European Central Bank (ECB)
Trichet on activism & alertness in monetary policy
In the speech 'Activism and alertness in monetary policy' given on 8 June Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said we are not in a position that we would judge "abnormal", in the sense that we would have to increase as rapidly as possible our interest rates…
ECB's Papademos on central banks in 21st century
In the speech 'Central banks in the 21st century' given on 8 June Lucas Papademos of the ECB said he agrees that asset price bubbles are difficult to identify in real time and are thus often only identified ex post.
Weber: Rate moves not subject to FX considerations
Bundesbank president and European Central Bank council member Axel Weber said Friday 9 June that the ECB cannot make interest rate decisions with reference to the level of the euro.
Comment: Papademos on asset bubbles
In a speech in Madrid last week, the ECB vice-president, Lucas Papademos, drew a line of distinction between the ECB's policy on asset prices and that of the US Fed. In doing so he sought to communicate that the Issing legacy is firmly in tact.
ECB publishes SIPS report
On 31 May 2006, the Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) approved the "Business continuity oversight expectations for systemically important payment systems (SIPS)" report (published Friday 9 June).
Comment: Rates on the up
Monetary policymakers from Mumbia to Madrid to Pretoria stepped firmly on the monetary brakes yesterday, with no less than six central banks hiking rates.
ECB raises rates, sees further hikes ahead
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet said Thursday 8 June that the ECB is likely to raise interest rates again in future if the euro zone economy continues to recover.
ECB's Tumpel-Gugerell on SEPA
In the speech 'What is the outlook for the Single European Payments Area (SEPA)?' given on 7 June Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell of the ECB said the project is on track and many hands are needed for making the SEPA vision reality.
Trichet warns on 'excessive dynamism' in prices
European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet said on Monday 5 June it was important to take into consideration "excessive dynamism" in asset prices because of the potential inflationary effects.
ECB reshuffle aims for collegiate mood
According to the article "ECB reshuffle aims for collegiate mood and focus on policy" published by the FT on Friday 2 June, the European Central Bank has divided the role of its chief economist in a move that will allow an evolution in ECB thinking and…
Comment: Surprises as ECB reshuffles
The ECB last week surprised analysts by naming ex-Bundesbank official, Jurgen Stark, as head of its economics division. As expected, the central bank has split the management roles for the important divisions of economics and research, both previously…
Interview with Otmar Issing
In an interview published Thursday 1 June, outgoing ECB chief economist Otmar Issing said his parting message to his ECB colleagues was to get to grips with inflation.
ECB plans meetings in Dublin, Vienna in 2007
The European Central Bank said on Friday 2 June that it will hold meetings of its governing council in Dublin and Vienna next year.
ECB announces distribution of responsibilities
Within the framework of its collective responsibility for the overall functioning of the business areas of the European Central Bank, the Executive Board of the ECB agreed Thursday 1 June on a distribution of responsibilities among its members, with…
Which news moves the euro area bond market?
This ECB Working Paper explores a long dataset (1999-2005) of intraday prices on German long-term bond futures and examines market responses to major macroeconomic announcements and ECB monetary policy releases.
Comment: Replacing Issing
Pressure is mounting on the ECB to finalise the reshuffle of its executive board, necessitated by the departure of its chief economist and head of research, Otmar Issing, this week. The absence of any official announcements on the matter is leading to…
ECB's Wellink says ECB should raise rates
European Central Bank council member Nout Wellink said in an interview that interest rates need to be increased because of rising inflation expectations.
ECB paper on catching-up member states
The ECB Working Paper "Implications of monetary union for catching-up member states," published May 2006, examines the implications of monetary union for macroeconomic stabilisation in catching up participating countries.
ECB's Issing warns against EMU 'tensions'
European Central Bank chief economist Otmar Issing is warning against "tensions" in the European monetary union, according to an interview published in Handelsblatt on Monday 29 May.
ECB's Papademos on globalisation, inflation
In the speech 'Globalisation, inflation, imbalances and monetary policy' given on 25 May Lucas Papademos of the ECB said that globalisation had helped contain prices in the past, but the risks to inflation were now rising due to buoyant world growth.
ECB paper on foreign reserves management
The ECB Working Paper "Foreign reserves management subject to a policy objective," published May 2006, studies the implications of introducing an explicit policy objective to the management of foreign reserves at a central bank.
Stark appointed to ECB, Zeitler joins Buba
Jurgen Stark, vice-president of the Bundesbank, has been formally appointed to the European Central Bank's executive board, European Union officials announced Tuesday 23 May, according to the FT.
OECD Economic Outlook, May 2006
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development published its Economic Outlook report for May 2006 on 23 May. In the report the OECD said the European Central Bank should only raise interest rates gradually, once there is clear evidence that…
ECB's Issing on globalisation, emu and the euro
In the speech "Globalisation, emu and the euro" given on 22 May Otmar Issing of the ECB said reductions in fiscal deficits by eurozone countries actually boost growth in those economies, rather than weighing on economic activity.