Opinion
Int'l payment systems expand presence in Russia
This article published on Monday 3 October reports that payment systems have achieved notable success in Russia but operate differently than in most other markets.
Comment: IMF under fire again
Writing in the Financial Times yesterday eminent economist, Michael Mussa, who served as economic counsellor and director of the department of research at the International Monetary Fund from 1991-2001, joined the chorus of voices arguing that the Fund…
ECB's power over market inflation outlook queried
According to this article published on Friday 30 September, the European Central Bank may have less control over financial markets' inflation expectations than it thinks, despite its increased rhetoric about the importance of keeping them under control.
High time for a single GCC currency
This article published on Thursday 29 September notes that there has been a fair amount of scepticism towards the proposed Gulf single currency, and says that for the currency union to be effective, there will need to be a single independent central bank…
Comment: When will Basel II bite
The Basel committee's members are committed to implement their new capital accord in just 15 months. The basic framework should go live on January 1, 2007; with the most advanced approaches following at the end of 2008. But what about those non-member…
Italy should leave a horse's head on Fazio's bed
According to this article published on Tuesday 27 September, by now Bank of Italy governor Antonio Fazio's career prospects should make Kate Moss look like employee of the year. Instead, he still has a job for life under Italian law, it says.
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.