Central Banking
Bank publishes first QE quarterly
Quantitative easing by the Bank of England has succeeded in reducing gilt yields, and narrowing spreads on commercial paper and corporate bonds, but the Bank on Monday cautioned that it will take some time to determine the full effect of its purchases.
Inflation targeting: its roots and rationale
Research published by the International Monetary Fund uncovers the intellectual origins and reasons for inflation targeting.
Malaysia's Zeti on how to foster SME growth
In this highly challenging environment, small- and medium-sized enterprises need to initiate their own measures to achieve greater cost efficiency and to enhance productivity improvements, Zeti Akhtar Aziz, the governor of Bank Negara Malaysia, has said.
Philippines' Tetangco mindful of inflation
Monetary policy in 2009 will continue to pursue prudent rate movements mindful of price stability as the primary mandate, Amando Tentangco, the governor of the Central Bank of the Philippines, has said.
Nepal Rastra Bank - Annual Report 06/07
Economic growth in Nepal remained weak in 2006/07, the country's central bank said in its latest Annual Report.
Swiss economy to take 3% hit - SNB's Roth
Jean-Pierre Roth, chairman of the Swiss National Bank, has said that GDP this year is expected to contract by 3%, suggesting a less severe recession than in Germany or the United Kingdom.
Fed reveals Maiden Lane assets
In a bid to enhance transparency, and in doing so appease anger on the Hill, the Federal Reserve on Thursday released information about the assets it holds of American International Group (AIG), the beleaguered insurer, and Bear Stearns, a now-defunct…
ECB wants more info on collateral - report
The European Central Bank (ECB) could toughen up its collateral rules by forcing banks to disclose more detail about the instruments provided in return for the Frankfurt-based institution's funds, say reports.
EU devises new rules for rating agencies
The European Parliament on Thursday approved a batch of rules aimed at enhancing the transparency and performance of credit rating agencies, under fire for their role in the crisis.
RBI's Mohan wants rethink on asset-price bubbles
The relationship between monetary policy and asset prices needs to be revisited, said Rakesh Mohan, a deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India.
Fed's Hoenig: no firm is too big to fail
Thomas Hoenig, the president of the Kansas City Federal Reserve, has said that no firm is too big to fail.
Japan's Shirakawa: macroprudential view crucial
It is becoming increasingly important for policymakers to sharpen macroprudential perspectives, said Massaki Shirakawa, the governor of the Bank of Japan.
PBOC - China Payment System Development Report
Payment services tended to be diversified and increasingly market-oriented in 2007, notes the latest China Payment System Development Report from the People's Bank of China.
China stockpiling gold
China has increased its gold reserves by 76% since 2003, said Hu Xiaolian, a vice president of People's Bank of China and the administrator of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, on Friday.
Turkey and the crisis
Monetary authorities in countries like Turkey, where relatively low increases have been observed in risk premia, have been able to cuts rates significantly, explained Durmus Yilmaz, the governor of the country's central bank.
Markets bought Paulson "teaser freezer" plan
Research from the Richmond Federal Reserve shows that investors were initially optimistic that former US Treasury secretary Hank Paulson's so-called "teaser freezer" plan would improve economic conditions.
Denmark's Bernstein admits options running out
Nils Bernstein, the governor of the National Bank of Denmark, has acknowledged that the central bank is running out of room to manoeuvre.
National Bank of Macedonia - Annual Report 2008
The Macedonian banking system remained sound and stable last year despite the global financial turmoil, the country's central bank said in its latest Annual Report.
Canada suffers record contraction
Canada's GDP contracted by an annualised rate of 7.3% in the first quarter of 2009, the fastest rate on record, according to the Bank of Canada.
China's economy on the up: central banker
Record lending by commercial banks and improved liquidity in the first quarter of 2009 suggests end-2008 marked a turning point in China's economic fortunes, said Yi Gang, deputy governor of the People's Bank of China.
Indian cut smaller than expected
The Reserve Bank of India cut interest rates by a quarter point on Tuesday, less than many observers had been predicting.
Icelandic rate setters divided on April cut
Iceland monetary-policy makers voted four to one to cut rates by 150 basis points, minutes of the April meeting revealed.
Bernanke, Paulson forced Merill deal: BoA chief
Ben Bernanke, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, and Hank Paulson, a former US treasury secretary, have been accused of pressurising Bank of America to go ahead with their takeover of investment bank Merrill Lynch after they attempted to back out of…
No link between loan constraints and productivity
Financial constraints do not lower productivity in most sectors of the economy, research from the International Monetary Fund suggests.