Opinion
Comment: Comparing policy structures
The IMF yesterday released a working paper surveying the governance and decision-making structures of inflation-targeting central banks.
Why has gold been rising?
With gold reaching a near-18 year high in trading, this article published on Monday 26 September says gold bugs are now enthusiastically talking of $500 an ounce and beyond.
Comment: What triggered global imbalances
Ian Macfarlane, the governor of the Australian Reserve Bank, yesterday provided a fascinating analysis of the causes of the macroeconomic imbalances that plague the global economy at present. His analysis of the causes also bears important implications…
The ECB: Villain, or a savior of Europe?
According to this article published on Saturday 24 September, the challenges facing the European Central Bank are particularly acute, with the ECB under fire for refusing to deviate from its inflation-fighting mandate in order to stoke growth through…
Comment: The IMF ducks challenges
The meeting of the IMF, the World Bank and G7 finance ministers and central bankers have as usual afforded influential international policymakers the opportunity to reflect on the role of these international institutions. Key is the role of the IMF.
Comment: Chinese gradualism
The invitation of China's finance minister and central bank governor to the G7 meeting in Washington this week would have dispelled any suggestion that "yuan politics" would not be a major talking point. But has anything new actually been said? The…
China's bonding experience gains some speed
This article published on Monday 19 September asks whether China, Asia's No.2 economy, can reach its potential without a bond market. The good news is that efforts to create one are gaining momentum, it says.
Comment: Persaud on Asian reserve diversification
The real problem with global imbalances is neither Asian manipulation of exchange rates nor an Asian savings "glut" which only American consumption can offset, said Avinash Persaud, presenting the latest CEPR report.
Is fiscal policy inflationary? Just ask the Fed
This article published on Wednesday 21 September asks whether US fiscal policy is about to upend the bond market? Market participants may well associate bad news on the economy with an increase in fiscal spending and lower bond prices, it says.
Comment: IMF on inflation targeting
The IMF's World Economic Outlook, published Wednesday 21 September, makes the contentious assertion that "it does not appear to be necessary" for emerging market economies considering the adoption of fully-fledges inflation targeting, to meet key…
'Watershed' yuan revaluation has made few waves
According to this article Wednesday 21 September marked the two-month anniversary of China announcing it was de-linking its currency from the U.S. dollar. But the Chinese currency has barely budged beyond the initial rise of about 2 per cent, it says.
IMF's clout and relevance wane
As finance ministers and central bankers from around the world gather in Washington this week for the IMF's annual meetings, the organization finds its relevance waning, this article published on Monday 19 September reports. The Fund may need to define a…
Is the ringgit ripe for a rise? Market thinks so
While Malaysia has kept a tight grip on the ringgit since the currency's peg against the dollar was abandoned, this article says markets are starting to bet that high inflation could tempt authorities to relax their control.
Comment: Challenging 'received wisdom'
In delivering the Keynes Lecture in Economics at the British Academy on Tuesday, Bank of England MPC member, Professor Stephen Nickell, set out to refute two major areas of criticism of MPC's track-record over the last five years.
Mexico's financial regulator needs more autonomy
According to this article published on Monday 19 September, despite impressive progress more must be done if Mexico is to have a credible set of enforceable rules that assure economic stability.
Central Bank of Argentina - a changed view on gold
This article published Monday 19 September says the Central Bank of Argentina has now changed its philosophy and was a purchaser of gold during 2004 as it reshaped its portfolio and may consider taking more in the future along with other Latin American…
Comment: Gold stages a comeback
With the gold price hitting 18-year highs, it is about time there was serious re-thinking among central bankers with regards to holding gold as a part of their reserve portfolios.
Fed will raise rates and indicate more to come
According to an article published on Monday 19 September, the Federal Reserve's FOMC committee will increase interest rates on Tuesday, with financial markets gradually accepting that the effect of Hurricane Katrina won't deter them.
Central Europe: What's delaying the euro
Momentum in Central Europe to adopt the euro as soon as possible has diminished, this article reports. The big obstacle, it says, is budget deficits.
Comment: Divergence and monetary policy
The issue of regional economic divergence continues to attract much attention from policymakers and academics studying the eurozone. The issue is particularly important for the ECB, as it is often mentioned that divergent economic performance across…
China's forex regime poses fresh puzzle
An article published on Tuesday 13 September says China's new rules for its currency regime could mean the country may be forced to battle the nearly $2 trillion-a-day global forex market to try to control the dollar, euro and yen exchange rates.
Comment: Managing Asian reserves
The accumulation of foreign-exchange reserves by Asian central banks is one of the most talked-about developments in international finance in recent years. Arguably, it is also one of the most misunderstood ones too - its causes and consequences being…
Uniform accounting rules face hurdles in Europe
This article published on Tuesday 13 September says that although the path to uniform and stricter global accounting rules is paved with good intentions, problems have arisen in Europe that could delay the adoption of parts of International Accounting…
The IMF must redefine its role to stay relevant
In a commentary published on Wednesday 14 September International Monetary Fund managing director Rodrigo de Rato said although globalisation has brought enormous benefits in growth and efficiency, cross-border financial crises have heightened the…