News
Japan's former economy minister wins seat
Former Japanese economy minister Heizo Takenaka won his first parliamentary election this week and said on Monday 12 July that he aims to get Japan's growth back on track.
EMEAP - Eurosystem high level seminar in Singapore
Eleven Central Bank Governors from the Executives' Meeting of East Asia-Pacific (EMEAP), the President of the European Central Bank and twelve Governors from the Eurosystem National Central Banks held a joint high-level seminar in Singapore on 16 July.
Brazil to propose central bank autonomy in 2005
Brazils government will present a proposal to grant the Central Bank autonomy by 2005, Finance Minister Antonio Palocci was quoted as saying in the Friday July 16 edition of the Financial Times.
Trichet confident Asian growth remains on track
ECB chief Jean-Claude Trichet was in Singapore on Friday 16 July for a meeting with East Asia-Pacific central bank governors. Trichet said he is confident that the global interest rate environment remains benign and regional growth, led by China, is…
Japan 'half way' to overcoming deflation
While deflation has shown signs of easing in Japan, rising raw material prices still haven't affected consumer goods, signalling that price declines will continue, Japan's Cabinet Office said in its white paper on the economy.
Eurozone inflation eases to 2.4% in June
Eurozone inflation fell slightly in June to 2.4 percent on a 12-month basis from 2.5 percent in May, final data from the EU's statistical office Eurostat showed on Friday 16 July.
Polish finance minister resigns to join IMF
Polish Prime Minister Marek Belka said that Finance Minister Andrzej Raczko was leaving the government for a post at the International Monetary Fund and would be replaced on Wednesday by the economist Miroslaw Gronicki, AFP reported Friday.
Central bank staff may okay job action in Israel
The Bank of Israel labor union will meet next week to officially approve "lengthy strikes," Haaretz reported Friday 16 July. Central bank employees struck for one day last May.
Meyer's book lifts lid on life inside the Fed
Former Federal Reserve governor Laurence Meyer's new book reveals some insights on life inside the Fed. This review says Meyer was advised against saying anything in a speech that might move financial markets. In the book, Meyer writes that Chairman Alan…
Bank of Japan Monthly Report, July 2004
The Bank of Japan released the English version of its monthly report on 15 July. Japan's economy continues to recover, with the increase in production and corporate profits exerting positive effects on employment, the central bank said.
Issing says ECB must check inflation expectations
European Central Bank Chief Economist Otmar Issing said it's important for the bank to prevent expectations of inflation from rising excessively, the Nihon Keizai newspaper said, citing an interview with Issing.
Bank of France raises growth forecast
The Bank of France raised its forecast for growth in the second and third quarters as June retail sales surged, manufacturers lifted production, and executives' confidence was its highest in more than three years.
Banking crisis declining says Russia's Ignatyev
Russian Central Bank Chairman Sergei Ignatyev said on Thursday 15 July that he believes the banking crisis is declining. "I believe the trust crisis is over. It is very important now to ensure higher activity on the inter-bank loan market," he said.
RBA says credit card reforms working
Shopkeepers stood to save $430 million a year from lower credit card costs after the Reserve Bank stepped in to regulate fees, the RBA said in its July Bulletin released Thursday.
Fed watching prices closely says Santomero
The Federal Reserve is closely watching price increases in various industries, Philadelphia Fed President Anthony Santomero said on US television.
Dallas Fed's McTeer - Inflation rise likely a blip
Increases in US inflation recently may prove to be a blip but the Federal Reserve needs two to three more months of data before it can make this judgment, Dallas Fed president Bob McTeer said on Tuesday 13 July.
Fed's Hoenig sees US inflation staying in 2% range
U.S. inflation should remain contained despite strong growth, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City President Thomas Hoenig said on Tuesday 14 July.
House prices likely to grow slowly Fed study shows
House prices in the US are likely to grow at the slowest pace in more than three decades as interest rates climb and land prices take a tumble over the next three years, researchers at the Federal Reserve have estimated in a new study.
Chirac calls on ECB to consider Europe's growth
The European Central Bank should not limit its role to controlling inflation and should review its mission so that it can take into consideration Europe's growth, French President Jacques Chirac said on Wednesday 14 July .
ECB on Court of Justice decision on Pact
The European Central Bank (ECB) said in a statement released Tuesday 13 July that it takes note of the judgement by the Court of Justice on the Council's actions of 25 November 2003.
Moroccan law gives central bank more independence
Morocco's Lower house has adopted by a majority vote a bill regarding amendments to the status of Bank Al Maghrib, the central bank, which will grant it more autonomy, MAP news agency reported.
Snow says terror threat hangs over US economy
The potential for more terror attacks is a risk to the U.S. economy that requires vigilance against any bid to weaken measures for investigating suspicious money transactions, U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow said on Tuesday 13 July.
Noyer says ECB rate can't stay low forever
Bank of France governor Christian Noyer said in an interview that the ECB's interest rates are appropriate, but that financial markets should not expect them to remain low forever.
Iran's Sheybani stresses use of modern technology
Ebrahim Sheybani, the governor of the central bank of Iran, told a seminar on Saturday 10 July that implementing policies to use modern technology with the aim of expanding non-oil exports sector would act as an impetus for higher economic growth and…