News
BOJ maintains policy, sees slight inflation
The Bank of Japan kept its ultra-loose monetary policy on Friday 29 October to support the economy and forecast there could be a slight rise in inflation next year, although that would not necessarily mean a change in its stance on interest rates, it…
NY Fed study warns on central bank asset buying
The New York Federal Reserve warned in a report on Thursday that U.S. interest rates would rise and the dollar would fall if Asian central banks slowed their recent heavy purchases of U.S. assets.
RBNZ increases OCR to 6.50 per cent
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand announced on Thursday 28 October that it has increased the Official Cash Rate from 6.25 per cent to 6.50 per cent.
Tanigaki says Japan's economy is recovering
Japanese Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki told parliament on Thursday 28 October that Japan's economy is on a recovery trend while deflation remains.
ECB's Garganas: little effect on exports from euro
European Central Bank council member Nicholas Garganas said in an interview the euro's appreciation against the dollar this month probably won't hurt European exports and will help offset the effects of surging oil prices on the economy.
China's central bank raises interest rates
The People's Bank of China on Thursday 28 October raised interest rates for the first time in nearly a decade to guide its heated economy to a path of slower growth.
Mexico's Ortiz sees inflation falling
Central bank Governor Guillermo Ortiz said on Wednesday 27 October that he expects Mexico's annual inflation rate to start declining in the second quarter of 2005, and the Banco de Mexico remains committed to fighting rising prices.
Snow says US economy on right path
The U.S. economy is on the right path, but obstacles including high oil prices, deficits and business caution stand in the way of full recovery, US Treasury Secretary John Snow said on Tuesday.
ECB's Weber says euro appreciation not justified
European Central Bank council member Axel Weber said Europe's single currency may have appreciated against the dollar more than can be justified by economic arguments.
Oil will not cause recession says Dallas Fed
Stephen Brown, the senior economist for the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas said Tuesday that high oil prices are unlikely to push the U.S. economy into a recession.
MEPs vote to alter report on ECB
Conservative and liberal MEPs voted Tuesday in Strasbourg to dramatically alter the French Green MEP Alain Lipietz's Report on the 2003 Annual Report of the European Central Bank to such an extent that the Rapporteur was forced to recommend a negative…
South Africa eases exchange controls
South African Finance Minister Trevor Manuel announced Tuesday that apartheid-era foreign exchange controls would be eased by scrapping the limits on how much companies can invest abroad.
ECB deplores attack on Hungarian cb independence
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet said late on Monday 25 October that the ECB considers the Hungarian government's proposal to increase its influence over the country's central bank as unacceptable.
BOJ's Fukui says prices just one hurdle
Core consumer prices at zero percent is only one hurdle the Bank of Japan will need to clear when deciding whether to stop its policy of keeping interest rates at almost zero, Governor Toshihiko Fukui said.
Malaysia issues new polymer notes
Bank Negara Malaysia has issued 80 million pieces of the more durable RM5 polymer banknotes for circulation nationwide, Bank Negara assistant governor Datuk Mohamad Daud Dol Moin said.
BNB gets observer status at ECB meetings
The Bulgarian central bank will receive an observer status in the European System of Central Banks and in the European Central Bank General Council, after the country signs its accession treaty with EU in 2005, the Central Bank's governor, Ivan Iskrov…
High oil prices to hit 2005 growth says EC report
High oil prices will dampen economic growth next year, according to a European Commission report published Tuesday 26 October.
UAE to host AGCC central bank
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will be home to the central bank of the six states in the Gulf Cooperation Council (AGCC) which are working to set up a monetary union next year, the Kuwaiti finance minister said on Sunday 24 October, according to AFP.
Iran to discuss central bank independence
"Iranian MPs are to discuss with bank experts the independence of Iran's Central Bank from the government and the Iranian government will comment on the plan in due time," said Heydar Mostakhdemin Husseini, Iran's Deputy Minister of Economics in legal…
China's PM warns of continued inflation risk
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao was cited as saying on Monday 25 October that high inflation and over-investment continue to pose significant risks to the economy and the government must ensure its cooling policies continue to take effect.
Prodi labels EU bid to catch US economy a failure
Europe's efforts to catch up to and then outpace the US economy have been "a big failure," the outgoing head of the European Union executive commission, Romano Prodi, told the Financial Times in an interview.
Bundesbank comments annoy German officials
The German government expressed annoyance at the Bundesbank on Thursday 21 October following a press report which suggested the German central bank was sceptical about Berlin's growth forecast for next year.
BoE's Lambert sees `low and stable' inflation
UK inflation probably will remain ``low and stable'' amid slowing economic expansion and subdued wage growth, Bank of England policy maker Richard Lambert said, indicating he sees little immediate need for higher interest rates.
Senate approves Azevedo as Brazil's mp director
Rodrigo Azevedo, the nominee for central bank of Brazil monetary policy director, told the senate this week he would seek to keep the currency stable and fight inflation.