News
Riksbank united on rate increase, minutes show
The board of the Swedish Riksbank was unanimous in its 19 June decision to hike the repo rate by 25 basis points to 2.25 pct, according to the minutes of the monetary policy meeting published Monday 3 July.
Fed's 17th increase leaves India with no choice
According to this article published Monday 3 July by Bloomberg, the Reserve Bank of India cannot afford to skip another quarter-point increase in July, with the Federal Reserve boosting rates last week.
Reserve Bank of New Zealand increase cash reserves
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand said on Friday 30 June it would increase the level of liquidity in the money market, but added that did not signal a change in monetary policy.
Have central banks sown the seeds of the next bust
In an article published Monday 3 July, Stephen Roach of Morgan Stanley says he is increasingly worried that history will not treat the recent record of central banking kindly.
Report says BOJ likely to start raising rates
The Bank of Japan is expected to start raising interest rates this month or next, a news report said Monday 3 June.
Mishkin nominated to Fed board
US president Bush nominated Frederic Mishkin, a professor at Columbia University, to join the Federal Reserve Board on Friday 30 June.
NBP's Balcerowicz critical of extending powers
In the opinion of National Bank of Poland (NBP) head Leszek Balcerowicz, proposals to amend the NBP Act could lead to exerting political pressure on the institution, Polish News Bulletin reported.
Fed raises rates, suggests may be nearing end
The Federal Reserve raised US interest rates to the highest point in more than five years Thursday 29 June and suggested the rate hike cycle may be nearing the end.
Nigeria removed from FATF list
In an announcement issued on Friday 23 June the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) announced that Nigeria has been removed from the Non-Cooperative Countries and Territories (NCCT) list.
Iceland appoints new central bank governor
Ingimundur Fririksson was appointed governor of the Central Bank of Iceland on Thursday 29 June.
Fukui, would-be Greenspan of Asia, replaceable
According to this article from Bloomberg published Friday 30 June, Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui was urged to become the "Greenspan of Japan, if not Asia" soon after he began running the BOJ in 2003.
Fischer plans radical bank restructuring
Bank of Israel governor Stanley Fischer has announced a major structural reorganisation of the bank, according to this article by Haaretz, published Friday 30 June.
Bank of Japan may ban staff investment
A Bank of Japan panel decided Friday 30 June to recommend that the central bank ban its executives from investing in private funds, Kyodo News agency reported.
When facts change, central bank intentions should
According to this article published by the Financial Times on Wednesday 28 June, by Francesco Giavazzi and Charles Wyplosz, the Bank of England, which once pioneered transparency and innovative communication, is trailing behind other central banks.
Fed views on U.S. inflation targeting
This article from Reuters, published Wednesday 28 June, provides summaries of views voiced by Federal Reserve policy-makers on the merits of stated numerical inflation targets.
BoE's King criticises MPC appointment process
Bank of England governor Mervyn King on Thursday 29 June took aim at the "very much last minute" way in which members were appointed to the Monetary Policy Committee by Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown.
Fernandez Ordoez nominated as Bank of Spain chief
Spain's finance minister, Pedro Solbes, proposed Miguel Angel Fernandez Ordonez as the new governor of the Bank of Spain on Wednesday 28 June.
Yamamoto says Fukui should resign 'immediately'
Kozo Yamamoto, head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's monetary policy panel, said Thursday 29 June that Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui should resign "immediately" over the Murakami investment scandal.
Hong Kong unlikely to use yuan as reserve currency
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority is unlikely to use the yuan anytime soon as one of its reserve currencies, HKMA chief executive Joseph Yam said Thursday 29 June.
Sao Tome government fires central bank governor
The government of Sao Tome and Principe has dismissed the governor of the country's central bank, the macauhub.com website reported on Wednesday 28 June.
Federal Reserve expected to raise rates
Federal Reserve policymakers were widely expected to finish a two-day meeting on Thursday 29 June, by raising US interest rates for the 17th consecutive time to 5.25 percent.
Euro membership not good for all, study says
According to this article published Monday 26 June, a new report from the CEPR claims Britain and other European economies have little to gain from adopting the euro now.
Iran's central bank and BIS to boost cooperation
According to IRNA news agency, Iran's central bank governor Ebrahim Sheibani held talks with the general Manager of the BIS, Malcolm Knight, in Basel aimed at stepping up banking cooperation.
Bank of Canada appoints Special Adviser
The Bank of Canada announced Wednesday 28 June the appointment of Professor Steve Ambler to the position of Special Adviser for the year 2006-07. The Special Adviser position was created to bring additional perspectives to monetary policy discussions.