News
Pension plans could limit Greek independence: ECB
The European Central Bank (ECB) has spoken out against the plans to reform Greece's pension system, which sparked a strike at the country's central bank earlier this month.
FSA to launch probe as Bank counters HBOS rumours
The British financial regulator has confirmed that it is to investigate share dealing made on the back of rumours that HBOS, a British bank, was short of liquidity. The Bank of England has also taken the highly unusual step of calling the British press…
South African politicians want say on rate votes
Lawmakers have called on the South African Reserve Bank to take their opinions into account when setting rates.
Turkey keeps rates on hold
The Central Bank of Turkey has left rates unchanged for the first time in seven months.
Japan without a governor as Fukui steps down
Political squabbling has left the Bank of Japan leaderless at a time of heightened global uncertainty.
April rate cut more likely on back of BoE minutes
Market expectations of an April rate cut rose after the publication of the minutes of the Bank of England's latest Monetary Policy Committee meeting.
Nepalese governor found guilty of corruption
Bijaya Nath Bhattarai, the governor of the Nepal Rastra Bank, has been found guilty of corruption and sacked, media reports said on Wednesday 19 March.
Global warming to exacerbate price pressures
Christian Noyer, the governor of the Banque de France has warned that climate change is set to compound inflationary pressures.
Georgia holds rates at 11%
The National Bank of Georgia on Wednesday 19 March kept rates on hold, after hiking by a full percentage point last month.
Japanese opposition likely to reject nominee
As Toshihiko Fukui prepares to step down on Wednesday 19 March, a rudderless Bank of Japan looked a near certainty after the Democratic Party of Japan, the country's main opposition party, indicated it would veto the government's latest choice for…
UK inflation jumps to 2.5%
British inflation rose by 0.3 percentage points in the year to February, an increase that was widely expected after the Bank of England said last month that price growth was set to accelerate over the next quarter. Changes to the way in which the measure…
Overnight rate unchanged despite BoE injection
The Bank of England's attempt to lower sterling short-term interbank borrowing costs by adding £5 billion ($10 billion) to the money markets looks to have failed.
Reserve ratio up as Zhou hints at PBC hike
The People's Bank of China on Wednesday 18 March demanded that banks hold more cash in its coffers as Zhou Xiaochuan, the governor of the central bank, indicated rate rises were likely.
Fed opts for 75 basis-point cut
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) on Wednesday 18 March voted to slash rates by three quarters of a percentage point to 2.25%.
Fed works over weekend to counter market stress
The Federal Reserve took its fourth emergency action in ten days on Sunday 16 March, cutting the rate at which it offers discount window funds and attempting to boost trading in securitisation markets.
Old Lady adds an extra £5bn
The Bank of England injected £5 billion ($10 billion) into the money markets on Monday 17 March after overnight interbank rates shot up on the back of Bear Stearns's collapse.
Beijing reappoints Zhou
After months of deliberation, the Chinese authorities on Monday approved the reappointment of Zhou Xiaochuan as governor of the People's Bank of China.
DSK praises central banks
The European Central Bank (ECB) and the US Federal Reserve received plaudits from Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund, on Monday 17 March.
Fed credibility at risk, warn commentators
Economic commentators have largely slammed the raft of measures that the Federal Reserve has introduced over the past ten days.
Fed funds Bear Stearns on liquidity fears
The Federal Reserve on Friday 14 March agreed to provide emergency funding to Bear Stearns, a troubled investment bank.
SWFs a force for stability, says BoE's Gieve
Sovereign wealth fund investment will help temper volatility in equity markets, Sir John Gieve, the deputy governor at the Bank of England responsible for financial stability, said.
US should start a SWF: ex-Wyoming treasurer
The US should use its revenue from mineral reserves to start a sovereign wealth fund, said Cynthia Lummis, a former state treasurer for Wyoming, at Central Banking Publications' Sovereign Wealth Management conference.
UK inflation expectations surge to record high
The British public expects prices to rise by 3.3% over the next 12 months, their highest-ever estimate.
Chile keeps rates at six-year high
The Central Bank of Chile held rates at 6.25% for the second month in a row.