Central Banking
BoJ's Muto says rate shift depends on data
Bank of Japan Deputy Governor Toshiro Muto said Thursday 20 April that the central bank will decide on when to end its zero rate policy by analysing various economic data.
Chicago Fed National Activity Index, March 06
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index for March 2006, published 20 April, was +0.37 in March, up from +0.19 in February.
IMF's Rajan says 10% growth feasible in India
The International Monetary Fund's chief economist said on Wednesday 19 April that India's medium-term goal of growing its economy 10 percent a year is realistic if it can boost infrastructure and job creation.
Bank of Finland - Annual Report 2005
According to the Bank of Finland's Annual Report 2005, monetary policy for the euro area in 2005 was conducted in conditions of slower economic growth and higher inflation than expected.
Chile paper on central bank independence
The Central Bank of Chile Working Paper "Central bank independence and monetary policymaking institutions: Past, present, and future" published April 2006 reviews the institutional changes that occurred over the last two decades in the area of central…
Portrait of Matti Vanhala unveiled
A portrait of the late Governor of the Bank of Finland was unveiled at the Bank recently.
Fed's Olson: Update on the U.S. economy
In the speech 'Update on the U.S. economy' given on 13 April Mark Olson of the Federal Reserve said a low unemployment rate and high rates of resource use did not so far seem to be combining to push underlying inflation up.
Bank of England Inflation Attitudes Survey, Apr 06
The Bank of England published its April 2006 Inflation Attitudes Survey on Tuesday 18 April. Inflation expectations in the UK have risen to their highest level in seven years, the survey said.
Sweden's Rosenberg on inflation targeting
In the speech 'The Riksbank's inflation targeting policy - the significance of the new interest rate assumption' given on 19 April Irma Rosenberg of the Sveriges Riksbank said that the strong level of economic activity in conjunction with current…
U.S. may rethink size of IMF stake
According to this article published on Wednesday 19 April, the United States will consider reducing its voting stake in the International Monetary Fund as part of an overhaul that would require the lender to increase scrutiny of nations' currency…
FOMC minutes suggest end to rate rises
According to the minutes of the Federal Reserve's meeting on 27-28 March released on Tuesday 18 April, policy-makers felt that the U.S. central bank was nearly finished raising interest rates, but remained worried about potential inflation risks.
Bernanke sees energy effects fading
Fed chairman Ben Bernanke said in a letter published on Monday 17 April that the increase in energy prices since late 2003 will not have a lasting impact on U.S. inflation as long as the Federal Reserve conducts policy appropriately.
Fed to consolidate payments system committees
The Federal Reserve Board announced on Wednesday 19 April the consolidation of two internal advisory committees on payments system matters.
IMF World Economic Outlook, April 2006
The International Monetary Fund published its World Economic Outlook April 2006 on 19 April. In the report the IMF said the ECB shouldn't "rush" to raise interest rates even as the eurozone economy expands this year by the most since 2004.
Bank of England voted 7-1 to hold rates
Minutes released on Wednesday 19 April showed that the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee voted 7 to 1 at its meeting on April 6 to keep interest rates unchanged at 4.5 per cent.
Comment: IMF reform checklist
The International Monetary Fund on Wednesday 19 April released its latest World Economic Outlook. Its central projection sees global growth at 4.75 percent in 2006 and 2007. The distribution of risks, however, is increasingly slanted to the downside.
Bank of France - Annual Report 2004
According to the Bank of France's Annual Report 2004, despite persisting risks, the international environment was buoyant in 2004 and monetary policy remained very accommodating within the euro area.
Fed's Kohn on the economic outlook
In the speech 'Economic outlook' given on 13 April Donald Kohn of the Federal Reserve said the U.S. central bank was focused on keeping inflation curbed though he anticipates the pace of economic growth will ease in coming months.
Ferguson on financial stability & central banking
In the speech 'Thoughts on financial stability and central banking' given on 17 April Roger Ferguson of the Federal Reserve said asset price volatility may have increased in recent years as real economic shocks have moderated, but central banks should…
Transparency, expectations, and forecasts
Since 1994 the Federal Open Market Committee has increased the transparency about its economic outlook. This paper from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta investigates whether this transparency has helped private agents improve their economic forecasts.
Fed comments and data point to one more increase
According to this article published on Tuesday 18 April, recent comments from Federal Reserve officials and the latest economic data continue to suggest that the cycle of US interest rate increases will come to an end next month.
Italy's Prodi may pick Padoa-Schioppa on economy
Italy's centre-left leader Romano Prodi is expected to pick former European Central Bank board member Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa as economy minister, if Prodi succeeds in forming a government, said La Stampa Saturday in an unsourced report.
ECB to advise GCC states
The European Central Bank will advise Gulf states on their plans for possible monetary union a spokesman for the ECB was quoted by AFX as saying on Tuesday 18 April.
Turkey names new central bank governor
Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer approved the government's nominee for central bank governor on Tuesday 18 April after rejecting an earlier candidate, Economy minister Ali Babacan announced.