Economics
Malaysia to host Global Islamic Finance Forum
Bank Negara Malaysia will host the inaugural Global Islamic Finance Forum (GIFF) between 26 and 29 March, the BNM said Thursday 25 January.
Poland's Rybinski on the euro adoption
In the speech 'The euro adoption - assessing benefits and costs' given on 17 January Krzysztof Rybinski of the National Bank of Poland discusses selected aspects of the cost-benefit analysis of Poland's adoption of the euro.
PBOC's Fan sees yuan fluctuating
Fan Gang, the only non-government representative on the monetary policy committee of the People's Bank of China, said Thursday 25 January has said the trend for the yuan will be to fluctuate, rather than rise constantly.
ECB won't tolerate being a political football
According to this article from Reuters, published Wednesday 24 January, the European Central Bank has mounted its strongest defence so far against recent attacks on its independence from politicians.
US imbalances: the role of technology and policy
This ECB Working Paper published Thursday 25 January investigates the role of three likely factors in driving the steady deterioration of the US external balance: US technology developments, changes in the US government fiscal position and the Fed's…
Prodi backing ECB independence
Italian prime minister Romano Prodi said this week the European Central Bank (ECB) should maintain its independence and that it had done a good job in its interest rate policy.
ECB's Weber sees upward risks to inflation
Further European Central Bank action is needed to make sure that eurozone price stability remains in check, European Central Bank Governing Council member Axel Weber said Wednesday 24 January.
Ingves on Sweden's inflation target
In the speech 'Swedish experiences of monetary policy with an inflation target' given on 19 January Stefan Ingves of the Sveriges Riksbank said it is difficult to say anything else than that the changeover in economic policy in Sweden at the beginning of…
Belgium's Quaden on structural reforms in Europe
In the speech 'Structural reforms in Europe - harmonisation or decentralisation?' given on 12 January Guy Quaden of the National Bank of Belgium said structural reform applies to existing situations which differ radically from one country to another,…
Moskow sets retirement, leaving fourth Fed opening
This article published Monday 22 January by Bloomberg notes that Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago president Michael Moskow's departure will leave a fourth high-level opening at the central bank.
Report says Deloitte's Simor set to be join NBH
Andras Simor, CEO of the Hungary branch of Deloitte Touch Tohmatsu, is most likely to be the next governor of the Hungarian central bank (NBH), business daily Napi Gazdasag said on Tuesday 23 January, citing sources close to the government as saying.
Noyer says no conflict on price stability, growth
Bank of France governor and ECB governing council member Christian Noyer told the Liberation newspaper on Tuesday 23 January current monetary conditions are favourable for growth and there is no conflict between price stability and economic growth.
Chicago Fed National Activity Index, December 2006
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index for December 2006, published 22 January, was +0.04 in December, up from -0.30 in November. Three of the four broad categories of indicators in the index made negative contributions.
IMF chief calls for flexible yuan, warns BoJ
The head of the International Monetary Fund said Monday 22 January that greater flexibility in China's exchange rate will help Asian economies cope with potential risks from sharp capital inflows.
Buba's Fabritius sees German GDP growth down
Bundesbank executive board member Hans Georg Fabritius said in a speech German GDP growth is expected to be 1.75% this year, down from a 2.7% growth rate in 2006.
SF Fed's Yellen on the US economy in 2007
In the speech 'The US economy in 2007: Prospects and puzzles' given on 22 January Janet Yellen of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco said the Federal Reserve's interest rate policy is about right even as a "gangbusters" labor market may fuel…
Bies on the economic outlook, mortgage market
In the speech 'Economic outlook and developments in mortgage markets' given on 18 January Susan Bies of the Federal Reserve said weakness in U.S. home building appears not to have spilled over to other sectors, while a slowing in broader price rises is…
Rato on ten years after the Asian currency crisis
In the speech 'Ten years after the Asian currency crisis: Future challenges for the Asian economies and financial markets' given on 22 January Rodrigo de Rato of the IMF said Asian countries are more prepared to handle risks stemming from volatility in…
Why Oman pulled out of the single currency
According to this article from Gulf News, published Sunday 21 January, unique economic challenges mean that recent talk that the GCC monetary union is not necessarily possible could be right.
Bank of Japan Monthly Report, January 2007
The Bank of Japan published the English version of its January 2007 monthly report on Monday 22 January. In the report the BOJ left its assessment of economic and financial developments largely unchanged, saying the economy continues to expand moderately.
Philadelphia Fed Business Outlook Survey, Jan 2007
According to the firms surveyed for the Philadelphia Fed's January 2007 Business Outlook Survey, economic conditions in the region's manufacturing sector improved in January.
Fukui on future challenges for Asian economies
In a speech given on 22 January Toshihiko Fukui of the Bank of Japan called for the monetary authorities in Asia to forge closer links to limit the effect of massive money flows into the region.
Richmond Fed's Lacker on the economic outlook
In the speech 'Economic outlook' given on 19 January Jeffrey Lacker of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond said the possibility of resurgent inflation remains the biggest risk to policymakers.
ECB denies Trichet, Juncker, Almunia meetings plan
The European Central Bank denied a report on Monday 22 January which claimed Jean-Claude Trichet, Eurogroup chief Jean-Claude Juncker and EU commissioner Joaquin Almunia had agreed to hold informal meetings on the sidelines of the ECB's monthly press…