United States
BoE's Nickell on monetary policy
In the speech 'Monetary policy, demand and inflation' given on 31 January Stephen Nickell of the Bank of England set out his reasons for wanting an interest rate cut this month and last.
Bush to nominate Lazear to head CEA
US President George W. Bush has picked a business school professor, Edward Lazear, to be the chairman of his Council of Economic Advisers, the White House announced late Monday 30 January.
Senate votes on Bernanke, FOMC meets
The US Senate is aiming for a midday vote on the nomination of White House adviser Ben Bernanke to be chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve, Senate leadership aides were quoted by Reuters as saying on Tuesday 31 January.
Fed will raise rates as Bernanke waits
The pending change in the chairmanship of the Federal Reserve won't stop the FOMC raising US interest rates by a quarter point when they meet on 31 Jan for the 14th consecutive meeting, according to this article published on Tuesday 24 January.
Comment: Talking points in January
January has been an eventful month in central banking circles. Debate intensified at the Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan over their monetary policy frameworks, while the Bank of Italy and the State Bank of Pakistan saw new governors taking office…
Comment: Greenspan's legacy
As the curtains are drawn on the Alan Greenspan era at the Federal Reserve, the debate over whether or not the Fed should have increased interest rates to curb asset bubbles rages on. This debate misses the extent to which the Fed's actions may have…
Greenspan receives Dept of Defense medal
Outgoing Federal Reserve chairman, Alan Greenspan, was presented with the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service by US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on Monday 23 January.
Bush nominates two to Fed board
The White House announced on Friday 27 January it was nominating Randall Kroszner and Kevin Warsh to fill two vacancies on the Federal Reserve's seven-member board of governors.
Report says Greenspan to set up consulting firm
Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan plans to establish a consulting firm called Greenspan Associates in Washington after he leaves the central bank at the end of the month, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday 26 January.
Cheney praises Fed's 'superb' performance
US Vice President Dick Cheney said the White House has no argument with the way the Federal Reserve conducts monetary policy, but said Alan Greenspan advised him along time ago not to comment on Fed policy.
Fed's Fisher on process of creative destruction
In a speech given on 19 January Richard Fisher of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas said there is a dynamic tension in Japan today.
NY Fed's Geithner on global imbalances
In the speech 'Policy implications of global imbalances' given on 23 January Timothy Geithner of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said the massive and growing U.S. current account deficit presents a threat to the world economy and an eventual…
Chicago Fed National Activity Index, December 05
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index for December 2005, published 25 January, was +0.08, down from +0.59 in November. Two of the four broad categories of indicators that make up the index made small positive contributions, and two made small negative…
Merrill Lynch hires former NY Fed chief
William McDonough, former president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, has joined Wall Street investment bank Merrill Lynch & Co. as vice chairman and special adviser to the chairman on business development, the company said Monday 23 January.
Time to judge the whole record of Alan Greenspan
According to this article published Thursday 19 January, Alan Greenspan was widely seen as giving his blessing to the tax cuts of 2001 - the beginning of the end of a solid decade of progress on fiscal discipline.
Comment: Geithner sounds a loud warning
For the second time this month New York Fed president and vice-chairman of the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee, Timothy Geithner, has publicly adopted a view on a major policy issue that differs substantially from that of incoming Fed chairman…
Richmond's Lacker on the economic outlook for 2006
In the speech 'The economic outlook for 2006' given on 18 January, Jeffrey Lacker of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond said it's still "too soon" to say the threat to inflation presented by soaring energy prices is over.
Fed says foreign central banks boost debt holdings
Federal Reserve data released on Thursday 19 January showed foreign central banks were net buyers of US debt in the latest week, with purchases of agency securities slightly exceeding a decline in Treasury holdings.
Fed's Poole: Rate rise forecast 'sensible'
St. Louis Fed President William Poole said in an interview published on Monday 23 January that inflation is less worrying now but one or more interest-rate hikes by the Fed could be considered a "sensible forecast".
SF Fed's Yellen on 2006: A year of transition
In the speech '2006: A year of transition at the Federal Reserve' given on 19 January Janet Yellen of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco said a quantified inflation target would help the Federal Reserve meet policy challenges and its adoption…
Pushed, prodded, Greenspan leaves openness legacy
This article published on Wednesday 18 January says one of the abiding legacies Alan Greenspan will leave behind when he departs the Federal Reserve at the end of January is a major shift toward openness at the U.S. central bank.
Philadelphia Fed Business Outlook Survey, Jan 2006
According to the firms surveyed for the Philadelphia Fed's Business Outlook Survey, January 2006, activity in the region's manufacturing sector continued to expand at the beginning of 2006.
Yellen says Fed shouldn't target bubbles
It should not be the Federal Reserve's role to directly target its policies at bursting possible asset bubbles, San Francisco Fed president Janet Yellen said on Thursday 19 January.
Comment: Fed debate continues
Janet Yellen, president of the San Francisco Fed, on Thursday 20 January came out in strong support of incoming chairman Ben Bernanke's suggestion that the Fed should adopt fully-fledged inflation targetting.