United Kingdom
BoE's Bean on asset prices and inflation targets
In a speech on 'Asset Prices, Financial Imbalances and Monetary Policy: Are Inflation Targets Enough?' Charles Bean of the Bank of England said yes, (flexible) inflation targets are enough. But more investigation is needed into understanding the way in…
Callum McCarthy confirmed as FSA Chairman
UK Chancellor Gordon Brown today (1 April) announced that Callum McCarthy has been appointed as Chairman of the Financial Services Authority (FSA).
NIESR; euro 'would boost economic growth' in UK
Influential think tank, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research has said that UK entry to the euro would boost economic growth significantly over the long term, according to a report in the Financial Times. Main benefits would be the…
BoE's George on Islamic banking
In a speech to the Islamic Home Finance Seminar Sir Edward George of the Bank of England said Islamic banks could set up in the UK offering a wide variety of financial products compliant with Muslim law. He also said progress made on developing Sharia…
New chairman of UK FSA
Callum McCarthy, a former executive at Barclays Bank and currently chief executive of the UK's energy industry regulator Ofgem, is expected to be named as the next chairman of the UK's Financial Services Authority, reports the Financial Times. The report…
De La Rue to take over BoE note printing operation
The UK Department of Trade and Industry has cleared bank note printer De La Rue's take over of the Bank of England's banknote printing operation, according to CMP Information.
BoE governor on inflation
In a speech Edward George, governor of the Bank of England, said although risks exist he thinks that the most likely outcome is that we will see a gradual pick-up in the pace of global recovery over the next year or two. He said inflation may well rise…
Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin, Spring 2003
REPORT - The Bank of England released its Quarterly Bulletin, Spring 2003, on 21 March. The Bulletin includes an article on "Monetary policy and the zero bound to nominal interest rates" which suggests that a deflation situation is highly unlikely to…
BoE: deflation spiral 'unlikely to hit Britain'
The Bank of England's quarterly bulletin published on Friday March 21 suggested that Britain was likely to avoid a deflationary cycle and that the zero bound for interest rates would not be tested, noted the Financial Times
Bank of England Inflation Attitudes Survey, Feb 03
REPORT - The Bank of England's February 2003 quarterly Inflation Attitudes Survey was published on 17 March. The survey measures public attitudes to inflation in the UK. The survey showed that the number of people satisfied with how the Bank is doing its…
MPC voted 8 to 1 to keep UK rates on hold
Minutes of the Bank of England's last meeting of its interest rate setting MPC showed that the Committee saw growth slightly below trend in the short term. The Committee also felt exchange rate depreciation was likely to put upward pressure on inflation…
Large calls for extension of Basel capital
SPEECH - Speaking in London to a conference organised by the British Bankers' Association, Sir Andrew Large, the Bank of England's deputy governor responsible for financial stability, argued that the new Basel II capital regime would soon have to be…
Role of expectations in estimates of the NAIRU
RESEARCH - The Bank of England Working Paper, "The role of expectations in estimates of the NAIRU in the United States and the United Kingdom" examines evidence for a change in the relationship between inflation and unemployment. Inflation expectations…
UK Treasury criticised over Bank appointments
UK chancellor Gordon Brown faced criticism on Thursday over the lack of transparency in the appointments process to the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee.
Press release on UK Financial Stability, 3 Mar
PRESS RELEASE - Bank of England, HM Treasury and FSA, IMF "UK Financial Stability Policy Framework is at the Forefront Internationally" 3 March.
HM Treasury Press Release Feb 27, 2003
PRESS RELEASE - Bank of England appointments - The Queen has been pleased to appoint, under the Bank of England Act 1998, Rachel Lomax as Deputy Governor of the Bank of England (Monetary Policy), in succession to Mervyn King, 27 February.
HM Treasury Press Release Feb 27 2003
PRESS RELEASE - Allsopp Review: Statistical requirements for monetary and wider economic policymaking, 27 February.
Bank of England Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced today, 27 February, that Rachel Lomax, Permanent Secretary at the Department for Transport, will become the Bank of England's Deputy Governor for Monetary Policy. She will succeed Mervyn King, who…
Lomax named first woman deputy governor at B of E
Rachel Lomax was named the new deputy governor of the Bank of England for monetary policy on Thursday in a reshuffle of the MPC which also sees Richard Lambert joining the committee. The moves may be seen as a further shift towards hawkish leanings on…
B of E's King comes out on the attack
FEATURE - Bank of England governor in waiting Mervyn King showed what was described as a "flash of steel" by Observer in the Financial Times when facing questions at Tuesday's parliamentary Treasury select committee meeting in London.
Incoming B of E chief King prepared to lose vote
Mervyn King a noted hawk on the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee has said he is prepared to vote against the majority if necessary when he takes up his post as governor in the summer.
BofE Nickell: Financial market weakness to persist
In an interview Stephen Nickell of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee said that the Bank's recent interest rate reduction was unlikely to trigger another round of rapid house price increases in the UK. Professor Nickell has regularly voted…
Fixing a forecasting model that ain't broke
ARTICLE - The Bank of England is due to start using a new forecasting model from June this year onwards. This article suggests that while it is good to keep up with the latest developments in economics, the new model has not been fully tested and that…
Barker on adjusting to low inflation
SPEECH - In the speech 'Adjusting to low inflation - Issues for policy' Kate Barker of the Bank of England said that if the Bank tried to control the build-up of house-hold debt, it might restrain growth in the economy, making people worse off and…