Economics
Into the limelight
Malan Rietveld looks at the dramatic penetration into the heart of the Western financial system by sovereign investors from emerging markets in recent months
China’s monetary mandarins
The ever-increasing importance of China’s economic policymakers has led to intense scrutiny of the people behind the headlines. Andrew Peaple profiles the most important players
Czech's Tomsik on short-term outlook
The Czech National Bank has forecast GDP growth to slow during this year but to pick up in the first quarter of 2009.
Political scrap over governor may embarrass Japan
A spat between Japan's two main political parties is threatening to undermine the central bank's credibility by leaving it without an official governor when Toshihiko Fukui's term expires in the middle of next month.
Productivity leap needs more than just IT
Improvements in communication and information technology must be coupled with organisational changes and sound human resource policies if they are to boost productivity, research published by the Bank of Canada finds.
Zhou set to stay at People's Bank?
Zhou Xiaochuan, the governor of the People's Bank of China, could remain governor of the central bank according to local media reports.
BoE's Lomax notes dramatic shift in outlook
The persisting financial turmoil and the build up in global inflationary pressures have led to a dramatic change in the outlook for 2008 and beyond, Rachel Lomax, a deputy governor at the Bank of England, said.
Emerging markets must be wary of new products
Many emerging-market economies are ill-equipped to deal with the new wave of financial instruments, Jihad Alwazir, the governor of the Palestine Monetary Authority said.
London calling for Czech governor Tuma?
The Czech government has nominated Zdenek Tuma, the governor of the Czech National Bank, to become the next president of the London-based European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
Japan's Fukui on Islamic finance issues
The boom in Islamic finance raises many questions, said Toshihiko Fukui, the governor of the Bank of Japan.
State Bank of Pakistan - Annual Report 2006-2007
The State Bank of Pakistan has changed the formulation, management and conduct of monetary policy over the last 12 months.
New Canadian governor on globalisation
In this speech - his first as governor of the Bank of Canada - Mark Carney links the dramatic increase in highly structured credit products with emerging-market economies' role as exporters of capital.
Caribbean budgets need disaster insurance
The natural-disaster-prone economies of the Caribbean need insurance to reduce the vulnerability of their public finances and improve debt sustainability, a new IMF working paper says.
Colombian central bank enters market again
In efforts to reduce fluctuations in the value of the peso, Colombia's central bank has sold dollar put options for the second time this year.
Zimbabwe officially enters hyperinflation
The latest inflation numbers in Zimbabwe confirm that the country has entered into hyperinflation.
Basel Committee report on liquidity risks
A new paper from the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision market developments that affect liquidity risk management and discusses national supervisory regimes.
Fiji's Narube criticises high remittances charges
Savenaca Narube, the governor of the Reserve Bank of Fiji, has argued that remittance charges, which in some cases amount to 50% of the amount sent, do not appear to reflect the actual costs involved.
Budget deficits matter more in emerging markets
The effects of budget deficits on interest rates are larger and more robust in emerging markets, a new IMF working paper finds.
Turkish governor defends policy framework
Turkey's central bank should keep its policy framework although inflation targets have been missed two years in a row, said Durmus Yilmaz, the governor.
Laurels for ECB from Germany's Merkel
The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, has praised the European Central Bank's (ECB) "very outstanding role" in dealing with the world financial crisis.
Jordan's government "needs to rein in spending"
Faris Sharaf, the deputy governor of Jordan's central bank, has called on the country's government to rein in spending to reduce inflationary pressure and narrow the current-account deficit.
Trichet on structural reforms
Jean-Claude Trichet, the president of the European Central Bank, stressed the importance of labour markets reforms in the European Union.
Wealth effects in Italian consumption
A recent European Central Bank working paper found that homeowners' consumption in Italy reacts statistically and economically significantly to realised housing wealth gains.
Zambia's Fundanga on regional developments
Caleb M Fundanga, the governor of the Bank of Zambia, said the country's strong macroeconomic performance should spur growth in the region.