European Central Bank (ECB)
Trichet says rate hike expectations 'reasonable'
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet told a press conference on Thursday 2 February that markets' near-term expectations for ECB interest rates are 'reasonable'.
Draghi flies a different course
Italy has all it needs to resolve its own problems and can look towards a bright future, Bank of Italy Governor Mario Draghi said on Thursday 2 February. Draghi also emphasised he would take a different approach to that of former governor Antonio Fazio.
Comment: Trichet's new strategy
Jean-Claude Trichet, president of the European Central Bank (ECB), on Thursday 2 February cemented expectations of a 25 basis point rate hike next month. The manner in which he has gone about flagging the move underlines the central bank's new…
Comment: Talking points in January
January has been an eventful month in central banking circles. Debate intensified at the Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan over their monetary policy frameworks, while the Bank of Italy and the State Bank of Pakistan saw new governors taking office…
Trichet renews call for eurozone reforms
Jean-Claude Trichet, president of the European Central Bank, urged euro zone governments to speed up structural reforms of their labour markets and welfare systems, telling a conference in Davos on Saturday that it was the best way to ensure economic…
Third Euro-Mediterranean central bank seminar
The third Euro-Mediterranean seminar, which brings together Eurosystem and non-euro area Mediterranean central banks, was jointly organised by the Bank of Greece and the European Central Bank and held in Nafplion on 25 January.
Bank interest rate pass-through in the euro area
The European Central Bank Working Paper 'Bank interest rate pass-through in the euro area: a cross country comparison' investigates the pass-through between market interest rates and bank interest rates in the euro area.
Bini Smaghi calls for excess liquidity halt
Central banks must act in a timely way to halt excess liquidity, a senior European Central Bank official said in the advance release of a newspaper interview Wednesday 25 January.
Netherlands' Zalm warns on ECB rate comments
Dutch finance minister Gerrit Zalm has warned euro group finance ministers not to make public comments on the European Central Bank's monetary policy.
Stark the 'only candidate' for ECB post
Germany's Juergen Stark is the "only candidate" for the European Central Bank's executive board, according to the head of the eurozone group of finance ministers.
ECB's Trichet on euro area structural reforms
In the speech 'Growth performance, labour productivity and structural reforms in the euro area', given on 20 January Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said that when looking at the necessary structural reforms in Europe the key word is "flexibility".
IMF's Rajan sees a very promising 2006
The International Monetary Fund's Chief Economist on Friday 20 January predicted better global economic growth in 2006 but warned the European Central Bank against raising interest rates too quickly.
ECB Monthly Bulletin, January 2006
The European Central Bank published its January 2006 Monthly Bulletin on Thursday 19 January. In the report the ECB said its interest rates remain low and it is therefore keeping a close eye on inflation risks in the euro zone.
ECB's Issing sees no let up in euro zone growth
European Central Bank chief economist Otmar Issing told a conference on Wednesday 18 January that there are no signs that euro zone growth is slowing.
Bini Smaghi says rate to rise if justified by data
European Central Bank board member Lorenzo Bini Smaghi said on Wednesday 18 January that the ECB will raise its interest rates if new economic data justifies this move.
ECB's Tumpel-Gugerell optimistic on growth
European Central Bank executive board member Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell said on Tuesday 17 January prospects for economic growth across the eurozone are improving.
Draghi joins ECB council,marking changing of guard
A new generation is taking the levers of power at the ECB. This article published on Monday 16 January says the new breed of central banker could bring a heightened pragmatism to ECB decision-making, one less shaped by ideology as the centre of gravity…
ECB says forgers favouring 20-euro notes
The European Central Bank has reported the number of forged bank notes traced in 2005 fell 2.5 percent, but the number of 20-euro notes rose sharply in the second half of the year.
ECB's Trichet on European financial integration
In the speech 'The process of European financial integration: where do we stand?' given on 13 January Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said as regards the further integration of securities (i.e. bonds and equity) markets, a prominent role should be…
Forecasting ECB monetary policy accuracy
The ECB Working Paper 'Forecasting ECB monetary policy accuracy is (still) a matter of geography' uses a database of surveys of professional ECB policy forecasters in 24 countries, the authors find remarkable differences in forecast accuracy, and show…
Trichet says ECB's message well understood
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet told a press conference Thursday 12 January that market expectations for further interest rate hikes show that the ECB's position has been well understood.
Europe's central bank must show some backbone
According to this article published on Monday 9 January , political pressure could be responsible for the European Central Bank's 'timid' interest rate move last month.
Central bankers upbeat on world economy
The global economy is growing at a dynamic pace and may even accelerate in 2006, central bankers from major countries said on Monday 9 January.
Euro 'War of the words' continues
Latvia has poured oil on the fire in the standoff over the Eurozone common currency spelling (EURO) and supported Malta for sticking to its principles in wanting to use the spelling which is correct according to its national language.