Central Banking
Zhou parries calls for imbalances adjustment
Zhou Xiaochuan, the governor of the People's Bank of China, said that the central bank would not allow for a faster appreciation of the renminbi to reduce global imbalances.
Norway raises rates by 25 basis points
The Central Bank of Norway's rate-setting executive board voted on Wednesday to increase its benchmark sight deposit rate by a quarter of a percentage point to 5.25%.
Riksbank appoints new financial stability deputy
Lars Frisell is set to become the new deputy head of the financial stability department at the Riksbank in mid-December.
Rock raises lender of last resort issue for EU
One important aspect of the Northern Rock crisis in the UK has been to make market participants wonder what would happen if a similar-sized institution got into difficulties in a small or medium-sized EU member state.
Bank loans an offer Italy's criminals can refuse
Italy's underground economy does hold back financial deepening, research published by the Bank of Italy finds.
Carry trade returns high but losses heavy
Though carry trades in various Asian currencies tend to outperform major stock markets, there is a relatively high frequency of large negative returns, research published by the Bank for International Settlements finds.
Banco de la Republica - Annual Report 2007
At 6.8%, the Colombian growth rate in 2006 surpassed all predictions.
US-style scheme could have stopped Rock run
A US-style deposit insurance scheme would have been a "real help" in halting the run on Northern Rock, Britain's chief regulator said on Tuesday.
Padoa-Schioppa urges haste on EU supervision
Europe must act decisively to enhance its supervisory structures, said Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa, Italy's economy and finance minister, on Tuesday.
SWFs would follow private equity guidelines
Sovereign wealth funds would be willing to enter into the voluntary code of conduct set out in the Walker Review, an influential report on private equity governance standards and transparency, the author says.
Chinese inflation surpasses previous peak
China's inflation accelerated further in November after matching the 11-year peak reached in August the previous month.
Dodge reveals lessons learned in final speech
To mark the end of his term as governor of the Bank of Canada and more than 35 years devising public-sector economic policy, David Dodge spoke on the three most important lessons that he had learned.
Central Bank of Madagascar - Annual Report 2006
Madagascar's economy grew by 4.8% in 2006, boosted by the strong performance of the construction, transport and tourism industries.
Australia's Stevens on new communication policy
Glenn Stevens, the governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, on Tuesday emphasised the importance of the changes in the central bank's communication strategy.
South Africans' inflation expectations
South African economic agents are neither exclusively rational nor exclusively adaptive in forming inflation expectations, research published by the South African Reserve Bank finds.
Fed opts for quarter-point cut
The Federal Reserve's rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) voted on Tuesday to cut rates by 25 basis points to 4.25%.
UBS reveals $10 billion subprime loss
UBS, a bank, said on Monday that it would write down $10 billion-worth of subprime losses, the second largest amount revealed so far. The bank also said it could make a loss for the financial year because of its subprime liabilities.
Canada spells out SWF requirements
The Canadian government will block investment by state-owned enterprises, such as sovereign wealth funds, unless corporate governance and commercial standards are adhered to.
GIC could get 9% UBS stake from $9.8 billion loan
The Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC), a sovereign wealth fund, on Monday said that its Sfr11 billion ($9.8 billion) investment in UBS, the bank, could lead to it acquiring as much as a 9% stake in the company.
Finland's Liikanen warns of dual threat
Erkki Liikanen, the governor of the Bank of Finland, said on Monday that the downside risks to growth have risen and inflation was set to accelerate.
Cyprus holds rates at 4.5%
The Central Bank of Cyprus's rate-setting monetary policy committee voted on Monday to keep its benchmark rate at 4.5% in its last scheduled decision.
Central Bank of Belize - Annual Report 2006
Growth accelerated to 5.8% in 2006, boosted by the launch of commercial oil operations.
Price fall the main cause of subprime delinquency
A fall in house prices has been the single biggest contributor to the rise in subprime delinquency levels, research published by the San Francisco Federal Reserve finds.
Credit channel has bigger effect on big banks
Rate hikes have a greater impact on the lending behaviour of bigger banks than smaller institutions, research published by the Chicago Federal Reserve finds.