Opinion
Comment: Central bank governance
Seigniorage revenues have become more important to central banks as many of these institutions are feeling the squeeze financially. How these revenues are spent depend critically on sound governance structures and independence. These are the conclusions…
Comment: Small steps or big bang?
A recent collection of papers published by the Bank for International Settlement (BIS) adopts a cautious line in advocating inflation targeting for poor African countries, which may lack the "preconditions" for the regime.
Comment: Scorecard for the euro
When the single European currency was launched, its expected boost to trade was one of, if not the main, benefits promised. Two recent studies question whether this promise has been met.
Comment: Noyer takes Kroes to task
The Bank of France governor, Christian Noyer, said on 18 July that the European Commission is "playing a very dangerous game" in attempting to break open the European credit card market. How legitimate are his concerns?
Comment: Bernanke focuses on risks
In his remarks following the delivery of the Fed's semi-annual monetary policy to Congress, Fed chairman, Ben Bernanke, adopted an approach very much in keeping with his predecessor, Alan Greenspan. What does this mean for the Fed's inflation targeting…
Comment: Rethinking financial stability reporting
The Bank of England recently unveiled its revamped Financial Stability Report. Starting with the title of the publication, the Bank has taken a new approach to both the presentation of report and its content. The changes are an effort to focus the report…
Comment: More pounds in their pockets
According to the most recent IMF data on reserve holdings, the pound sterling has surpassed the yen as the third most popular reserve currency. A number of factors could see the pound's popularity increase further.
Comment: A new era for the BoJ
As expected the Bank of Japan raised interest rates for the first time since March 2001 at its monetary policy meeting on 14 July. The decision to end the zero interest rate policy (ZIRP) with a 25 basis point hike in the overnight rate was unanimous one.
Comment: Will McCreevy's approach work?
The European commissioner for internal market and services, Charlie McCreevy, has called for an industry-driven "code of conduct" to reduce the costs of European cross-border settlement and clearing, rather than propose a directive. Will his famous light…
Comment: Left out in the cold
While Slovenia celebrates its imminent entry to the eurozone, the Baltic aspirants can feel more than a little peeved by Brussels' handling of their efforts to join the club.
Comment: Is the Fed's message getting clearer?
The chairman of the US Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke, has received much criticism for allegedly failing to explain the Fed's view to markets clearly. Are there signs that after a shaky start, Bernanke is starting to get his message across more clearly?
Comment: Dutch banks lose on payments
A recent report by McKinsey, a consulting firm, finds that Dutch banks are losing money on processing payments. Moreover, the report suggests that margins will be under even greater pressure as banks have to implement a plethora of new regulations.
Comment: LCH.Clearnet chief departs
After months of speculation that his days were numbered, David Hardy resigned as chief executive of LCH.Clearnet on 5 July. The announcement was met with an air of inevitability. The episode raises some fundamental questions about the European clearing…
Comment: The ECB's gamble
The president of the ECB, Jean-Claude Trichet, has announced that the central bank will take the highly unusually step of meeting in person on 3 August, rather than conduct the scheduled conference call. In doing so, Trichet has effectively pre-announced…
Comment: All eyes on Trichet
All but two of the 43 economists polled by Bloomberg recently expect the European Central Bank (ECB) to keep interest rates at 2.75% this week. All eyes will, however, be on the central bank's president, Jean-Claude Trichet, to see if he alludes to the…
ANALYSIS: The irresistible rise of e-trading
Technological innovations are making electronic trading the method of choice - even in assets where floor-based trading looked set to dominate. Resisting technology can prove costly for the world's more established exchanges.
Comment: Bernanke's ally
The nomination of Frederic Mishkin to fill one of the two vacant seats on the Fed's board of governors will bolster the chairman, Ben Bernanke, in his attempts to quantify the central bank's inflation objective and move towards a more rule-based monetary…
Comment: Talking points in June
June has been a particularly eventful one for many emerging markets, with talk of increase risk aversion and reduced international liquidity driving a reversal of market sentiment towards emerging market currencies. The month also saw some important…
Comment: When 364 economists were wrong
It is rare to find two economists who can agree on anything, but in 1981 no less than 364 British economists agreed to write an open letter condemning the tightness of that year's budget. Amongst them: a certain Mervyn King.
Comment: Passing the buck
The current outcry over American intelligence officials' access to private information linked to international money transfers has raised some thorny issues over who regulates the international messaging and financial telecommunications group, SWIFT.
Comment: Bold CBT holds its breath
After another emergency meeting over the weekend the Central Bank of Turkey has raised interest rates by 225 basis points (bp). This has taken interest rates to 17.25%, following an initial hike of 175 bp earlier this month. Will this bold move make any…
Comment: Wanted: experienced US central banker
The perception of a "Fed in flux" has been strengthened by the departure of two more senior officials. With the unprecedented rate of turnover in personnel, the Fed now appears somewhat short of experience. Chairman Ben Bernanke's job could be made…
Comment: Vacant BoE MPC seats
Following the sad and unexpected news of the death of David Walton, a member of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee, the British Treasury has yet another appointment to make.
Comment: Uganda eyes inflation target
The Bank of Uganda will implement an inflation-targetting framework in the near future, the governor of the central bank, Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile, told CentralBankNews.com. Only a lack of adequate and timely data is holding it back.