News
Botswana's rates cut to 14.4%
The Bank of Botswana has cut the country's interest rates by 50 basis points to 14.5%, on the improved outlook for inflation.
"Ominous" fall in German's business confidence
Confidence among Germany's businesses fell in June, but opinions were split as to what this meant for the outlook for the economy.
Russian central bank cuts discount rate
The central bank of Russia cut its discount rate from 10.5% to 10% on 19 June.
IMF mulls currency surveillance tools
Rodrigo de Rato, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund says the Fund will soon announce more details above its new surveillance system for foreign exchange policies, which will make clear to member countries what is "acceptable to the…
Polish watchdog merger in doubt, says report
Slawomir Skrzypek, the President of the National Bank of Poland, has proposed a delay in the government's plan to merge the banking regulator into the wider-ranging finance industry watchdog, according to newspaper reports.
ECB's Weber acknowledges risks to price stability
Risks to price stability will continue while the average inflation rate in 2007 and 2008 are above the European Central Bank's inflation guidelines, Axel Weber a member of the central bank's governing council said in an interview over the weekend.
Chinese regulator fines lenders
Two of the major commercial banks in China and six other financial institutions will be fined for lending money used by two state companies to buy stocks and real estate, despite official efforts to step up the regulation of state-owned banks and the…
Kenya's central bank cuts key rate to 8.5%
The Central Bank of Kenya cut one of its key interest rates to 8.5 from 10% in an attempt move it further in line with other policy rates.
RBNZ intervenes in currency market again - traders
Foreign currency traders say that the Reserve Bank of New Zealand again intervened in the market on 18 June. This follows a statement by the central bank last week acknowledging that it had done so for the first time since it set up a fund for…
Japanese rates on hold
The Bank of Japan's Monetary Policy Committee decided on 15 June, by a unanimous vote, to leave interest rates at 0.5%.
Banks still matter most - Bernanke
Federal Reserve Chairman, Ben Bernanke, says the Fed has retained the ability to control financing costs, despite the fact that nonbank lenders and capital markets have replaced banks as sources of credit for many households and businesses.
Rates on hold in Chile
Chile's central bank held its overnight lending rate unchanged for a fifth month in a row, but suggested that higher interest rates may be necessary later this year as inflation accelerates.
Polish governor on inflation, euro entry
Polish inflation is under control and the immediate outlook does not give the National Bank much cause for concern, the central bank's governor, Slawomir Skrzypek, said on 15 June.
Brown promises transparency on MPC appointments
Gordon Brown, Britain's Prime Minister designate, has vowed to make the process of appointing the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee members more transparent, including an open invitation to candidates.
Russian central bank to keep profits
Amendments to the Russian central bank law have been sent from the State Duma to the government for conciliation. If approved, the amendments will cancel the requirement that the central bank transfers 50% of its annual profits to the federal budget.
New head for Boston Fed
Eric Rosengren will become president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston on 23 July. He will succeed Cathy Minehan who retires after 13 years as president of the Boston Fed, and nearly 40 years of service in the Federal…
No need for currency intervention - Dodge
The governor of the Bank of Canada says there is no justification for active market intervention by the central bank to sway the recent strengthening of the Canadian dollar.
SNB raises rates, sells gold
The Swiss National Bank has raised interest rates by 25 basis points to 2.5% on 14 July. The central also announced that it will sell 250 tonnes of gold and increase its foreign exchange reserves by a corresponding amount.
"I'm still around," Gono warns currency dealers
The Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, Gideon Gono, has had to dismiss rumours that he is in bad health after illegal foreign currency dealers celebrated his alleged demise.
Stevens raises inflation spectre
Inflation is more likely to rise during 2008 than to recede, according to Glenn Stevens, the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia.
Conservatives want one-term limit for BoE governor
Britain's opposition Conservative Party is considering a one-term limit for the governor of the Bank of England, a policy that would mark the biggest change in the framework for monetary policy since the bank was made independent in 1997.
Thailand CB hunts ex-PM's missing money
The governor of the Bank of Thailand, Tarisa Watanagase, says the central bank is currently investigating what happened to the money recently withdrawn from the accounts of disposed prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra. The governor believes the money has…
Bond yields tighten on rate fears
The world's leading bond markets continued to tighten on 13 June, with benchmark yields reaching multi-year highs as the market responds to the threat of rising interest rates from central banks around the world.
FSA warns on private equity
The British Financial Services Authority (FSA) has voiced concerns over the "excessive level" of debt private equity firms use to buy out public companies.