Central Banking
ECB's Gonzalez-Paramo on global imbalances
In the speech 'Central banks and global imbalances: Introduction to the round table' given on 9 June Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Paramo of the ECB said the ECB takes account of the euro's exchange rate when it sets interest rates, but it is only one factor in…
Trichet on activism & alertness in monetary policy
In the speech 'Activism and alertness in monetary policy' given on 8 June Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said we are not in a position that we would judge "abnormal", in the sense that we would have to increase as rapidly as possible our interest rates…
Guynn on the next stage of the housing cycle
In the speech 'Adjusting to the next stage of the housing cycle' given on 7 June Jack Guynn of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta said core inflation may have already breached its acceptable upper level and the Federal Reserve must be ready to reset…
ECB's Papademos on central banks in 21st century
In the speech 'Central banks in the 21st century' given on 8 June Lucas Papademos of the ECB said he agrees that asset price bubbles are difficult to identify in real time and are thus often only identified ex post.
BOJ's Iwata sees chance of sustained growth
Bank of Japan deputy governor Kazumasa Iwata said on Thursday 8 June that Japan's economy was moving from a period of deflation to normal growth.
Weber: Rate moves not subject to FX considerations
Bundesbank president and European Central Bank council member Axel Weber said Friday 9 June that the ECB cannot make interest rate decisions with reference to the level of the euro.
Senate likely to vote on Fed's Kohn June 14
The U.S. Senate Banking Committee will likely vote on the nomination of Federal Reserve Board Governor Donald Kohn to be vice chairman at the central bank on June 14, a spokesman was quoted as saying on Thursday 8 June.
Fed, under pressure, may go ahead with increase
According to this article by John Berry of Bloomberg, published Friday 9 June, Federal Reserve officials now seem likely to raise US interest rates later this month.
Bernanke's Commencement address
In the speech 'Commencement address' given on 9 June Ben Bernanke of the Federal Reserve said the revival in U.S. business productivity since the mid-1990s still has some way to run.
Comment: Papademos on asset bubbles
In a speech in Madrid last week, the ECB vice-president, Lucas Papademos, drew a line of distinction between the ECB's policy on asset prices and that of the US Fed. In doing so he sought to communicate that the Issing legacy is firmly in tact.
ECB publishes SIPS report
On 31 May 2006, the Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) approved the "Business continuity oversight expectations for systemically important payment systems (SIPS)" report (published Friday 9 June).
White House's Lazear: Stocks slide not alarming
Top White House economist Edward Lazear on Thursday 9 June played down concerns about recent declines in U.S. stock prices and weakness in the U.S. dollar.
Russia cuts US dollar holdings
Russia's central bank said on Thursday 8 June that it would cut its dollar reserves, while increasing its holdings of euros.
What did Bernanke say?
According to this editorial published Wednesday 7 June, Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke is probably obsessed with central bank transparency.
Regime change?
According to this article by Steve Hanke, published 5 June 2006, in the months before the meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in April, the IMF appeared to be in its twilight.
Rosenberg on the Riksbank's forecasts & mon policy
In the speech 'The Riksbank's forecasts and current monetary policy' given on 8 June Irma Rosenberg of the Sveriges Riksbank said she believes it is time for less expansionary monetary policy.
Comment: Rates on the up
Monetary policymakers from Mumbia to Madrid to Pretoria stepped firmly on the monetary brakes yesterday, with no less than six central banks hiking rates.
ECB raises rates, sees further hikes ahead
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet said Thursday 8 June that the ECB is likely to raise interest rates again in future if the euro zone economy continues to recover.
Macklem on floating dollar, anchored inflation
In the speech 'Floating Dollar, Anchored Inflation: The Role of the Exchange Rate in Canada's Monetary Policy Framework' given on 8 June Tiff Macklem of the Bank of Canada said the Canadian dollar's rapid recent appreciation reflects strong demand for…
Bank of Spain governor appointed to IMF post
The IMF said Wednesday 7 June it has appointed Bank of Spain governor Jaime Caruana as head of a new IMF department that will be responsible for all aspects of the Fund's financial, capital market and monetary work.
Caruana at the ECB's Governing Council Dinner
In a speech given on 7 June Jaime Caruana of the Bank of Spain said the ECB's monetary policy has been positive for the euro zone economy, but it needs to be supported by economic reforms by euro zone governments.
BOJ urged to maintain zero rate policy
Japan's government has urged the central bank to maintain its zero interest rates policy in order not to choke off the country's economic recovery.
Brazil's Meirelles says growth is sustainable
In an address to foreign investors on the first day of the International Conference of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America, the president of Brazil's central bank, Henrique Meirelles, affirmed that Brazilian growth is sustainable.
Kohn: Nomination as Vice Chairman to the Board
In testimony given on 8 June Donald Kohn of the Federal Reserve said that rising prices had raised an inflation "warning flag" that demanded attention, in the latest hawkish remarks from central bank policymakers.