Australia
RBA holds fire on interest rates
The Reserve Bank of Australia held interest rates steady at 4.75 per cent on Tuesday 1 April in a widely expected move, reported The Australian Financial Review.
Another term as governor for RBA's Macfarlane?
The Australian Treasurer, Peter Costello, speaking on Sunday 30 March intensified speculation that Ian Macfarlane would be given a second seven-year term as governor of the RBA saying he has obviously discharged his duties 'very finely', according to a…
RBA Payments System Board Annual Report 2002
The Reserve Bank of Australia issued its Payments System Board Annual Report on 28 March. The Report said the Board has embarked on a major reform of card networks that is intended to allow market mechanisms to operate more effectively in the Australian…
Treasury statement on the RBA Board appointment
Statement by Peter Costello, Treasurer of Australia on the appointment of Robert Gerard to the Board of the Reserve Bank of Australia, 25 March.
Robert Gerard appointed to RBA board
Businessman and long-time Liberal Party supporter Robert Gerard has been appointed to the board of the Reserve Bank of Australia. according to a report in The Age The move drew immediate criticism from the Opposition. Gerard said his experiencing in…
Edey on economic performance and issues in 2003
SPEECH - In the speech 'Economic Performance and Issues in 2003' Malcolm Edey of the Reserve Bank of Australia said the international environment is quite an uncertain one, and the outlook now is not as promising as it seemed to be at this time last year…
RBA leaves rates steady
The Reserve Bank of Australia left interest rates on hold Wednesday for the ninth month in a row.
Australia's Costello silent on RBA chief's future
With Ian Macfarlane's term ending in September, speculation has begun on whether the RBA chief will seek another term. Treasurer Peter Costello was tight lipped on the matter but said the governor had performed very well.
Fraser silent on Iraqi-Australia gold deal
A magazine has suggested Australia was paid a large sum of gold in 1991 as part of an export deal.
Stevens on the economic outlook
SPEECH - In the speech 'The Economic Outlook' Glenn Stevens of the Reserve Bank of Australia said Australia still faces a difficult environment abroad. Uncertainty is high internationally at present, and confidence subdued. It is to our advantage,…
Reserve Bank of Australia quarterly statement
PRESS RELEASE - The latest quarterly statement on Monetary Policy has been released by the Reserve Bank of Australia today.
Australian interest rates to remain stable
The Reserve Bank of Australia's quarterly statement on monetary policy said the global economy had lost momentum in late 2002 and that had weakened the case for rate rises this year.
Reserve Bank of Australia Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - At its meeting on 4 February the RBA Board decided to leave the cash rate target unchanged at 4.75 per cent, 5 February.
Currency Crises and Macroeconomic Performance
RESEARCH - In the Reserve Bank of Australia Research Paper, 'Currency Crises and Macroeconomic Performance' the authors present some theory and evidence on the implications of sudden currency depreciations for output and inflation. The paper identifies…
Reserve Bank of Australia Bulletin, January 2003
REPORT - Bulletin Statistical Tables, data updated to 8 January 2003.
Interview - McKibbin backs old friend Takenaka
INTERVIEW - In an interview given Monday Reserve Bank of Australia board member Warwick McKibbin supported his 'old friend' Japanese Economics Minister Heizo Takenaka's campaign to unite the government and central bank to fight deflation.
Australian credit-card case clears first hurdle
The potential complexity of Visa and MasterCard's landmark legal action against the Reserve Bank of Australia over credit-card reforms was underscored on Wednesday when the parties spent the day resolving how confidential information from 50 third…
Macfarlane - Statement to House of Representatives
SPEECH - In his opening Statement to House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics Ian Macfarlane of the Reserve Bank of Australia said he sees Australian growth next year at almost 4 per cent. Inflation is expected to remain near the top of…
Stevens on Inflation, Deflation and All That
SPEECH - In the speech 'Inflation, Deflation and All That' Glenn Stevens of the Reserve Bank of Australia said the word 'deflation' carries too much emotive baggage and a 'deflation trap' would pose a bigger concern. Australia would be one of the last…
RBA leaves rates unchanged as expected
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) left interest rates unchanged Wednesday as the shaky global outlook overshadowed a reactively strong domestic economy. After its final meeting for 2002 the RBA left the cash rate at 4.75 per cent.
Battellino on Australian bonds issued offshore
SPEECH - In the speech 'Why do so Many Australian Borrowers Issue Bonds Offshore?' Ric Battellino of the RBA said motives included the greater range of investors overseas and differences in the state of development between the Australian and US corporate…
Reserve Bank of Australia Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - The Reserve Bank today announced the appointment of Dr Tony Richards as Head of Economic Research. This follows the decision of Dr David Gruen, the previous Head, to accept a secondment to the Commonwealth Treasury, 26 November.
MasterCard takes a swipe at RBA
The long running dispute between the credit card companies and Australia's reserve bank continued this week as legal action got under way. The action concerns alleged misconceptions by the Reserve Bank of its obligations under the Payments Systems …
Macfarlane - Monetary Policy in an Uncertain World
SPEECH - In the speech 'Monetary Policy in an Uncertain World' made on 13 November, Ian Macfarlane of the Reserve Bank of Australia said when we look around us at the challenges facing central banks in other countries, we are reminded that decisions are…