Germany
ECB's Welteke sees no reason to cut rates
In a television interview European Central Bank council member Ernst Welteke said "I see no need to act at the moment" on interest rates, theoretically we have room for manoeuvre", according to Bloomberg. He also said "there are a few signs of…
Waigel says ECB president deal never existed
Former German finance minister Theo Waigel said in an article published in the daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung Tuesday that no deal ever existed for Wim Duisenberg to stop down half way through his term as president of the ECB to make way for a…
EU rejects Chirac call on stability pact
EU finance ministers have rejected calls from France for more flexibility in the stability and growth pact. Ireland's Minister for Finance Charlie McCreevy warned that, with Europe's biggest economies in breach of the pact, its credibility was coming…
ECB's Issing rejects Schroeder's comments on euro
Speaking Friday ECB chief economist Otmar Issing said the competitiveness of the German economy "does not just depend on the exchange rate" in response to an apparent call from German chancellor Schroeder that the ECB should intervene in the currency…
Buba's Zeitler says ECB should keep rates steady
Bundesbank board member Franz-Christoph Zeitler, speaking on the ECB's decision Thursday to keep interest rates unchanged, said "two percent is the right level - I recommend staying hold" Bloomberg reported.
Bundesbank- German deficit may make ECB job harder
Bundesbank Chief Economist Hermann Remsperger said in an interview a third breach in as many years by Germany "would further damage the credibility of Europe's stability and growth pact, which would ultimately make a stability-oriented monetary policy…
Bundesbank doubts German growth forecasts
Bundesbank official Hans Reckers said in an interview published Sunday that German government growth forecasts of 2% are 'much too optimistic'. He suggested a growth rate of 1% to 1.5% for 2004 would be more realistic, RTE News said.
Germany's Schroder calls on ECB to reduce rates
German chancellor Gerhard Schroder has questioned the ECB as to "whether they have done enough to stimulate growth", according to a report in the Financial Times. He told Pedro Solbes, EU monetary affairs commissioner, on Tuesday that Germany would…
Germany plans major cuts in income tax
Germany plans wide ranging income tax cuts to stimulate Europe's largest economy, Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said at the weekend. Both the EC and ECB have warned against financing the tax cuts through more state debt.
Deutsche Bundesbank Monthly Report, May 2003
The Bundesbank said in its May 2003 monthly report that major uncertainty in the global economy and on the international financial markets, which peaked in the first quarter as the Iraq war was approaching, has since receded. This is reflected mainly by…
Bundesbank report reassures over deflation fears
In its June monthly report the Bundesbank acknowledged deflationary risk does exist, Reuters reports, but said that there was no sign it would turn into a damaging reality.
Germany faces small deflation risk Bundesbank says
The Bundesbank said in its June monthly report published on Monday 23 June that there was only a "small" risk of deflation in Germany and no "acute" signs of deflation exist at present, according to a report by Bloomberg.
Fabritius on central banks role in payment systems
In a speech on 'The evolving role of central banks in payment systems: service providers and/or overseers?' Hans Georg Fabritius of the Deutsche Bundesbank said there are two main developments which are already identifiable but which will require further…
Bundesbank dampens rate cut speculation
Bundesbank chief Ernst Welteke poured cold water on further ECB rate cut talk on Monday 16 June, according to AFP, suggesting it was now up to governments and politicians to get their economies in order.
ECB's Welteke says global growth conditions good
Ernst Welteke said on Friday 13 June thatmacroeconomic conditions are favourable to growth all over the world but enterprises must have confidence to sell their goods, according to a report by Reuters.
Germany's inflation falls to 0.7 percent
Inflation in Germany fell to 0.7 percent in May, the lowest rate in over 3 years, according to Associated Press. The figures released on Wednesday June 11 showed the rate fell by 0.3 percent from 1 percent in April.
Bundesbank cuts growth forecast
The Bundesbank has cut its growth forecast for 2003 to between 0.1 and 0.2 per cent, down from 0.5 per cent, Reuters reports. The move follows weak growth for the first three months of this year.
Kohler on Public-Private Partnership
Speech by Horst Kohler, Managing Director, International Monetary FundAt the Spring Membership Meeting of the Institute of International FinanceBerlin, June 4, 2003
ECB's Issing 'Deflation possible in Germany'
The ECB's chief economist Otmar Issing told Berliner Zeitung that the possibility of deflation in Germany cannot be excluded.
Germany accused of cooking OECD's books
An OECD spokesman admitted on Wednesday May 28 that an influential report was doctored at the request of the German government in order to provide a more flattering picture, according to a report in the Daily Telegraph.
Buba's Welteke rejects recession idea in interview
Bundesbank president Ernst Welteke said in a radio interview that Germany was simply in a "phase of mere stagnation" rejecting an IMF report that said the country was on the brink of recession, according to a broadcast by Deutsche Welle Radio.
Bundesbank chief wants tightening stability pact
Bundesbank president Ernst Welteke has warned that Germany should not abandon its budget consolidation efforts and called for a tightening of the European Stability and Growth Pact rules, according to a report in Deutsche Welle.
Deutsche Bundesbank Monthly Report, April 2003
The Bundesbank said in its April 2003 monthly report that consumer prices continued to rise in March, albeit at a somewhat slower pace than before. The seasonally adjusted increase went down to 0.2%. The year-on-rate of increase fell to 1.2% from 1.3% in…
Bundesbank's Remsperger on monetary policy
In a speech on 'Monetary Policy: How relevant are other policymakers?' Hermann Remsperger of the Bundesbank said the main conclusion for Germany is that there is virtually no scope for stimulating fiscal action. The government has envisaged a budget …