Central Banking
Rato on the IMF's commitment to low-income states
In the speech 'Renewing the IMF's commitment to low-income countries' given on 31 July Rodrigo de Rato of the IMF said donors should offer developing countries alternative sources of financing rather than just telling them to avoid debt.
Glenn Stevens appointed governor of the RBA
Australian Treasurer Peter Costello announced on Tuesday 1 August that Glenn Stevens has been appointed governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia for a term of seven years, with effect from 18 Sep.
Australia bank chief faces a tough debut
According to this article by Reuters, published Tuesday 1 August, new RBA governor Glenn Stevens is likely to upset politicians and Australia's heavily indebted homeowners, with his chief concern the control of inflation.
Jarai sees euro entry hopes unlucky before 2013
Hungary's central bank (NBH) governor Zsigmond Jarai said on Tuesday 1 August that Hungary's economy was not on the right track and that it has become questionable whether euro adoption could be possible even in 2013.
Greenspan ghost writer gives memoirs 'pace'
Dame Marjorie Scardino, chief executive of Penguin's parent company Pearson, said Monday 31 July that Alan Greenspan had agreed to allow a ghost writer to help to "make [his memoir] more pacey - because Alan is an academic".
Comment: Has Trichet's gambit paid off?
The ECB heads into this week's monetary policy meeting with markets fully expecting a 25 basis point hike. Has the decision to have an unscheduled meeting, which effectively pre-announced the decision, changed the prospects for the course of eurozone…
SARB's Mboweni on education
In the speech 'Education transforms lives - It changed mine' given on 28 July Tito Mboweni of the SARB said South Africa's economy can maintain a growth rate of more than four percent in 2006, but high global oil prices and domestic factors pose …
National Bank of Slovakia - Annual Report 2005
According to the National Bank of Slovakia's Annual Report 2005, in 2005 the Slovak economy has come to feel the effects of the ongoing reform process and integration efforts, with the NBS playing its part as well.
Cross-border bank contagion in Europe
This European Central Bank Working Paper, published 27 July, analyses cross-border contagion in a sample of European banks from January 1994 to January 2003.
Swiss National Bank, Quarterly Bulletin 2, June 06
According to the Swiss National Bank's Quarterly Bulletin for June 2006, in the first quarter of 2006, economic growth picked up in most large economies.
IMF paper on inflation forecasting
The IMF Working Paper "The role of seasonality and monetary policy in inflation forecasting" suggests a new econometric approach for jointly determining inflation forecasts and monetary policy stances, particularly where seasonal fluctuations of economic…
Turkey's year-end inflation may double target
Year-end inflation in Turkey is likely to climb to 10.5 pct, double the official target of 5.0 pct, central bank governor Durmus Yilmaz said Friday 28 July.
RBI may keep rupee grip post convertibility
The Reserve Bank of India is unlikely to let the rupee off the leash even if the country opts for fuller capital convertibility, according to this article by Reuters published Thursday 27 July.
Bank of Italy adopts new statute
The Bank of Italy has approved a new statute proposed by governor Mario Draghi, La Stampa reported Friday 28 July. One new measure will see the directorate increasing from four to five members.
RBA's McKibbin reappointed for five years
Australian Treasurer Peter Costello has reappointed professor Warwick McKibbin to the board of the Reserve Bank of Australia for a second five-year term beginning Monday 31 July.
Mishkin says forecasts are central to rate policy
Federal Reserve governor-designate Frederic Mishkin said in a letter to a lawmaker released on Friday 28 July that interest-rate policy must be based on economic forecasts and adjust as new data comes in.
What Ben Bernanke could learn from New Zealand
According to this article from Bloomberg, published Friday 28 July, while Fed chairman Ben Bernanke and the world's biggest policy makers don't often pay attention to New Zealand, they would be wise to follow Alan Bollard's progress.
New Zealand's new coins go into circulation
Smaller, lighter 50, 20, and 10 cent coins were released Monday 31 July in New Zealand. The new coins retain the same "heads" and "tails" designs but the 10 cent coin is copper-coloured, the RBNZ said.
Comment: Mboweni set to spoil the party
South Africa's central bank governor, Tito Mboweni, remains concerned about imbalances in the South African economy. Markets expect another 50 basis point hike this week.
Bank of Sierra Leone - Annual Report 2005
According to the Bank of Sierra Leone's Annual Report 2005, the Sierra Leone economy recorded an impressive performance during the year 2005, with further consolidation of the gains achieved in macroeconomic stability and real growth.
MAS - Annual Report 2005-2006
According to the Monetary Authority of Singapore's Annual Report 2005, the Singapore economy grew by a robust 6.4% in 2005, exceeding earlier growth forecasts.
RBNZ paper on exchange rate stabilisation
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand Working Paper "How costly is exchange rate stabilisation for an inflation targeter? The case of Australia" quantifies the costs of mitigating exchange rate volatility within the context of a flexible inflation targeting…
Fiscal convergence before entering the EMU
This European Central Bank Working Paper, published 27 July, addresses the question of whether a reduction of public deficits, such as imposed by the Maastricht fiscal criteria, is a necessary or useful step on the road to the adoption of the euro.
Comment: Developments in July
Here is a quick look back at development affecting central bank in month of July.