News
Fed looks to stabilise economy with rate hold
Against a backdrop of mounting concern over the health of the American economy, the Federal Reserve decided to leave its federal funds rate at 5.25% yesterday.
BoE inflation report suggests rate hike
The Bank of England looks set to raise rates to 6%, after its August inflation report, released on 8 August, indicated that further hikes were needed to bring inflation down towards the 2% target.
India limits overseas borrowing
In an attempt to stem the rise in the rupee, the Reserve Bank of India said that companies borrowing overseas cannot remit more than $20 million to India in a single financial year.
Slovenia's Kranjec: subprime may hurt EU
Marko Kranjec, the governor of the Bank of Slovenia, has said the US subprime mortgage crisis could affect eurozone consumer demand. His comments appear to contradict those of other members of the European Central Bank's (ECB) governing board.
China set to inject $60 billion in state banks
The People's Bank of China will inject $60 billion of its vast foreign exchange reserves into two state banks through its Central Huijin Investment arm.
Indonesia holds rates
After two 25 basis point cuts in as many months, Bank Indonesia decided today to hold its benchmark interest rates at 8.25%
Mboweni predicts interest rate increase
Tito Mboweni, the governor of the Reserve Bank of South Africa, says the central bank is more likely to raise interest rates than reduce them at its policy meeting next week.
Korea plans new high-denomination banknotes
The Bank of Korea has drawn up a pool of ten historic figures for the design of its new 50,000 and 100,000 won banknotes, scheduled to debut in early 2009.
Burundian central bank chief arrested
Isaac Bizimana, the governor of the Bank of Burundi, was arrested Saturday 4 August on suspicion of embezzlement. The alleged embezzlement involves payments made to Interpetrol, an oil company, between 1996 and 2002.
South African inflation target band remains
The South African Reserve Bank's current inflation target band of 3% to 6% will be maintained despite criticism from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), finance minister Trevor Manuel announced on Monday 6 August.
Czech central bank predicts further rate hikes
The Czech National Bank will increase interest rates if its macroeconomic forecast is correct, minutes of latest policy meeting, released on Friday 3 August, revealed.
Philippines to hold rates
Amando Tetangco, governor of the Central Bank of the Philippines, hinted that interest rates would remain unchanged for the foreseeable future.
Polish inflation to stay below 3.5% until 2009
Slawomir Skrzypek, the governor of the National Bank of Poland, says inflation will not top 3.5% in the next two years. Interest rates, he added, should remain unchanged as a result.
Calls for New Zealand to drop inflation target
The New Zealand stock exchange operator, New Zealand Exchange (NZX), has called for on the country's central bank to abandon its strict inflation target. Michael Cullen, the finance minister, called the suggestion "very interesting and very well…
Singaporean wealth fund warns of protectionism
One of Singapore's state investment companies, Temasek Holdings, says it is concerned about the threat of protectionist backlash against sovereign wealth funds.
Mboweni dismisses calls for intervention
The governor of the South African Reserve Bank, Tito Mboweni, dismissed the suggestion of a group a renowned economic advisors to the government.
Peruvian rates on hold
Peru's central bank kept interest rates unchanged on 2 August, after last month's unexpected rate rise.
Bank of Korea to restrict foreign borrowing
The Bank of Korea is about to impose new restriction on the amount of foreign currency borrowing South Korean companies can undertake.
Trichet signals September hike
The European Central Bank (ECB) today left interest rates unchanged at 4%. In a surprise press conference after the announcement, Jean-Claude Trichet, the president of the central bank, dropped a strong hint that rates will rise at the next meeting in…
Bank of England leaves rates unchanged
The Bank of England today announced that it would leave its benchmark interest rate at 5.75%. The decision to hold rates steady was widely expected, though most economists expect rates to rise to 6% before the end of this year.
Poole says Fed should not react to volatility
William Poole, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis, says there is no need for the Fed to react immediately to recent volatility in the financial markets.
Malawi makes first rate cut in three years
The Reserve Bank of Malawi, the country's central bank, reduced its bank rate to 17.5% from 20% yesterday, encouraged by falling inflation and a strong economic turnaround.
Bernanke's prudent investments
Ben Bernanke, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, is a cautious investor, which a portfolio of financial assets consisting of mostly US Treasury securities, mutual funds and annuities.
Italian government eyes reserves for debt payment
The Italian government is proposing to use part of the central bank's gold and currency reserves to pay down national debt, which is currently at 107% of the country's gross national product. The country's parliament has approved a resolution calls for…