Central Banking
IMF's de Rato says G7 open minded on gold sales
International Monetary Fund managing director Rodrigo Rato said the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations were "open-minded" about allowing the Fund to sell part of its gold reserves.
EU's Almunia says 'no problem' for exchange rates
Current exchange rates, mainly the value of the euro against the yen, pose no threat to the economy, the EU's Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Joaquin Almunia said in a magazine interview Tuesday 13 February.
Phil Fed's Survey of Professional Forecasters
The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia published its First Quarter 2007 Survey of Professional Forecasters on 13 February. Two measures of core inflation in the U.S. economy will decelerate in 2007 and hold nearly steady over the following two years,…
Mexican central banker sees no need for rate hike
A vice-governor of Mexico's central bank wrote in an article Monday 12 February Mexican food price hikes have not pushed up inflation expectations enough to merit an interest rate hike.
St Louis Fed's Poole on state of the U.S. economy
In the speech 'State of the U.S. economy' given on 9 February William Poole of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis warned that unexpectedly strong growth could spur the Fed to raise interest rates again.
RBA Statement on Monetary Policy, February 2007
The Reserve Bank of Australia published its February 2007 Statement on Monetary Policy on 12 February. In the report the RBA cut its inflation forecast for 2007, saying three interest-rate increases last year may have contained price pressures.
Canada paper on electronic trading platforms
This Bank of Canada Working Paper examines the impact of increased transparency, brought about by the introduction of three electronic trading systems, on the brokered interdealer market for Government of Canada benchmark securities.
Canada paper on monetary policy committees
The Bank of Canada Working Paper "Monetary policy committees in action: Is there room for improvement?" reviews economic, experimental, sociological and psychological studies to identify criteria for the optimal institutional setting of a central bank…
Cb of China (Taiwan) to change name
The Central Bank of China (Taiwan) announced Saturday 10 February it has changed its English name as shown on its website in a move to avoid possible confusion with financial institutions in China.
Trichet warns markets on carry trades risk
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet warned markets this weekend at the G7 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting that one-way bets in currency markets posed risks.
ECSDA calls for postponement on settlement system
The European Central Securities Depositories Association (ECSDA) has called for the European Central Bank to postpone plans to implement an integrated securities settlement system in the euro zone, the Financial Times reported.
PBOC's Zhou says inflation data being studied
People's Bank of China governor Zhou Xiaochuan told reporters Friday 9 February the central bank is studying inflation data carefully to see if the recent acceleration is due to real inflationary pressures or seasonal factors.
Buba's Weber says German growth trend 'intact'
Bundesbank president Axel Weber said Saturday 10 February at the meeting of G7 finance ministers and central bank governors the underlying growth trend in Germany remains intact and that the outlook for euro zone growth remains positive.
Sweden's Riksbank reports SEK 7.9bn profit
In its annual report presented to the Swedish parliament Monday 12 February, the Riksbank reported a profit of SEK 7.9 billion for 2006.
Dispute over Slovenia's new central bank governor
Slovenia's president Janez Drnovsek refused on Monday 12 February to withdraw his candidate for the new central bank governor, despite fierce opposition to the appointment from the ruling party, the Associated Press said.
Gono hits bull's eye
This article from the Financial Gazette, published Thursday 8 February, says the heated debate rages on after Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono refused to budge an inch on devaluation.
Cleveland Fed's new Head of Banking Supervision
Stephen Jenkins has been appointed senior vice president responsible for the banking supervision function at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, effective 1 March 2007.
RBNZ appoints John McDermott Head of Economics
Dr John McDermott has been appointed Head of Economics at the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, the RBNZ said Friday 9 February.
Central Bank of Barbados - Annual Report 2005
According to the Central Bank of Barbados' Annual Report 2005, strengthened mainly by significant increases in the non-traded sectors, especially construction, real GDP is estimated to have grown for the fourth consecutive year, rising by 3.8% in 2005.
Bank of Mauritius - Annual Report 2005-2006
According to the Bank of Mauritius' Annual Report 2005-2006, the economic performance during fiscal year 2005-06 was characterized by a real GDP growth of 3.5 per cent, and an increase in the budget deficit as a proportion of GDP to 5.3 per cent.
Bank of Greece - Annual Report 2005
According to the Bank of Greece's Annual Report 2005, despite the slowdown in the GDP growth rate in 2005, the performance of the Greek economy in 2005 is considered satisfactory.
IMF's Portugal at the Debt Managers Conference
In a speech at a Debt Managers Conference given on 8 February Murilo Portugal of the IMF said debt managers have very successfully taken advantage of market opportunities to improve the structure of their debt portfolios.
What explains the US net income balance?
Despite a significant deterioration in the US net foreign asset position, there has not been a corresponding deterioration in the net income balance. In fact, there has generally been a net income surplus, according to this IMF Working Paper published…
Trichet 'inflexibly attached' to ECB independence
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet, told reporters Thursday 8 February he is 'inflexibly attached' to implementing EU Treaty provisions that protect the central bank's independence from political meddling.