United Kingdom
Nickell: 'Are Europeans lazy? Or Americans crazy'
In the speech 'Are Europeans lazy? Or Americans crazy?' given on 27 May Stephen Nickell of the Bank of England said there is no clear explanation as to why people in France and Germany work less than those in Britain, the United States or in Scandinavian…
Reflections on operating inflation targeting
In a paper delivered on Thursday 25 May at the Graduate School of Business of the University of Chicago, Paul Tucker of the Bank of England sets out some reflections on the operation of an inflation targeting regime after four years on the MPC.
BoE's Blanchflower approved by committee
The parliamentary Treasury Select Committee endorsed on Tuesday 30 May David Blanchflower's appointment to the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee.
Blanchflower is 'no shrinking violet'
The Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee's latest member, David Blanchflower, told the Treasury Select Committee on Wednesday 24 May that his commitment to the rate setting MPC will form his "primary responsibility."
Comment: The BoE's 'brain on the plane'
David Blanchflower came out fighting Wednesday 24 May in an assured performance before the Treasury Select Committee. The appointment of the US-based academic to the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee has been controversial, but he maintains…
New MPC member set for grilling
The newest member of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee is likely to face some tough questions when he faces MPs for his "confirmation" hearing on Wednesday 24 May, the FT reported.
BoE's Walton on a shift in the balance of risks
In the speech 'A shift in the balance of risks' given on 18 May David Walton of the Bank of England said listed five main reasons why the upside risks had emerged and necessitated an immediate quarter point increase in the central bank's key rate to 4.75…
BoE's Nickell sees UK inflation checked
Spare capacity in the UK economy will help lower inflationary pressures, and will keep inflation below the Bank of England's target, according to outgoing Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee member, Steve Nickell.
BoE's Tucker on uncertainty, monetary policy, risk
In the speech 'Uncertainty, the implementation of monetary policy and the management of risk' given on 19 May Paul Tucker of the Bank of England said consumption growth in the UK today has become far more stable than in previous years, thanks to…
Bank of England's next move should be a rate cut
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee would be making a mistake if it raises UK interest rates, according to this article published Wednesday 17 May.
Launch of BoE's new framework
The Bank of England launched its new framework for the implementation of monetary policy to modernise sterling money markets on Thursday 18 May.
Minutes show BoE split 3 ways on rates
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee was split three ways on this month's decision to keep interest rates at 4.5 percent, minutes released on Wednesday 17 May showed.
BoE's new money market framework
The Bank of England published on Monday 15 May the lists of banks and building societies participating at the launch of its new framework for implementing the Monetary Policy Committee's interest rate decisions.
BoE's Walton sees more confidence in economy
Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee member David Walton was quoted on Friday 12 May as saying that policymakers are confident that the UK economy has clearly emerged from a soft patch early last year.
Bank of England Inflation Report, May 2006
The Bank of England published its May 2006 Inflation Report on 10 May. In remarks following the publication of the report, Mervyn King said the Monetary Policy Committee 'remains ready to take whatever action is necessary in order to keep inflation on…
Comment: Bank of England Inflation Report
British bond yields fell yesterday, despite an increase in the Bank of England's near-term inflation forecast. The Bank of England's latest Inflation Report also included a lower growth forecast for next year, which is expected to outweigh the effects of…
Europe must relax inflation test for euro entrants
According to this article by Willem Buiter, published Thursday 4 May, forcing eurozone membership candidate countries to meet both an exchange rate criterion and an inflation criterion makes no economic sense.
Gieve urged to resign from BoE
Sir John Gieve, deputy governor of the Bank of England, is being urged to resign following revelations of financial mismanagement at the Home Office, where he was permanent secretary, The Independent on Sunday reported on 30 April. The report said the…
Economic vs. Monetary Union
At a meeting at the London School of Economics Friday 28 April on the Legal Foundations on International Monetary Stability discussions focussed on the divergence between Europe's successful monetary union, and its stalled economic union.
Bank of England appoints Chief Legal Adviser
The Bank of England announced on Thursday 27 April that Dame Juliet Wheldon has been appointed Chief Legal Adviser and Adviser to the Governor.
BoE's new framework for sterling money markets
The Bank of England confirmed Wednesday that it will launch its new framework for official operations to implement interest rate decisions in the sterling money markets on 18 May.
Free trade is king, says BoE chief
Bank of England Governor Mervyn King said on Thursday 27 April that resisting protectionism is the key to prosperity.
Strategist says central banks may sell dollars
Central banks are likely to sell dollars in 2006 as they move to diversify their reserves in favour of the euro, according to BNP Paribas SA.
The UK current account deficit and all that
Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee member Stephen Nickell said in a paper published on Tuesday 25 April that the UK current account deficit is probably sustainable so long as average returns on equities exceed those on debt.