Central Banking
ECB's Trichet on economic integration
In the speech 'Economic integration in the euro area' given on 31 March Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said some eurozone countries are losing competitiveness due to high wage growth.
Canada's Dodge on an evolving IMF
In the speech 'The evolving international monetary order and the need for an evolving IMF' given on 30 March David Dodge of the Bank of Canada said the International Monetary Fund should virtually abandon the lending business and focus instead on…
Comment: Exposed currencies cause jitters
The Central Bank of Iceland raised interest rates by 75 basis points last week. The central bank is concerned over the possibility of further declines in the Icelandic krona, which has fallen 12% against the US dollar this year.
Tumpel-Gugerell on ECB, Italy & Eastern Europe
In the speech 'The European Central Bank, Italy and the integration of Eastern Europe' given on 31 March Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell of the ECB said the ECB's track record of containing inflation means that it does not have to hike interest rates…
Iran denies Swiss paper's claim of gold withdrawal
An informed source at the Central Bank of Iran was quoted by IRNA on Friday 31 March as denying a story published in a Swiss daily on the withdrawal of 250 tons of Iran's gold reserves from that country's Credit Bank.
Kansas Fed's Hoenig says US rates in neutral range
A Federal Reserve official said Friday 31 March that further economic data will let the U.S. central bank know how it should proceed on interest rates.
Central Bank of Kenya - Annual Report 2005
According to the Central Bank of Kenya's Annual Report 2005, economic performance during the year improved markedly from that witnessed in recent years.
India will grow faster with convertible rupee
According to this article published Monday 27 March, India's intention to make the rupee fully convertible could lead to full-fledged capital flight which could thrust the country into a serious banking and currency crisis.
Overhaul enhances Sri Lanka's standing in world
According to this article published on Tuesday 28 March, prominent among Sri Lanka's economic and financial reforms in the last two decades was the creation of a modern sophisticated payments infrastructure.
The battle of the central bankers
According to this article published on Wednesday 29 March, central banks around the world are now engaged in a decorous competition to demonstrate their superior communication skills.
Rivals line up for RBA succession
Australian Treasurer Peter Costello has just six months to find a replacement for Reserve Bank of Australia governor Ian Macfarlane. According to this article published on Sunday 26 March, Glenn Stevens may be favourite for the post, but there is still…
Canada's Dodge on global imbalances
In the speech 'Global imbalances: Why worry? What to do?' given on 29 March David Dodge of the Bank of Canada said large and persistent current account imbalances are a global problem and all countries must adopt policies that will allow market forces to…
Sweden's Rosenberg on monetary policy
In the speech 'Assessment of monetary policy' given on 30 March Irma Rosenberg of the Sveriges Riksbank said safeguarding confidence in the inflation target is of central importance for monetary policy.
Meirelles to stay at Brazil's central bank
At the inauguration ceremony of Brazil's new minister of finance, Guido Mantega, the president of the central bank, Henrique Meirelles, said that he will continue in his post.
McGauchie reappointed to RBA's board
Australian Treasurer Peter Costello on Thursday 30 March reappointed Telstra Corp. chairman Don McGauchie to the Reserve Bank of Australia's board for another five-year term.
BoE's Lomax questions MPC meetings
Bank of England deputy governor Rachel Lomax said in a speech in Oslo on Thursday 30 March that expectations for inflation have fallen and appear well anchored around the official target of 2.0 percent.
CBK's Mullei asked to leave office
Kenya's central bank governor has formally been asked to step down until a corruption case against him is decided, the government said on Thursday 30 March.
Bernanke says US can withstand dollar fall
The chronic U.S. trade gap need not fuel a "precipitous" decline in the dollar, but the economy may be able to shrug it off if it did, Federal Reserve Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said in a letter.
Comment: Developments in March
March was an eventful month in central banking circles. The Bank of Japan put an end to its "quantitative easing" policy and attention now turns to the timing of its first interest rate increase.
Central Bank of Lesotho - Annual Report 2004
According to the Central Bank of Lesotho's Annual Report 2004, the Lesotho economy is estimated to have regained some growth momentum in 2004.
Singapore MAS may tighten further
Singapore's monetary policy may turn more aggressive in April to subdue growing inflationary pressures, according to this article published Friday 24 March. Some banks are adopting a hawkish view because recent increases in the consumer price index have…
As rates rise, Asia's risky markets get riskier
The appetite for riskier Asian assets is strong, according to this article published Thursday 23 March, but rising interest rates raise the chance of investors dumping some of these assets and if sentiment turns suddenly, local markets could be…
Danmarks Nationalbank, Monetary Review 1st Q 2006
The Danmarks Nationalbank's Monetary Review for the First Quarter 2006, published 29 March, reports that the economic upswing has continued at full speed in Denmark.
RBI's Reddy on financial sector reform
In the speech 'Financial sector reform and financial stability' given on 10 March YV Reddy of the Reserve Bank of India ruled out speeding up the pace of external financial sector liberalisation.