Central Banking
Chile's Corbo highlights main risks
Three phenomena threaten economic stability in Chile, according to Vittorio Corbo, the governor of the central bank.
Is a price or inflation target best for stability?
A paper looking at the costs and benefits of price-level and inflation targeting as tools for stabilisation policy has been published by the Bank of Canada.
CBs must note credit crunch effect of Basel II
The procyclical effects of Basel II could increase the likelihood of credit crunches in downturns. Patricia Jackson, the head of the Prudential Advisory team at Ernst & Young and a former member of the Basel Committee, believes it is important for…
Dubai in regulatory pact with US
The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the United States banking supervisors. The Federal Reserve, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the…
Old Lady could get more privacy under new rules
The Bank of England could soon be able to rescue troubled lenders in secret as a result of the recent Northern Rock crisis.
Sharia banking not "cosmetic" - Indonesia's Siti
"We don't want the sharia units to be mere 'cosmetic lipstick' for the banks, where they say they have such Islamic-based banking businesses but the fact is the units only have an inappropriately small market share," deputy governor of the Bank Indonesia…
Inflation behind first Brazil hold in two years
Fears that economic growth could lead to inflation were behind the Central Bank of Brazil's decision to hold rates for the first time since July 2005 earlier this month, minutes published on Thursday reveal.
Indonesia still vulnerable to shock
Indonesia's current economic conditions mirror those that sparked the 1997-1998 Asian financial crisis and the central bank is working to protect the country from the impact of a potentially similar scenario, Budi Mulya, a director at Bank Indonesia,…
Czechs hold rates at 3.25%
The Czech National Bank decided on Thursday to keep its benchmark two-week repo rate at 3.25%.
Crisis not yet over - Switzerland's Hildebrand
The subprime crisis that triggered the credit market turbulence is undoubtedly not yet over and further global financial market turbulence is likely to slow down the Swiss economy, said vice-president of the Swiss National Bank Philipp Hildebrand in a…
Liquidity risk is top issue: Luxembourg's Mersch
In the wake of the recent banking crisis, the most important regulatory issue is ensuring that the liquidity risk relating to complex structured products is adequately assessed, according to Yves Mersch, the governor of the Central Bank of Luxembourg.
Papua New Guinea - Annual Report 2006
The Bank of Papua New Guinea almost doubled its foreign currency investments in 2006, spending Kina 4.01 billion ($1.4 billion) in comparison with Kina 2.06 billion ($720 million) the previous year.
External rigidity is behind lumpy price adjustment
External rigidity, not infrequent price changes, is the reason for large adjustment costs, research published by the Banque de France finds.
Czech Republic breaks free of EBRD support
The Czech Republic has become the first country to opt out of funding from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the development bank set up to invest in the central and eastern European transition economies.
UK funds unlikely to have helped in crisis
Alistair Darling, the UK chancellor of the exchequer, implied on Thursday that injecting funds into the money markets would have done little to lessen the impact of the subprime crisis in the UK.
New shocks may emerge, Old Lady warns
Holders of stock, commercial real estate and the US dollar could be the next victims of the banking crisis, the Bank of England predicted in the latest edition of its financial stability report.
New Zealand leaves rates at 8.25%
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand decided on Thursday to hold its benchmark official cash rate at 8.25%.
Chavez takes control of Venezuelan Central Bank
The Venezuelan government has regained control of the central bank following a parliamentary vote on Wednesday.
UK business view used to judge economic impact
Kate Barker, a member of the Bank of England's monetary policy committee, will use business surveys and housing market indicators to judge whether the downside risks to the UK's inflation outlook have increased.
Netherlands Antilles - Annual Report 2006
The Netherlands Antilles economy grew by 1.5% in 2006, the same pace as in 2005.
IMF reform needs compromise to succeed: De Rato
Rodrigo de Rato, the outgoing managing director of the International Monetary Fund, stressed that if reform efforts were to be successful, a give-and-take spirit was needed.
Non-bank financial firms' impact on the eurozone
The growth in the amount of deposits held by financial institutions other than banks in the euro area has led to the integration and deepening of the region's financial markets and a shift in the attitude of investors towards risk, research by the…
Fed's regulatory response to subprime revealed
Better consumer information, rules to address unfair lending practices and a more coordinated enforcement of consumer-protection laws are needed to prevent another subprime crisis, according to the Federal Reserve.
Australian inflation stats make rate hike likely
A November rate hike looks a near certainty after Reserve Bank of Australia data showed a higher-than-expected percentage-point jump in inflation.