Australia
Australia grants access to Visa Debit System
Australia's Payment System Board, which makes payment system regulation and is chaired by Ian Macfarlane, the RBA's governor, decided to impose an access regime on the Visa Debit System in Australia.
Pricking a housing bubble, Australian style
Reserve Bank of Australia governor Ian Macfarlane has declared victory in the fight to deflate one of the world's most obvious housing bubbles, according to this article published on Wednesday 17 August. In fact, he is so confident he has succeeded that…
RBA could hold meetings 'every two months'
The Reserve Bank of Australia could meet every second month, rather than holding the current monthly monetary policy meetings, a former central bank board member said.
RBA's Macfarlane on the Australian economy
In a statement to the House of Representatives given on 12 August Ian Macfarlane of the Reserve Bank of Australia said that inflation was largely under control and the economy strong.
Australian govt to quiz RBA chief on economy
Reserve Bank of Australia governor Ian Macfarlane will be grilled Friday 12 August on the chances of another rate rise, or possibly a rate cut, in coming months.
China reveals details of yuan basket
China announced major currency market reforms on Wednesday 8 August and also published details of the basket of currencies to which the bank refers in managing the float of the yuan.
RBA Statement on Monetary Policy, August 2005
The Reserve Bank of Australia published its August 2005 Statement on Monetary Policy on 9 August. The global expansion is continuing to provide a favourable backdrop for the Australian economy, according to the report.
Costello says RBA decision reflects solid growth
Treasurer Peter Costello said the Reserve Bank of Australia's decision to leave interest rates at 5.5 per cent after its monthly board meeting on Wednesday 3 August reflects continuing solid economic growth in the country.
RBA paper on underlying inflation
The Reserve Bank of Australia Discussion Paper "Underlying inflation: Concepts, measurement and performance" published on 21 July explores the concept of underlying inflation and the properties of various measures of underlying inflation in the…
Reserve Bank of Australia 2005 Conference
This year's RBA conference focused on various issues related to the changing nature of the business cycle, including: the changes that have occurred over recent decades; possible explanations for those changes; international linkages; and the impact of…
Reserve Bank of Australia calls for China float
Reserve Bank of Australia governor Ian Macfarlane has added his voice to international pressure on China to float the yuan, arguing in a speech that it is in China's interest for the currency to rise.
RBA to open emergency back-up office
The Reserve Bank of Australia is to get a $38 million back-up office complex in an outer Sydney suburb in case an emergency shuts its city head office.
RBA's Macfarlane: global influences on the economy
In the speech 'Global influences on the Australian economy' given on 14 June, Ian Macfarlane of the Reserve Bank of Australia downplayed a recent slowdown in Australia's economic growth as a healthy correction that might help prolong the current…
RBA paper warns on inflation targets
A research paper published by the Reserve Bank of Australia on Thursday 2 June has warned that central banks should not set their inflation targets too low.
RBA's fragile independence
This article published on Thursday 5 May says that although discussion is an integral tool in setting monetary policy, the jawboning should be the domain of the governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia. Unfortunately, over the past six months, the…
RBA on payments system reform in Australia
In a speech on 'Payments System Reform: The Australian Experience' given on 6 May, Philip Lowe and Ian Macfarlane of the RBA said it is fair to say that having specific payment system legislation with responsibility assigned to the central bank has led…
RBA Statement on Monetary Policy, May 2005
The Reserve Bank of Australia published its May 2005 Statement on Monetary Policy on 6 May. The global economic upswing is continuing in 2005 with growth being led mainly by the United States and China, the report says.
RBA's Stevens on statistical need of central banks
In the speech 'The changing statistical needs of central banks' given on 8 April Glenn Stevens of the Reserve Bank of Australia said central banks have long been intense users of statistics. However, the statistical needs and interests of central banks…
Interview with RBA's Broadbent
Following the Reserve Bank of Australia's meeting this week RBA board member Jillian Broadbent said in an interview on Wednesday 6 April that the central bank remains confident it can achieve its inflation target and maintain sustainable economic growth.
RBA's Macfarlane on Gresham's Law of payments
In a speech on 'Gresham's Law of payments' given on 23 March, Ian Macfarlane of the Reserve Bank of Australia said one of the longer term aims of the RBA's reforms was to reduce the distortions in the payments system caused by interchange fees.
RBA Financial Stability Review, March 2005
The Reserve Bank of Australia published the March 2005 edition of its Financial Stability Review on 22 March. The RBA's overall assessment is that the Australian financial system is in sound condition.
It's open season on the Reserve
This article published on Monday 7 March looks at the Reserve Bank of Australia's decision to raise interest rates last week for the first time since December 2003. It is perhaps the most significant breakdown in trust and harmony between Canberra and…
RBA's Lowe on reform of the payments system
In a speech on 'Reform of the payments system' given on 2 March, Philip Lowe of the Reserve Bank of Australia said the reform process has been going on for a number of years and we are not yet at the end of the road.
Australia raises rates citing inflation pressures
The Reserve Bank of Australia announced on Wednesday 2 March that it was increasing interest rates by 25 basis points, to 5.5 per cent. It was the first shift in monetary policy by the RBA since December 2003.