United Kingdom
FSA issues hedge fund guidelines
In the latest development surrounding the regulation of hedge funds, the British Financial Services Authority (FSA) has issued guidelines clarifying its approach in four important areas of hedge fund regulation.
The future of UK regulation
In this speech, Dan Waters, director of Retail Policy at the Financial Services Authority, provides an overview of the main principles and applications of the authority's much-praised "principles-based" supervision.
BoE contemplated 0.5% rate hike
The Bank of England considered raising interest rates by 50 basis points at the Monetary Policy Committee meeting of 9-10 May, the meeting's minutes showed.
FSA's inaction on split caps chided
The UK's Financial Services Authority (FSA) has been criticised for closing a five-year investigation into the split capital investment trust scandal without taking action against any individuals or firms.
ECB head says UK should join eurozone
Jean-Claude Trichet, president of the European Central Bank, questioned the UK's refusal to join the eurozone, in an interview in the Financial Times on 17 May.
Bank of England Inflation Report, May 2007
The Bank of England published its May 2007 Inflation Report on 16 May. At a press conference BoE governor Mervyn King signalled interest rates may have to increase again to bring inflation back to target.
King hints that Greenspan's comments are unhelpful
Mervyn King, governor of the Bank of England, told a press conference on Wednesday 16 May that it isn't helpful for former central bankers to comment on aspects of monetary policy or economic conditions.
Code words not for King, but BoE can improve
According to this article published Thursday 10 May by Reuters, the gloss is starting to come off the Bank of England's reputation for managing interest rate expectations and keeping inflation under control.
King and Co should do nothing either
According to this article from Bloomberg published Wednesday 9 May, there are plenty of reasons for the Bank of England to do nothing Thursday.
BoE says efficiency push may harm stats
The Bank of England said in a submission to a parliamentary committee published on Wednesday 9 May that it is concerned that cost constraints are preventing the UK's Office for National Statistics from doing a proper job.
Bank of England has much to discuss next week
With the Bank of England looking certain to raise UK interest rates next week, this article from Reuters, published Friday 4 May, looks at the main factors the MPC will be discussing.
BoE's King on the MPC ten years on
In the speech 'The MPC ten years on' given on 2 May Mervyn King of the Bank of England said since its inception the MPC has kept inflation expectations well anchored and is determined to keep doing so.
Interview with Bank of England's Mervyn King
In an interview with the Financial Times published Thursday 3 May Mervyn King said the Bank of England was "clearly" failing to explain properly to markets how the Monetary Policy Committee was likely to respond to economic data.
Ex-BoE George on 1997 independence
Former Bank of England governor Eddie George said in an interview with the Financial Times Wednesday 2 May that he didn't consider resigning when the BoE was given independence in 1997, relieving it of the role of supervising commercial banks.
BoE's inflation-targeting under scrutiny
According to this article from Bloomberg, published Monday 30 April, surging UK property prices are throwing into question the inflation-targeting approach of the Bank of England.
Bank of England Financial Stability Report, Apr 07
The Bank of England published its latest Financial Stability Report for April 2007 on Thursday 26 April. The report said the U.K.'s financial stability is facing a greater threat than it did in July from low corporate lending rates and growth in markets…
BoE's Tucker on financial system developments
In the speech 'A perspective on recent monetary and financial system developments' given on 26 April Paul Tucker of the Bank of England suggested that UK interest rates are nearing levels at which they will really cut into economic activity.
King says UK inflation may dive
Bank of England governor Mervyn King said Tuesday 24 April that he expects the CPI annual inflation rate to fall back sharply in the next 4-6 months.
Kate Barker reappointed to Bank of England's MPC
Kate Barker, who recently completed the Barker Review of Land Use Planning, was reappointed to the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) for a further three-year term on Monday 23 April, becoming the first external member to serve a third…
King 'determined' to get UK prices down-report
The Yorkshire Post reported Friday 20 April that Bank of England governor Mervyn King has said the central bank is get inflation back on track to its 2 percent target.
King finally writes his 'Dear Gordon' letter
Bank of England governor Mervyn King had to explain to UK chancellor Gordon Brown this week why inflation had exceeded the bank's target. This article by John Berry of Bloomberg looks at King's failure to be boring.
Minutes show 7-2 vote to hold UK rates
Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee members voted 7- 2 to keep interest rates unchanged for a third month in April, with Timothy Besley and Andrew Sentance in favor of a quarter- point increase, minutes published Wednesday 18 April.
King says BoE will look beyond volatility
Bank of England governor Mervyn King Wednesday 17 April sent an open letter the UK chancellor saying the MPC will look beyond short-term volatility in prices to get inflation back on track.
BoE paper on migration and UK economy
Migration into the UK from EU accession countries continues to suppress inflationary and wage pressures, a working paper from the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee published Wednesday 11 April found.