Central Banking
Brazil continues intervention policy
The Central Bank of Brazil will continue its policy of buying American dollars on the spot market to bolster its foreign exchange reserves.
ECB's Papademos hints at rate rises
In one of the strongest hints at further rate rises for the eurozone later this year, Lucas Papademos, the Vice-President of the European Central Bank, said forecasts for economic growth in 2007 and 2008 are above the region's potential.
Fed announces FOMC's 2008 schedule
The US Federal Reserve, the American central bank, on 1 June announced the tentative schedule for next year's Federal Open Market Committee meetings.
No more gold sales for ECB
The European Central Bank announced on 1 July that it has no intention to sell more gold this year.
Fed minutes reveal worries over inflation, housing
The minutes of the latest monetary policy meeting of the Federal Reserve contained few surprises, but underlined the fact that policymakers remained concerned about an "upward drift in inflation expectations".
Draghi keen on governance reforms for banks
The governor of the Bank of Italy, Mario Draghi, told the central bank's shareholder at the conclusion of its annual meeting that he backs Italian lawmakers' current effort to reform the governance arrangement for the country's cooperative commercial…
Sweden's Rosenberg on interest rates
External price pressure and expectations of improvements in productivity were the reasons why Irma Rosenberg, a first deputy governor at Sweden's Riksbank, voted for rates to stay on hold at the monetary policy meeting at the start of the month, she said…
Fundanga on the outlook for the Zambian economy
After recording single-digit inflation for the first time in 30 years last year, Zambia's economy has slipped back somewhat in the first quarter of 2007, the governor of the central bank, Caleb Fundanga, told national radio.
Governor's deciding vote sees Czech rates up
The Czech Central Bank raised interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point to 2.75% on 31 May. The central bank's board was split, with three members voting for the hike and three for leaving rates unchanged. It then fell to governor, Zdenik Tma, to…
Bank of Italy - annual report
The Bank of Italy released its 2006 annual report on 31 May. On the occasion of the release, Mario Draghi, the governor of the central bank, commented on the Italian economy, saying that although its rate of growth is still one of the lowest in the euro…
Nishimura sees third quarter inflation rise
Kiyohiko Nishimura, a board member of the Bank of Japan, says inflation is likely to rise in October this year.
Canadian growth beats central bank forecast
The growth of the Canadian economy during the first quarter of this year was stronger than the central bank expected official statistic released on 31 May revealed. The upside shock appears to have sealed the case for rate hikes later this year.
UK's Blanchflower explains voting behaviour
In a speech on 30 May David Blanchflower, member of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee, said that he voted to raise rates for the first time since joining the MPC in June 2006 because he wanted to indicate to the public the Bank's intention…
Inflation breaches SARB's target
South Africa's targeted CPIX inflation has breached the South African Reserve Bank's 3% to 6% inflation target for the first time since August 2003.
Zoellick to replace Wolfowitz at World Bank
American president George W. Bush has named Robert Zoellick, a former US trade representative, as a replacement for Paul Wolfowitz as president of the World Bank.
Johnson leaves the Fed
Karen Johnson, director of the Division of International Finance at the Federal Reserve Board, will step down after nearly a decade in this position.
Euro lending and money growth slows
The European Central Bank's current tightening cycle appears to be starting to make its mark. Mortgage lending growth in the eurozone has slowed to the lowest for more than three years.
Rates up in Norway and Malta, Poland steady
The central banks of Norway and Malta raised interest rates on 30 May, while rates remained unchanged in Poland.
Why worry about inflation? - Sri Lankan deputy gov
In this speech W.A. Wijewardena, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, explains why "inflation is undoubtedly the public enemy number one."
The benefits of the SARB's transparency
This IMF Working Paper suggests that the increased transparency of monetary policy in South Africa since the late-1990s has helped to improve the accuracy of inflation and interest rate forecasts.
Australia's payments system review
The Reserve Bank of Australia formally initiated a consultation process for the review of its payments system on 29 May, with the release of a paper titled 'Reform of Australia's Payments System: Issues for the 2007/08 Review.'
Central Bank of Bahamas - Annual Report
Released in May, the Central Bank of Bahamas' annual report looks back at monetary policy as well as the broader economic environment affecting the island economy over the course of 2006. Looking ahead for 2007, the report provides details of a projected…
India's Reddy seeks lower inflation
Reserve Bank of India governor Y.V. Reddy says curbing inflation while managing the transition to a higher-growth path was the central bank's "overarching policy challenge."
RBNZ's Bollard gets second term
New Zealand's finance minister, Michael Cullen, reappointed Alan Bollard for a second five-year term, the Reserve Bank announced.