Australia
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.
Museum of Australian currency notes
The Reserve Bank of Australia has opened from 1 March a Museum of Australian Currency Notes on the ground floor of its Head Office in Sydney.
Costello warns RBA on rate increase
Australia's Treasurer Peter Costello has put pressure on the Reserve Bank of Australia not to raise interest rates when it meets on Tuesday 1 March, saying an increase would go against the RBA's remit.
RBA's Edey on the Australian economy
In a speech given on 25 February Malcolm Edey of the Reserve Bank of Australia reiterated the RBA's recent stance that demand would continue to encourage growth and also acknowledged that inflation had outstripped the central bank's expectations.
RBA's Macfarlane on prospects for the economy
In a speech given on 18 February Ian Macfarlane of the Reserve Bank of Australia said looking ahead, we forecast gradual rises in underlying inflation, with it reaching 2.5 per cent by end 2005 and 3 per cent by end 2006.
RBA Statement on Monetary Policy, February 2005
The Reserve Bank of Australia published its February 2005 Statement on Monetary Policy on 7 February. After a strong year in 2004 the world economy retains momentum, with growth continuing to be led by the United States and China, the report says.
Australia's Battellino on Asian bond markets
In a speech on 'Recent developments in Asian bond markets' given on 15 December, Ric Battellino of the Reserve Bank of Australia said markets had come a long way since the Asian financial crisis.
RBA's Stevens on economic and financial conditions
In the speech 'Economic and financial conditions December 2004' given on 14 December Glenn Stevens of the Reserve Bank of Australia said Australia's economic growth is running more slowly than anticipated, despite strong domestic demand.
RBA paper: News and interest rate expectations
The RBA Discussion Paper "News and interest rate expectations: A study of six central banks" analyses the effect of news relating to the expected path of monetary policy on interest rate futures. Results suggest that the impact of the RBA's communication…
RBA Payments System Board Annual Report 2004
The Reserve Bank of Australia Payments System Board has published its Annual Report for the year ended 2004. Over the past couple of years the Board's work in relation to the safety and stability of the payments system has focussed on the development of…
RBA uses powers to withhold minutes
The Reserve Bank of Australia has used powers given to it by Treasurer Peter Costello to issue a "conclusive certificate" to prevent publication of the RBA board's minutes, saying their release is not in the public interest.
Papers from the RBA's 2004 Conference
The Reserve Bank of Australia published papers from its 2004 Conference "The future of inflation targeting" on 15 November. The papers include "Can central bank transparency go too far?", "Inflation measurement for central bankers" and "Inflation…
Macfarlane: Monetary Policy & Financial Stability
At a speech given in Melbourne, Reserve Bask of Australia governor, Ian Macfarlane highlights rising risks within the Australian home loan market.
RBA appoints head of economic research
The Reserve Bank of Australia announced on Monday 8 November the appointment of Dr Christopher Kent to the position of Head of Economic Research.
RBA Statement on Monetary Policy, November 2004
The Reserve Bank of Australia published its November 2004 Statement on Monetary Policy on 8 November. The Australian economy has continued to perform well during 2004, maintaining a solid pace of expansion and low inflation, the report said.
Interview with former RBA board member Bob Gregory
In an interview published on Thursday 21 October, former board member of the Reserve Bank of Australia Bob Gregory said that if there is faster growth at the same inflation rate the RBA will not tighten.
RBA likely annoyed by political rate talk
In an interview with Dow Jones Newswires on Wednesday 13 October, Professor Stephen Bell, author of a new book "Australia's Money Madarins: The Reserve Bank and the Politics of Money" said the government's argument that interest rates would rise faster…
Profitability of RBA foreign exchange operations
Since the float of the Australian dollar in December 1983, the Reserve Bank of Australia has retained the discretion to intervene in the foreign exchange markets in order to avoid what it perceives to be large overshooting in the currency. This paper…
Former RBA chief criticises PM on rates
Former Reserve Bank of Australia governor Bernie Fraser said in an interview he expects interest rates to rise straight after the election, partly because of what he sees as the lax budgetary policies of the Howard government.
Reform of card payment systems in Australia
Following a decision by the Payments System Board, the Reserve Bank of Australia on Thursday 9 September designated the EFTPOS debit card payment system in Australia as a payment system under the Payment Systems (Regulation) Act 1998.
Reserve Bank of Australia - Annual Report 2004
The Reserve Bank of Australia has published its Annual Report for 2004. After a temporary weak spot in the middle of 2003, the world economic recovery resumed in 2003/04. In Australia it was a year of good growth and low inflation as we completed the…
RBA's Macfarlane on Asia and Australian growth
In a speech on 'Geography, Resources or Institutions?' given on 25 August Ian Macfarlane of the RBA said the growth of Asia had contributed substantially to Australia's economic performance by helping reduce its isolation from world economic activity.