Australia
Carry trade returns high but losses heavy
Though carry trades in various Asian currencies tend to outperform major stock markets, there is a relatively high frequency of large negative returns, research published by the Bank for International Settlements finds.
Australia's Stevens on new communication policy
Glenn Stevens, the governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, on Tuesday emphasised the importance of the changes in the central bank's communication strategy.
Australia holds rates at 6.75%
The Reserve Bank of Australia's rate-setting board voted on Wednesday to leave its benchmark cash rate at 6.75%, an 11-year high.
Domestic pressures behind Australian rate rise
Members of the Reserve Bank of Australia's rate-setting board voted to hike rates last month on domestic economic grounds, minutes of the 6 November meeting reveal.
Jury still out on global saving glut theory
New research published by the Reserve Bank of Australia finds limited support for the argument that financial crises have contributed to the current-account surpluses in developing economies.
Subprime crash has tarred all structured products
The subprime crisis has led to all securitised products being sold at a discount, regardless of whether they hold bad debt, says Guy Debelle, the assistant governor responsible for financial markets at the Reserve Bank of Australia.
Australia in good shape to weather subprime
Warwick McKibbin, a board member of the Reserve Bank of Australia, expects the country's economy to remain buoyant in spite of the recent market turmoil.
Another Aussie hike likely as inflation climbs
The Reserve Bank of Australia could well raise rates again after the latest edition of the central bank's monetary policy statement revealed inflation was set to reach 3.25% in the fourth quarter of 2007.
Sorry mess for Howard over Aussie rate comments
John Howard, the prime minister of Australia, scrambled to clarify what appeared to be an apology for the central bank's decision to hike rates to 6.75%, the first-ever rise during an election campaign.
Australia opts for rate rise
The Reserve Bank of Australia's rate-setting board voted on Wednesday to hike rates by 25 basis points to 6.75%, an 11-year high.
Fed finally gives Basel II the green light
The Federal Reserve Board on Friday approved the American version of the Basel II framework on risk-based capital requirements. It is the last of the Group of Ten countries, which developed the framework, to do so.
Australia to raise rates during election campaign?
Economists are convinced that Glenn Stevens will become the first governor of the Australian central bank to raise interest rates in the midst of an election campaign.
Paper on inflation targeting
This research paper shows how the inflation-targeting regimes of Australia, Canada and New Zealand, has developed over time.
Australian inflation stats make rate hike likely
A November rate hike looks a near certainty after Reserve Bank of Australia data showed a higher-than-expected percentage-point jump in inflation.
Howard calls on RBA to focus on growth
John Howard, the Australian prime minister preparing for an election in November, put pressure on the Reserve Bank of Australia to maintain economic growth.
Do trade costs explain macroeconomic puzzles?
Research published by the Reserve Bank of Australia finds some evidence that trade costs do, at least in part, explain three monetary policy puzzles; the purchasing power parity real exchange rate persistence puzzle, the Feldstein-Horioka saving…
Crisis shows why we need Basel II, says Committee
The recent banking crisis has underlined the importance of Basel II implementation, according to the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision.
Israel to print plastic notes
The Bank of Israel said its next issue of 20 sheqel notes will be on polypropylene, a type of plastic.
RBA deputy examines causes of credit expansion
An increase in household borrowing has led to the latest boom in lending lasting longer than previous periods of credit expansion, according to Ric Battelino, the deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia.
Bollard defends monetary policy framework
Alan Bollard, the governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand said yesterday that if the central bank were to aim for exchange rate stability the price to be paid would be big swings in interest rates.
Australia's Payment Systems Board report - 2007
Australia's Payment Systems Board, which is chaired by the central bank governor, published its annual report for 2007 on Wednesday.
RBA's Stevens on Australia and financial markets
Recent events are putting financial systems to the test around the world, observed the governor of the Reserve Bnak of Australia at a speech in Sydney on Tuesday.
Reserve Bank of Australia - Annual Report 2007
Glenn Stevens, the governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, presented his first annual report on Wednesday.
Australian inter-bank rates hit 11-year high
Australian three-month bank bill rates reached 7.08% on Tuesday, 58 points above the central bank's benchmark rate and their highest level since July 1996.