Central Banking
UK rates held at 5.5%
The Bank of England's monetary policy committee (MPC) on Thursday voted to keep the benchmark bank rate at 5.5%.
ECB holds rates, warns of inflation risk
The European Central Bank kept rates on hold at 4% on Thursday, with its president, Jean-Claude Trichet, reiterating that upside risks to price stability were "fully confirmed".
Czech governor misquoted on currency comments
Comments attributed to Zdenik Tuma, the governor of the Czech National Bank, which led to exchange rate fluctuations, have misquoted him, the Czech National Bank has said.
IMF growth forecasts fall on purchasing power data
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has lowered its growth estimate for 2007 by half a percentage point after reviewing research published by the International Comparison Program, a global statistical initiative involving over 100 countries.
Muto lists criteria for Bank of Japan decisions
The Bank of Japan should assess three phenomena when deciding on monetary policy, says Toshiro Muto, a deputy governor.
Central banks get cheaper cash from companies
Private-sector involvement in the printing of banknotes substantially lowers costs, research published by Colombia's Banco de la Republica finds.
Central Bank of Djibouti - Annual Report 2005
Djibouti's economy expanded by 3.2% in 2005. The growth was largely supported by a strong trading relationship with Ethiopia and improvements to the country's infrastructure.
Bank of Canada plans to increase transparency
Canada's central bank will review whether to provide more information about its predictions for the economic outlook in a bid to improve transparency.
France renews onslaught on ECB policy
The French government has resumed its campaign calling for the European Central Bank (ECB) to cut rates.
Decision supports ECB on counterfeit check
The European Central Bank (ECB) won backing from a French court on Wednesday for the right to use a method to detect fake notes.
Fed's Poole says risk of recession unclear
William Poole, the president of the St Louis Federal Reserve, said on Wednesday that it was still too early to tell whether the housing sector's problems would push the US economy into recession.
New Korean government to leave central bank alone
South Korea's incoming government, elected in December, will respect the Bank of Korea's independence, an official said on Wednesday.
Should rate policy note Wall Street's influence?
Reflecting on the Federal Reserve's recent decisions, Stephen Cecchetti, the Rosenberg professor of global finance at the Brandeis International Business School, asks whether it is wise to separate actions to ensure financial stability from those to aid…
Bank of Burundi - Annual Report 2006
Burundi's economy grew by 5.1% in 2006, boosted by the buoyant coffee industry.
Eurozone retail banking data shows convergence
Though cross-border differences in interest-rate levels persist, retail banking markets in the eurozone are becoming more integrated, research published by the Bank of Finland finds.
Fed's Rosengren calls for banks to declare losses
Banks must fully disclose their losses to limit the damage of the subprime fallout, says Eric Rosengren, the president of the Boston Fed.
UK chancellor blames Rock run on regulator
Alistair Darling, the British chancellor of the exchequer, admitted on Tuesday that the Financial Services Authority (FSA) was culpable in the run on Northern Rock, but said he still planned to grant the banking regulator more power.
Israeli central bank set for greater independence
Israel's new central banking law will create a more independent institution, said Stanley Fischer, the governor of the Bank of Israel.
Fed's Plosser stays hawkish on rates
Charles Plosser, the president of the Philadelphia Federal Reserve and a voting member of the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), hinted that he would back a rate hold when the committee meets later this month.
Bank Indonesia avoids rate cut on price fears
Bank Indonesia's rate-setting board voted to keep rates on hold at 8% on Tuesday after inflation remained way above the central bank's medium-term target in December.
Fukui notes success of Franco-Japanese relations
Japan and France have established a particularly constructive relationship in many economic spheres, says Toshihiko Fukui, the governor of the Bank of Japan.
Bangladesh Bank - Annual Report 2006-2007
The Bangladeshi economy grew by 6.5% from July 2006 to June 2007, boosted by the strong performance of the manufacturing and services industries.
Japan's Iwata praises new communication strategy
The Bank of Japan's new communication policy framework has improved both transparency and flexibility, says Kazumasa Iwata, a deputy governor at the central bank.
Central banks partly to blame for crunch
The creation of excessive global liquidity by key central banks was one of a number of phenomena that led to the current financial crisis, says Willem Buiter, a former member of the Bank of England's monetary policy committee, now an economics professor…