News
PBOC economist says 2006 GDP at least 9%
China's gross domestic product (GDP) will rise at least nine pct this year and the consumer price index (CPI) is likely to rise more than two pct, the official China Securities Journal reported, citing a central bank economist.
Riksbank changes currency allocation
Sweden's Riksbank announced on Friday 21 April that it has reallocated the currency holdings in the bank's foreign currency reserves. The changes include a move away from US dollar holdings in favour of euros.
Interview with Fed's Roger Ferguson
In an interview published on Friday 21 April, Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Roger Ferguson said if there were a sense that the economy was at great risk, he would not want to leave the Fed.
No Nixon moment on China's currency
According to this article published on Friday 21 April, for the second time in less than a year Asia's No. 2 economy outmaneuvered the world's biggest on the yuan.
Reshaping the IMF - Not even a cat to rescue
This article published Thursday 20 April reports that the International Monetary Fund's budget is shrinking and the morale of its staff is sinking. Some of its best customers are now doing without it, leaving some of its biggest shareholders wondering…
Reserve diversification
Sweden's central bank is the world's oldest, and according to this article published on Friday 21 April, it is also proving to be among the most proactive in managing its foreign exchange reserves.
BoJ overpays on travel expenses
The Bank of Japan has paid overstated amounts of domestic travel expenses claimed by some of its personnel and has been told by the Board of Audit of Japan to correct the problem, Jiji Press reported Thursday 20 April.
MEPs criticise ECB appointment
Following the approval of Jurgen Stark's nomination to the ECB's board by the European Parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee on Wednesday 19 April, some centre-left MEPs have criticised the go-ahead.
Padoa-Schioppa 'serious' candidate for econ min
Romano Prodi, Italy's election winner, said on Friday 21 April that former European Central Bank board member Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa was a "serious" candidate to become his economy minister, but that nothing had been decided yet.
Can the new Fed keep eyes off rear-view mirror?
According to this article published Thursday 20 April, the minutes from the last FOMC meeting, released on Tuesday 18 April, had something old, something new -- and something borrowed from former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan.
Indian central bank must let housing bubble be
This article published Thursday 20 April asks, is the Reserve Bank of India trying to prick the housing bubble, something that both Alan Greenspan and Ben Bernanke have shied from doing in the U.S.?
Interactive access to Fed statistical data
The Federal Reserve Board on Wednesday 19 April announced its new Data Download application, which provides interactive access to Federal Reserve statistical data in a variety of electronic formats.
Issing: Inflation forecasts may rise with oil
European Central Bank chief economist Otmar Issing said in an interview that the ECB may have to revise its inflation forecasts upwards after the latest increase in oil prices.
Fed's Fisher says economy in a sweet spot
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President Richard Fisher said on Wednesday 20 April that the U.S. economy can cope with a housing slowdown and that the effect of oil prices on inflation had been manageable.
PBOC taking measures to add flexibility
China's central bank is taking measures to increase the flexibility of its exchange rate, an official with the National Bureau of Statistics said on Thursday 20 April.
BoJ's Muto says rate shift depends on data
Bank of Japan Deputy Governor Toshiro Muto said Thursday 20 April that the central bank will decide on when to end its zero rate policy by analysing various economic data.
IMF's Rajan says 10% growth feasible in India
The International Monetary Fund's chief economist said on Wednesday 19 April that India's medium-term goal of growing its economy 10 percent a year is realistic if it can boost infrastructure and job creation.
Portrait of Matti Vanhala unveiled
A portrait of the late Governor of the Bank of Finland was unveiled at the Bank recently.
U.S. may rethink size of IMF stake
According to this article published on Wednesday 19 April, the United States will consider reducing its voting stake in the International Monetary Fund as part of an overhaul that would require the lender to increase scrutiny of nations' currency…
FOMC minutes suggest end to rate rises
According to the minutes of the Federal Reserve's meeting on 27-28 March released on Tuesday 18 April, policy-makers felt that the U.S. central bank was nearly finished raising interest rates, but remained worried about potential inflation risks.
Bernanke sees energy effects fading
Fed chairman Ben Bernanke said in a letter published on Monday 17 April that the increase in energy prices since late 2003 will not have a lasting impact on U.S. inflation as long as the Federal Reserve conducts policy appropriately.
Fed to consolidate payments system committees
The Federal Reserve Board announced on Wednesday 19 April the consolidation of two internal advisory committees on payments system matters.
Bank of England voted 7-1 to hold rates
Minutes released on Wednesday 19 April showed that the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee voted 7 to 1 at its meeting on April 6 to keep interest rates unchanged at 4.5 per cent.
Fed comments and data point to one more increase
According to this article published on Tuesday 18 April, recent comments from Federal Reserve officials and the latest economic data continue to suggest that the cycle of US interest rate increases will come to an end next month.