European Central Bank (ECB)
ECB leaves rates on hold
After leaving interest rates unchanged on 5 June, European Central Bank (ECB) president, Jean-Claude Trichet, signalled that the central bank will hike rates again later this year.
Smaghi: challenges facing EU
"The EU (European Union) will be confronted with three major challenges: rapid technological change, globalisation and an ageing population," Lorenzo Bini Smaghi, member of the executive board, European Central Bank (ECB), said.
ECB's financial markets legislation
The European Central Bank (ECB) published "European Legislation on Financial Markets" on 3 July.
ECB's Smaghi: better communication on euro needed
"[The] euro area is fully equipped to manage its own currency ... [but] better discipline is required in the preparation of the euro area's position to ensure that a consistent message is sent to its partners," Lorenzo Bini Smaghi, member of the…
ECB's Gonzalez-Paramo on financial stability
In this speech delivered in Istanbul on 28 June 2007, Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Paramo, a member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank, admits that the "analytical foundations are relatively new, as evidenced by the absence of a universally…
Eurozone business confidence remains high
Recovery in the eurozone remains on track and economic confidence dipped only slightly this month, according to the European Commission. Inflation remained steady at 1.9% in June, within the ECB's target range, according to a separate estimate by…
Inflationary pressures building - Fund
Inflationary pressures are "definitely building up" according to Simon Johnson, economic counsellor and director of research with the International Monetary Fund.
ECB independence not in question - Juncker
Jean-Claude Juncker, the president and minister of finance of Luxembourg, said on 27 June that the finance ministers of the eurozone do not question the independence of the ECB.
ECB on euro bonds and derivatives
The European Central Bank (ECB) has published a report on "The euro bonds and derivatives markets" on 26 June.
ECB's Bini Smaghi on euro entry
In this speech ECB executive board member, Lorenzo Bini Smaghi, argues that there is "evidence that the euro may be setting in motion some endogenous process, moving the euro area progressively closer to the concept of an optimum currency area."
New governor for Slovenian central bank
After a months-long deadlock the parliament of Slovenia has finally approved a new central bank governor. The new governor is Marko Kranjec, an economics professor and financial expert who was the country's first finance minister.
"Ominous" fall in German's business confidence
Confidence among Germany's businesses fell in June, but opinions were split as to what this meant for the outlook for the economy.
ECB's Weber acknowledges risks to price stability
Risks to price stability will continue while the average inflation rate in 2007 and 2008 are above the European Central Bank's inflation guidelines, Axel Weber a member of the central bank's governing council said in an interview over the weekend.
ECB's June Financial Stability Review
The European Central Bank published its June 2007 Financial Stability Review on 15 June. The report notes that "profitability in both the banking and insurance sectors has been improving" and "the financial system was again tested by the third…
Examining monetary policy press conferences
This ECB working paper studies how explanations of monetary policy decisions at press conferences are perceived by financial markets, and finds that ECB press conferences provide substantial additional information to financial markets beyond that…
Bond yields tighten on rate fears
The world's leading bond markets continued to tighten on 13 June, with benchmark yields reaching multi-year highs as the market responds to the threat of rising interest rates from central banks around the world.
ECB's Papademos: globalisation and monetary policy
Globalisation has not made monetary policy less effective in containing inflation, Lucas Papademos, vice president of the European Central Bank argued, during a speech he made on 11 June.
German parliament approves Bundesbank board cuts
The upper house of the German parliament has approved legislation to allow two seats to be cut from the board of the Deutsche Bundesbank, the country's central bank.
ECB: Inflation-linked bonds benefit central banks
In a recent occasional working paper the European Central Bank argues that "the issuance of inflation-linked bonds has explicit benefits for central banks."
Cyprus surprises with unchanged repo rate
The Central Bank of Cyprus has raised the interest rate on its marginal lending facility and on the overnight deposit facility by 25 basis points. However, the rate on the central bank's main refinancing operations (repo rate) remains unchanged at 4.5%.
ECB lifts rates to 4%
The European Central Bank has raised its key interest rates by 25 basis points to 4%, taking rates in the eurozone to their highest level for six years. This latest increase means that interest rates have doubled in 18 months.
No more gold sales for ECB
The European Central Bank announced on 1 July that it has no intention to sell more gold this year.
Euro lending and money growth slows
The European Central Bank's current tightening cycle appears to be starting to make its mark. Mortgage lending growth in the eurozone has slowed to the lowest for more than three years.
Bini Smaghi on "secondary objectives"
In his speech 'With or Without Prejudice to Price Stability? , Lorenzo Bini Smaghi, a member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank, discusses what the central bank can do to achieve its so-called secondary objectives of monetary policy.