Central Banking
SARB raises rates as inflation soars
The South African Reserve Bank raised the key repo interest rate by 50 basis points to 9.5% on 7 June, after inflation surged through the upper band of the central bank's 3% to 6% target range in April.
Dealing with globalisation - Iceland's Oddsson
Opening a conference in Iceland the governor of the central bank, David Oddsson, set out what he sees as the main challenges for small open economies with independent currencies in dealing with globalisation.
Chicago Fed paper on mobile payments
Will mobile payments go the way of the stalled smart-card revolution of the 1990s? This Chicago Fed letter looks at these new payments fit into the larger payment system.
German parliament approves Bundesbank board cuts
The upper house of the German parliament has approved legislation to allow two seats to be cut from the board of the Deutsche Bundesbank, the country's central bank.
No policy shift for currency, says UAE governor
Investors expecting the dollar-pegged dirhan to appreciate received a strong message yesterday from the governor of the United Arab Emirates central bank, Sultan Nasser Al Suwedi, who said "We rule out any change for the forseeable future".
South Korea keeps key rate unchanged at 4.5%
The central bank of South Korea today decided to keep its key interest rate steady for the tenth month in succession, in an effort to boost economic recovery.
Reforming the IMF
The latest meeting of the IMF's executive board discussed key elements of the Fund's reform agenda: modernising its surveillance or economic oversight, bringing members' voting shares in line with their economic weight, developing a sustainable income…
Latvia: Annual Report
While Latvia enjoyed rapid economic growth in 2006 - the highest in EU - this was tempered by signs of macroeconomic imbalance, the governor noted in the central bank's annual report.
Peru's rates steady as inflation remains subdued
Peru's central bank yesterday held the overnight lending rate unchanged for the thirteenth consecutive month at its five-year high of 4.5%. Infaltion remains low and stable, despite rapid economic growth.
South Africa's reserves surge in one month
New data from the South African Reserve Bank has revealed that net gold and foreign exchange reserves rose to $25.48bn in May from $24.59bn the previous month. Gross reserves were also up to $27.85bn from $27,02bn.
NZ interest rate up to record 8%
The markets were taken by surprise on 7 June when the New Zealand central bank raised its key interest rate to a record 8% from 7.75%, in efforts to stem inflation.
Indonesia cuts for twelfth time since May 2006
As widely expected, Bank Indonesia reduced its policy interest rate - used as a reference for bill sales - by a quarter point to 8.5% today, taking advantage of the lowest inflation rate in six months. It was the twelfth rate cut since May 2006.
Brazil cuts lending rate to record low of 12%
Following the recovery of the Brazilian currency, which has held inflation at an eight-year low, the central bank lowered the benchmark lending rate by half a percentage point to a record low of 12%.
World Bank issues Russian inflation warning
The World Bank has warned that a massive influx of capital into Russia in the wake of major bank loans and share offerings by Russian companies could result in a loss of control over inflation.
Bank of England maintains bank rate at 5.5%
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has voted to maintain the official bank rate paid on commercial bank reserves at 5.5%.
Interview with Malta's Bonello
In a recent interview, the governor of Malta's central bank, Michael Bonello, sought to assuage fears that the changeover to the euro in 2008 would lead to price rises.
HKMA: Annual Report
A 9.5% return on the exchange fund and the establishment of payment system links in renminbi and ringitt were among the highlights of 2006, according to the Hong Kong Monetary Authority's 216-page review of the year.
Federal Reserve: Annual Report
The Federal Reserve released its 93rd annual report on 6 June, in which it said "The US economy turned in another solid performance in 2006, although the pattern of growth was uneven."
Speech by Riksbank's berg
Speaking at a meeting at Handelsbanken in Stockholm, Sveriges Riksbank deputy governor Svante berg argued that "productivity will probably show a slower increase in the future. Combined with higher wage increases, this indicates higher inflationary…
Israel's Fischer on new banking law
Addressing the Knesset, Stanley Fischer, the governor of the Bank of Israel, urged lawmakers to push forward with a new law on the supervision of banking fees by the Supervisor of Banks.
Denmark's Annual Report
Denmark's central bank started work on a new note series in 2006, the annual report notes, with the series planned to start hitting the streets in 2009.
ECB: Inflation-linked bonds benefit central banks
In a recent occasional working paper the European Central Bank argues that "the issuance of inflation-linked bonds has explicit benefits for central banks."
Asian infrastructure needs - Ng speech
"The immense yet unmet need for infrastructure investments in Asia" combined with Asian governments' desire to develop their capital markets constitute an ideal environment for infrastructure capital markets to take off, according to Ng Nam Sin,…
Australia keeps rate at six-year high
Glenn Stevens, Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, announced on 6 June that the central bank would keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged for the sixth meeting in succession. Rates remain unchanged at a six-year high of 6.25%.