News
Fed minutes show uncertainty on future hikes
Federal Reserve policymakers at their May meeting considered raising a key interest rate by half a percentage point before deciding on a quarter-point increase, minutes published Wednesday 31 May showed.
ECB announces distribution of responsibilities
Within the framework of its collective responsibility for the overall functioning of the business areas of the European Central Bank, the Executive Board of the ECB agreed Thursday 1 June on a distribution of responsibilities among its members, with…
BoJ's Haru urges caution on rate moves
Bank of Japan board member Hidehiko Haru said on Thursday 1 June that the central bank need not end its zero interest policy too fast, and must avoid surprising markets.
BOJ's Fukui sees slow rate rises
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui said the central bank would raise interest rates slowly and would proceed without focusing on one particular economic indicator, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday 1 June.
Russian reserves hit all time high
Russia's gold and foreign exchange reserves, boosted by record world oil prices, have touched an all-time high of $243.3 billion, the central bank said on Thursday 1 June.
Adviser says China should buy gold with reserves
China should use its foreign-currency reserves to buy gold and oil as a hedge to guard against the risk of a sudden drop in the U.S. dollar, according to a member of the central bank's advisory board.
Bernanke subcommittee to explore communication
Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke has called on three experienced Fed officials to explore a broad range of issues related to how the Fed talks to financial markets.
Bank of Jamaica to stick with US dollar reserves
The governor of the Bank of Jamaica, Derick Latibeaudiere, has said that the central bank will continue to maintain Jamaica's net international reserves (NIR) in U.S. dollars.
Former Fed chair Volcker faults US policy
Former chairman of the Federal Reserve Paul Volcker has said US policy abroad is too abrasive.
PBOC to increase yuan flexibility
The People's Bank of China said in its first quarter monetary report that it will increase the flexibility of the yuan's exchange rate mechanism and intervene less in determining the currency's value.
ECB's Wellink says ECB should raise rates
European Central Bank council member Nout Wellink said in an interview that interest rates need to be increased because of rising inflation expectations.
Japan's Tanigaki sees continuity with Paulson
Japanese Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki said Wednesday 31 May that he does not believe, at least for now, that there will be a change in the U.S. foreign exchange policy under Treasury Secretary nominee Henry Paulson.
RBA's Stevens calls for continuity
Glenn Stevens, deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, has called for "continuity" above all else when it comes to finding a replacement for governor Ian Macfarlane in September.
New Zealand hosts EMEAP central bank governors
Central bank governors from major countries in the region gathered in New Zealand over the weekend to discuss common issues, Reserve Bank of New Zealand governor Alan Bollard said Monday 29 May.
IMF names Liam P. Ebrill as HR director
Rodrigo de Rato, Managing Director of the IMF, on Friday 26 May named Liam P. Ebrill to the position of Director of the Human Resources Department to succeed Jorge Marquez-Ruarte.
IMF's Rato offers condolences after earthquake
Rodrigo de Rato, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, made a statement offering his deepest condolences on Sunday 28 May regarding the earthquake affecting Indonesia.
ECB's Issing warns against EMU 'tensions'
European Central Bank chief economist Otmar Issing is warning against "tensions" in the European monetary union, according to an interview published in Handelsblatt on Monday 29 May.
Fukui says zero rate policy depends on economy
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui said in parliamentary testimony on Tuesday 30 May that ending the central bank's zero interest rate policy depends on economic growth and inflation.
BoE's Blanchflower approved by committee
The parliamentary Treasury Select Committee endorsed on Tuesday 30 May David Blanchflower's appointment to the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee.
Bush nominates Henry Paulson as Treasury Secretary
US President George W. Bush on Tuesday 30 May said he would appoint Hank Paulson, chief executive of Goldman Sachs, to take over from John Snow as treasury secretary.
Russian central bank to manage state oil fund
Russia's central bank has been given the green light to manage the state's fund of oil profits, the Russian minister of finance, Alexey Kudrin, announced earlier this week.
Central bankers eye Norway's clarity on rates
According to this article published by the Financial Times on Friday 26 May, Norges Bank's "subversive" transparency is attracting a great deal of attention in central banking circles.
PBOC's Tang says China may not tighten further
China may not need to tighten its macro-economic policy further in the near future, Tang Xu, the director of the People's Bank of China's research bureau, said in an interview published in the official Shanghai Securities News.
UAE offers training to central bank of Afghanistan
The central bank of the UAE on Thursday 25 May offered to provide the central bank of Afghanistan with technical training for its staff, the Khaleej Times reported.