a central bank source confirmed, according to Bnamericas. Ortiz had been head of the banking regulatory agency since 2003.
No rest for RBA governor in final year
According to this article published on Thursday 22 September, Reserve Bank of Australia governor Ian Macfarlane has one last tricky year to negotiate before bowing out as arguably the country's most successful central bank chief.
St Louis Fed names new first vice president
David A. Sapenaro, 42, has been named first vice president and chief operating officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
No formula for selecting Fed chair
With the US Senate having to confirm a new chair of the Federal Reserve's Board of Governors soon, this article published on Tuesday 20 September asks what is more important to formulating successful monetary policies, profound study of economics or…
Central Bank of Iceland appoints new chairman
The Central Bank of Iceland has appointed Davi Oddsson governor and chairman of the Board of Governors. The move followed Birgir sleifur Gunnarsson's decision to retire.
Phil Fed's Santomero on the evolution of payments
In the speech 'The evolution of payments in the US: Paper vs. electronic' given on 10 September Anthony Santomero of the Philadelphia Fed said credit and debit cards are rapidly replacing paper checks as the most popular means of payment in the United…
China's bonding experience gains some speed
This article published on Monday 19 September asks whether China, Asia's No.2 economy, can reach its potential without a bond market. The good news is that efforts to create one are gaining momentum, it says.
UK completes world's first 50 year indexed bond
The UK completed the syndication of its first fifty-year inflation linked bond on Friday 23 September, achieving a price and coverage which demonstrated the strong demand for long-dated bonds, and investors' enthusiasm for inflation protection at this…
Gulf central banks plan single currency reserve
Gulf central banks are creating a reserve to support the single currency that is on track to be launched by 2010, the UAE Central Bank governor has said.
Venezuela central bank transfers US$3bn
Venezuela's central bank has transferred US$3 billion of its foreign exchange reserves to a newly created fund to support public projects, the finance minister said Friday 23 September.
The political economy of seigniorage
While most economists agree that seigniorage is one way governments finance deficits, there is less agreement about the political, institutional, and economic reasons for relying on it, according to the IMF Working Paper published Tuesday.
RBA to dispose of gold coin holding
The Reserve Bank of Australia said on Wednesday 21 September that it has decided that it does not need to continue to hold the large quantity of gold coins it has held for many years.
Fed hikes rates again, but Olson dissents
The FOMC decided on Tuesday 20 September to raise its target for the federal funds rate to 3.75%. In a statement it maintained its 'measured' pace for removing policy accommodation and revealed that Mark Olson had voted to keep rates unchanged.
Bank of England's MPC united on rate vote
Minutes from the Bank of England's 7 and 8 September meeting released on Wednesday 21 September showed policy makers voted unanimously to keep interest rates unchanged.
Nickell on practical issues in UK monetary policy
In the speech 'Practical issues in UK monetary policy, 2000-2005' given on 20 September, Stephen Nickell of the Bank of England said the Bank could not have prevented Britain's house-price boom without harming economic growth.
South Africa plans no change to inflation target
Treasury Director General Lesetja Kganyago has said South Africa has no plans to modify its inflation targeting framework to aim for the middle of the established three to six per cent target range.
New Bank of Israel law agreed
The Israeli government has agreed to the wording of a new Bank of Israel Law that would transfer responsibility for setting interest rates from the central bank governor alone to a monetary committee.
Central Bank of Argentina - a changed view on gold
This article published Monday 19 September says the Central Bank of Argentina has now changed its philosophy and was a purchaser of gold during 2004 as it reshaped its portfolio and may consider taking more in the future along with other Latin American…
Comment: Gold stages a comeback
With the gold price hitting 18-year highs, it is about time there was serious re-thinking among central bankers with regards to holding gold as a part of their reserve portfolios.
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.
Policymaking on the FOMC: Transparency, Continuity
This Economic Letter is adapted from remarks by Janet Yellen, President and CEO of the San Francisco Fed, made on 31 May. Yellen says over the past decade, the FOMC has continually re-assessed the costs and benefits of various steps toward greater…
EU calls for single payment area by 2010
Charlie McCreevy, the European Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services said on Tuesday 20 September that banks must create a single pan-EU system for payments by 2010, a demand the European Commission will underpin by legislation.