United States
IMF's Rajan on a global shortage of fixed assets
In the speech 'Is there a global shortage of fixed assets?' given on 1 December Raghuram Rajan of the IMF said investment does seem to be picking up steadily.
Fed's Fisher:The extended importance of the euro
In the speech 'The extended importance of the euro' given on 17 November Richard Fisher of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas said challenges remain for the euro area.
'Irrational exuberance' may now be more rational
According to this article from Bloomberg, published Tuesday 5 December, ten years after Alan Greenspan's "irrational exuberance" statement, share prices are rising again, but this time it might be more rational.
Fed's Bies on Basel II implementation
In the speech 'A U.S. perspective on Basel II implementation' given on 30 November Susan Schmidt Bies of the Federal Reserve defended a new capital plan for large U.S. banks but signalled that some cumbersome parts of the plan could be streamlined.
Bernanke programmes dilute Greenspan's intuition
According to this article published by Bloomberg on Monday 4 December, a small team of Federal Reserve staff is testing a new "factor model'' programme that does the work of hundreds of economists.
Chicago Fed's Moskow says US economy 'solid'
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago President Michael Moskow said in an interview Monday 4 December that the U.S. economy is still "solid" and poised to approach 3 percent growth next year.
Fed's Kohn on monetary policy and uncertainty
In the speech 'Monetary policy and uncertainty' given on 1 December Donald Kohn of the Federal Reserve said policy makers should avoid relying on any single indicator because of uncertainties surrounding the accuracy of economic data and public behaviour.
Lacker on regulators and financial innovation
In the speech 'How should regulators respond to financial innovation?' given on 1 December Jeffrey Lacker of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond said financial regulators need to ensure that institutions such as banks have practices in place for…
Fed's Bies backs Basel II
Susan Bies, a governor at the Federal Reserve, reiterated her commitment to the new capital accord, but noted that there would be differences in implementation in the US and across borders.
Goldmans' Dudley is Fed's new markets man
The New York Federal Reserve named William Dudley, an advisory director at Goldman Sachs, as an executive vice-president and the new head of its markets group.
November beige book released by Fed
The Federal Reserve recently released the latest issue of the beige book, an informal review series by the banks of current economic conditions.
Core CPI still "uncomfortably high" - Bernanke
Fed chairman, Ben Bernanke, appeared to pour cold water on suggestions of an imminent cut in US interest rates in a speech in New York on 28 November.
Philly Fed's Plosser hints at rate rise
Casting an eye over the current economic climate in the US, the president of Philadelphia's Reserve Bank said there was some risk that policy is not yet firm enough for a return to price stability over a reasonable time horizon.
Explaining Fed watchers' mistakes
The authors of this ECB working paper argue that the heterogeneity in the views of private sector Fed watchers is explained by the educational employment backgrounds, as well as by where they are located.
Bernanke to join Paulson in China
Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke will follow in the footstep of his predecessor, Alan Greenspan, by accompanying the US Treasury secretary to Beijing next month.
Lower growth, inflation forecast in US - survey
The rate of growth in US output over the next few quarters looks slower now than it did just three months ago, according to 51 forecasters surveyed by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.
Focus on distortions - Blanchard
In his Mundell-Fleming Lecture, MIT economist Oliver Blanchard suggests that the outcome of potential government intervention to address current global imbalances is uncertain.
Chicago Fed inflation conference report
The December 2006 "Chicago Fed Letter" summarises the findings of a conference hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago's Inflation Research Center on price stability.
Explaining US imbalances
In this new NBER working paper, Fabrizio Perri and Alessandra Fogli argue that an external imbalance is a natural consequence of the decline in the volatility of the US business cycle.
Chicago Fed National Activity Index, October 2006
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index for October 2006, published 21 November, was -0.31 in October, slightly up from -0.38 in September. All of the four broad categories of indicators made negative contributions to the index.
Warsh on financial markets and the Federal Reserve
In the speech 'Financial markets and the Federal Reserve' given on 21 November Kevin Warsh of the Federal Reserve said the U.S. economy is still at risk of higher inflation, although market signals point to a gradual receding of price gains.
Fisher comfortable with current Fed policy
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas president Richard Fisher said on Monday 20 November he was happy with the current policy stance of the U.S. central bank.
Chicago Fed's Moskow on the US economic outlook
In the speech 'U.S. economic outlook' given on 16 November Michael Moskow of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago said the risk of inflation in the US remaining too high, rather than a slowing economy, is the Federal Reserve's main concern.
Milton Friedman, Nobel Prize winner, 1912-2006
Milton Friedman, a Nobel Prize winner, and one of the most influential economists of the 20th century, died in San Francisco on Thursday 16 November, aged 94.