Japan
Hosokawa says imbalances unlikely as G8 topic
Japan's top financial bureaucrat said Monday 5 June that the issue of global economic imbalances is unlikely to be a major discussion topic during the meeting of G8 finance ministers Friday and Saturday.
BoJ's Muto to visit Washington June 4-8 for IMC
Toshiro Muto, deputy governor of the Bank of Japan, will visit Washington D.C. to attend the International Monetary Conference, the central bank said Friday 2 June.
Getting to the bottom of foreign currency reserves
According to this recent article from The Japan Times, the news about sharp increases in foreign reserves held by emerging economies has been big news in Japanese papers.
Central bankers to hold panel meeting
Top central bankers from Europe, Japan and the United States will participate in a panel meeting in Washington on Monday 5 June.
Monetary policy conduct of the Swiss National Bank
The Bank of Japan Working Paper "Monetary policy conduct of the Swiss National Bank: the experience from 2001 to 2004" published May 2006 investigates the monetary policy conduct of the SNB during the period 2001 to 2004 and the accompanying financial…
BoJ's Fukui on quantitative easing
In a speech given on 1 June Toshihiko Fukui of the Bank of Japan said the central bank's quantitative easing policy, which lasted for nearly five years till March 2006, helped in bringing recovery back to the deflation-hit Japanese economy.
BoJ's Haru urges caution on rate moves
Bank of Japan board member Hidehiko Haru said on Thursday 1 June that the central bank need not end its zero interest policy too fast, and must avoid surprising markets.
BOJ's Fukui sees slow rate rises
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui said the central bank would raise interest rates slowly and would proceed without focusing on one particular economic indicator, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday 1 June.
Russian reserves hit all time high
Russia's gold and foreign exchange reserves, boosted by record world oil prices, have touched an all-time high of $243.3 billion, the central bank said on Thursday 1 June.
Japan's Tanigaki sees continuity with Paulson
Japanese Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki said Wednesday 31 May that he does not believe, at least for now, that there will be a change in the U.S. foreign exchange policy under Treasury Secretary nominee Henry Paulson.
Rybinski on inflation targeting, challenges ahead
In the speech 'Inflation targeting and the challenges ahead' given on 18 May Krzysztof Rybinski of the National Bank of Poland said that since 1990, when the pioneering Reserve Bank of New Zealand first introduced inflation targeting, over twenty…
New Zealand hosts EMEAP central bank governors
Central bank governors from major countries in the region gathered in New Zealand over the weekend to discuss common issues, Reserve Bank of New Zealand governor Alan Bollard said Monday 29 May.
Fukui says zero rate policy depends on economy
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui said in parliamentary testimony on Tuesday 30 May that ending the central bank's zero interest rate policy depends on economic growth and inflation.
Central bankers eye Norway's clarity on rates
According to this article published by the Financial Times on Friday 26 May, Norges Bank's "subversive" transparency is attracting a great deal of attention in central banking circles.
China's reserve center to open in July
The China International Reserve Center will open in Shanghai this July, according to the China Knowledge website.
BOJ member sees reserve cut problem
According to minutes of the Bank of Japan's April 10-11 board meeting, published Wednesday 24 May, a policy maker said a rapid reduction in reserves by the central bank may spur speculation of an interest-rate increase from near zero.
Bank of Japan Monthly Report, May 2006
The Bank of Japan published the English version of its May 2006 monthly report on Tuesday 23 May. In the report the BOJ left its economic assessment unchanged, but reiterated that the economy is recovering steadily.
BOJ's Fukui sees rates rising slowly - report
The Bank of Japan will raise interest rates gradually to keep inflation under control while also giving the economy time to recover, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun quoted BOJ governor Toshihiko Fukui as saying in an interview published Tuesday 23 May.
Rato says more Fed hikes may be needed
International Monetary Fund chief Rodrigo Rato said on Monday 22 May that the Federal Reserve may need to continue raising interest rates depending upon how US economic conditions evolve.
As yuan breaches 8, focus shifts to Japan
According to this article published Wednesday 17 May, the dollar has fallen 6.4 percent against the yen this year, and Japanese officials aren't happy about it.
Comment: Bank of Japan update
The Bank of Japan's monetary policy committee meets this week with an interest rate decision expected on Friday. With any ideas of an imminent rate hike all but ruled out, the emerging consensus is that the shift could come in July.
BoJ's Fukui on the outlook for Japan's economy
In the speech 'The outlook for Japan's economy and the conduct of monetary policy' given on 15 May Toshihiko Fukui of the Bank of Japan said completing the process of reducing excess funds in the banking system and raising short-term interest rates are…
BoJ Outlook for economic activity & prices, Apr 06
The Bank of Japan published the English version of its April 2006 Outlook for economic activity and prices report on 1 May. In the report the BoJ said Japan's economy continues to recover steadily.
BoJ names new executive director for operations
The Bank of Japan said Tuesday 9 May that it has promoted Hajime Mizuno, director-general of the BoJ's operations department, to the post of executive director in charge of operations and payment and settlement systems.