Central Banks
Comment: Bold plan for FX reserves
Sometimes unique policy dilemmas require unorthodox policy responses. A recent IMF discussion paper offers a bold suggestion for central banks facing increasingly sharp trade-offs related to the management of their foreign exchange reserves.
'Keep it simple' says Hong Kong's Yam
In a speech at the Global Bond Summit in Hong Kong this week, Joseph Yam, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, identified "possible directions to be explored" by the Asian Bond Fund.
IMF central bank governance survey
An IMF survey of governance boards and management structures at central banks by JoAnne Morris and Tonny Lybek identifies "issues to consider when designing the structure, size, and composition of the governing boards and management of a central bank".
Fed's Olson on US payment systems
At a EU/U.S. Retail Banking Forum Conference in Brussels on November 15, US Federal Reserve governor, Mark W. Olson, offered some insights into the US payments system.
Duck-soo urges BoK caution
South Korea's finance minister, Han Duck-soo, said on Tuesday 15 November that the Bank of Korea should be "more cautious" in raising interest rates.
New currency for Zimbabwe
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has announced that it will introduce a new currency next year. RBZ governor Gideon Gono said the new currency would be unveiled "at a date to be announced".
Bernanke hawkish on inflation
In his confirmation hearing before the US Sentate Banking Committee, Ben Bernanke expressed some concerns about the current inflation rate in the US.
Comment: Bernanke hits the ground running
While arguing that he will take his time in building the case for an inflation-targetting Fed, Ben Bernanke's remarks during his confirmation hearing yesterday before the US Senate Banking Committee made clear that he remains a proponent of the framework.
SARB's Mboweni on the rand
Governor Tito Mboweni yesterday said the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) favoured a "competitive" exchange rate. The country's mining and manufacturing sectors have struggled to adapt to an appreciating rand, since the currency rallied from historical…
Bernanke heads to Capitol Hill
Market participants will have all eyes on Ben Bernanke as he appears before a US Senate committee on Tuesday, 15 November. Bernanke is to appear before the Senate Banking Committee as part of the run-up to him taking over the reins from Alan Greenspan as…
BoE interest rate challenge gets under way
The sixth annual Bank of England (BoE)/Times Target Two Point Zero Interest Rate Challenge commences on 21 November. The competition asks nearly one thousand school and college students to decide what the UK's official interest rate should be to keep…
CLS data on FX transactions
The CLS (Continuous Linked Settlement) Group on Monday released new data showing that during October 2005, a daily average of 215,016 foreign exchange transactions was completed using their global settlement system.
Norway paper on Monetary policy and asset prices
A recent Bank of Norway working paper investigates whether there is a case for asset prices in interest rates rules within a small econometric model of the Norwegian economy.
CBs to buy more gold - Rogoff
Kenneth Rogoff told delegates attending a precious metals conference in Johannesburg that he expects central bank gold sales to be reversed in time.
Bank of Canada enhances transparency
The Bank of Canada has implemented new measures to enhance the transparency and accountability of its operations.
A decade of reforms at the Riksbank
Lars Heikensten explains why the world’s oldest central bank had to modernise
All eyes on the rand
Inflation is on target, but the exchange rate still dominates economic debate, writes Malan Rietveld.
Central bank staff costs
Paul Brione analyses the cost of central bankers across the OECD.
Beware fads and fashions
The latest fashion in accounting standards will not deliver good central banking says John Nugée.
The Riksbank’s ongoing efficiency drive
This article, the first in a special feature modernising central banks, looks at the Riksbank’s drive to improve efficiency in cash handling, payment systems and reserve management.
Interview: Lars Heikensten
The governor of Sweden’s Riksbank explains why the world’s oldest central bank had to modernise.