Germany
Eichel says EU 3% deficit limit to stay in revamp
German Finance Minister Hans Eichel said on Monday 17 January that planned changes to European Union rules that limit budget deficits and debt levels in the euro region won't alter the two existing numerical thresholds.
Faster growth may lead to higher rates, says Weber
European Central Bank council member Axel Weber said that the central bank may have to increase interest rates if the eurozone economy expands more quickly than it expects.
Profit probably near to zero says Bundesbank
The Bundesbank said its profit was probably close to zero last year following the dollar's fall to a record low against the euro cutting the value of the central banks dollar denominated assets.
Deutsche Bundesbank Monthly Report, November 2004
The Deutsche Bundesbank's November 2004 Monthly Report said the economic upswing ran into difficulties during the third quarter of 2004 after the recovery process had gained considerable momentum in the two preceding quarters.
Weak dollar cuts Bundesbank profits
The appreciation of the euro against the dollar may have reduced the German central bank's 2004 profit down to nothing, Handelsblatt newspaper reported.
Bundesbank holds back on gold sales
The Bundesbank announced on Monday 20 December that it would not be exercising an option to sell 120 tonnes of its gold reserves. This followed earlier speculation that it was under pressure from the German government, who wanted to use gold sales to…
Germans long for DM return
Six years after the introduction of the euro, more than half of all Germans want a return to the days of the national Deutschemark, a report published this week said.
Bundesbank's Remsperger on research matters
In a speech on 'Research matters' given on 27 November, Hermann Remsperger of the Deutsche Bundesbank said if a central bank's research is to develop on well-organised lines, it has to be " from the top down", with the objectives as the primary focus.
Bundesbank lowers German growth forecast
The Bundesbank has revised downwards its forecast for growth of the German economy next year to 1.2-1.3% from an earlier prognosis of 1.5% strength of the euro hits exports from the eurozone's largest economy.
Deutsche Bundesbank Monthly Report, October 2004
The Deutsche Bundesbank's October 2004 Monthly Report said the stability of the German financial system has strengthened further since the end of last year. This was assisted, the report says, by the rapid brightening of the macroeconomic climate in the…
Bundesbank's Weber on stability and growth
In a speech on 'Stability and growth' given on 19 November, Axel Weber of the Deutsche Bundesbank said stability and growth go hand in hand. The Lisbon agenda and the Stability and Growth Pact complement each other in lifting the EU's growth potential…
ECB already doing enough for growth-Weber
Bundesbank president Axel Weber told journalists Monday that the European Central Bank is doing "all it can" to support eurozone growth.
Buba warns 'substantial risk' of deficit breach
The Bundesbank warned on Monday 22 November that Germany risks breaking the EU's tight budget rules again next year, even if it insists it will be able to meet its deficit commitments in 2005. In its November monthly report the German central bank said…
IMF says Germany's budget aims 'challenging'
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned in a report that Germany's budget deficit could breach EU rules in 2005 if additional economic measures are not taken by the government.
Buba's Weber on the state of European integration
In the speech 'State and challenges of the European integration' given on 25 October Axel Weber of the Deutsche Bundesbank said we have a good prospect of dealing successfully with the growing diversity of the EU economy after enlargement if monetary,…
Remsperger on the Bundesbank's view of the outlook
In a speech on 'The Bundesbank's view of the economic outlook and economic policy challenges' given on 25 October, Hermann Remsperger of the Deutsche Bundesbank said the German economy remains vulnerable to a slowdown in global economic activity. This is…
ECB's Weber says euro appreciation not justified
European Central Bank council member Axel Weber said Europe's single currency may have appreciated against the dollar more than can be justified by economic arguments.
Buba's Weber on European inflation dynamics
In a speech on 'European inflation dynamics and inflation convergence' given on 15 October, Axel Weber of the Bundesbank said we still do not know enough about the factors that determine inflation persistence in the euro area and we cannot even be sure…
Deutsche Bundesbank Monthly Report, September 2004
The Deutsche Bundesbank's September 2004 Monthly Report finds that according to the latest data, industry is still on an upward trend. Following weaker figures in June, both new orders and output showed a further clear seasonally adjusted rise in July,…
Bundesbank comments annoy German officials
The German government expressed annoyance at the Bundesbank on Thursday 21 October following a press report which suggested the German central bank was sceptical about Berlin's growth forecast for next year.
Remsperger on FDI and the Deutsche Bundesbank
In the a on 'FDI and the Deutsche Bundesbank' given on 8 October, Hermann Remsperger of the Bundesbank said the German economy has been one of the driving forces behind the globalisation process. The diverse and ever-changing transmission mechanisms of…
Buba's Weber on the stability and growth pact
In a speech given on 27 September, Bundesbank president Axel Weber said that in his opinion the provisions of the Stability and Growth Pact are fundamentally appropriate. However, they have not always been enforced rigorously enough in the past.
Buba's Stark sees risk to growth from oil price
Bundesbank Vice-President Juergen Stark has said in an interview that record oil prices pose a greater risk to the euro region's economic growth prospects than they do to inflation.
Trichet note change sparks forgery claims
Berlin police have reassured citizens worried about an unfamiliar signature on their new euro notes that the money is genuine, news agencies report.