Central Banking
Interview with ECB's Otmar Issing
In comments published on Monday 19 December, European Central Bank Executive Board member Otmar Issing said even if it is not in line with the spirit of the Treaty, he expects "voices" on the ECB's policy to continue, although not at the level we have…
Interview with ECB's Lucas Papademos
Lucas Papademos, vice president of the European Central Bank, said in comments published on Monday 19 December that labour market inflexibility meant that Eurozone countries are at risk of inflation accelerating even as unemployment remains …
Review of the international role of the euro
The European Central Bank published its fifth annual review of the international role of the euro on Wednesday 21 December, focusing on developments between mid-2004 and mid-2005.
Scandals spotlight Italy's regulatory cracks
According to this article published on Wednesday 21 December, Bank of Italy Governor Antonio Fazio's resignation has highlighted the deep problems in Italy's regulatory structure - a system of feeble financial controls which Fazio spent his last months…
Size matters and China just got much bigger
According to this article published on Wednesday 21 December, China, an economy few central bankers, economists and pundits thought about three years ago just leapfrogged over the UK, France and Italy to become the world's fourth largest.
Sveriges Riksbank Economic Review 4th Quarter 2005
The Sveriges Riksbank has published its Economic Review for the 4th Quarter 2005. The latest edition contains four articles, 'The past ten years - experiences and conclusions,' 'Monetary policy and unemployment,' 'The future relationship between…
Chicago Fed National Activity Index, November 05
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index for November 2005 was +0.35, down from +1.02 in October. Three of the four broad categories of indicators that make up the index made positive contributions, while the remaining category made a neutral contribution.
Ireland's Hurley on the central bank & Eurosystem
In the speech 'The central bank and the Eurosystem' given on 6 December John Hurley of the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland said the introduction of the single currency has been an historical landmark.
Mario Draghi favourite for Bank of Italy governor
A former head of the Italian treasury, Mario Draghi, is favourite to become the next head of the Bank of Italy following the resignation of Antonio Fazio.
Richmond's Lacker says rate decisions more complex
The president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond said Thursday short-term U.S. interest rates probably won't reach a plateau and then remain steady as financial markets now predict.
LDP's Nakagawa says nominal GDP also BOJ target
A senior Liberal Democratic Party executive expressed concern on Thursday 22 December over the Bank of Japan's move to end its policy of quantitative monetary easing as early as next spring.
Italian Senate approves central bank reforms
The Italian Senate the gave final approval on Friday 23 December to a bill that will reform the Bank of Italy.
China says economic growth no threat
China has repeated its intentions to rise peacefully as a global power, insisting that its new found economy would be beneficial to the world.
Bundesbank to decide on gold reserves next year
Germany's Bundesbank will decide next year whether to dispose of its gold reserves, the Financial Times Deutschland reported.
Senate approves former regulator to Chile cen bank
Chile's senate has approved the appointment of former banking regulator Enrique Marshall as the new central bank director for the next 10 years, local press reported.
Padoa-Schioppa to join IASB
Paul Volcker is to be replaced by Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa as head of the trustees who oversee international accounting standards.
White House moving quickly on Fed vacancies
White House Spokesman Scott McClellan has said that the administration is moving "as quickly as we can" to fill the two current vacancies on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.
Germany nominates Stark for ECB Board
The German government has nominated Bundesbank Vice-President Juergen Stark to join the European Central Bank's Executive Board when its chief economist, Otmar Issing, retires next year.
IMF Paper: Debt overhang or debt irrelevance?
The IMF Working Paper 'Debt overhang or debt irrelevance? Revisiting the debt growth link' published December 2005 asks whether Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPCs) suffer from a debt overhang. Is debt relief going to improve their growth rates, it…
Canada's Dodge on protecting economic integrity
In a speech given on 25 October, and published 20 December, David Dodge of the Bank of Canada said Canada is at risk of becoming a safe haven for white collar crime.
BOJ's monetary policy
This article published on Tuesday 20 December addresses the question of when the Bank of Japan should end its exceptionally easy credit policy which, it says, is stirring a bitter debate among policy-makers.
Richmond's Lacker on the economic outlook for 2006
In the speech 'The economic outlook for 2006' given on 21 December Jeffrey Lacker of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond said the US economy appears set for a soft economic landing in which growth is solid, inflation low, and workers and businesses…
Central Bank of Ireland, Quarterly Bulletin 4/2005
The Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland has published its Fourth Quarterly Bulletin for 2005. In its latest Bulletin the central bank said that the broad picture for the Irish economy is generally good, despite a high degree of…
Fukui sees strong chance of core CPI rising
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui said in a speech on Thursday 22 December that there is a good chance that Japan's core consumer price index will increase steadily as the world's second-largest economy starts beating deflation.