Central Banking
Cayman Islands Monetary Authority - Ann Rep 04-05
According to the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority's Annual Report 2004-2005, the Authority completed its second full year of operational independence from the Cayman Islands Government during the period under review.
RBA raises interest rates 0.25%
The Reserve Bank of Australia raised interest rates to a 5-year high of 5.75% on Wednesday 3 May. "The Board judged at its May meeting that inflationary risks had increased sufficiently to warrant an increase in the cash rate," RBA governor Ian…
Bernanke couldn't be clearer -- You hear that?
According to this article published on Wednesday 3 May, although virtually all reporters treat discussions at social events as being off-the-record, Ben Bernanke wasn't cautious enough about the ground rules when he chatted with journalists at the recent…
Issing's views return to fashion
Just as he prepares to leave the European Central Bank, Otmar Issing's views are coming into fashion, according to the article 'Issing's views return to fashion as he prepares to leave ECB' published on Wednesday 3 May.
Fed and ECB communications stumble
Things have gone somewhat awry the past month for major central banks which pride themselves on clear communications, this article published on Tuesday 2 May reports.
Gieve urged to resign from BoE
Sir John Gieve, deputy governor of the Bank of England, is being urged to resign following revelations of financial mismanagement at the Home Office, where he was permanent secretary, The Independent on Sunday reported on 30 April. The report said the…
Too early to declare end of deflation - Koizumi
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi told reporters on Tuesday 2 May that it's too early to declare an end to deflation in Japan.
Exporters should watch Swiss franc says SNB chief
Swiss National Bank president Jean-Pierre Roth said in an interview that Swiss exporters should keep a close eye on the Swiss franc and protect themselves for possible volatility.
Ringgit rise 'orderly' says Malaysia
Malaysia has said the strengthening of the ringgit currency to an eight-year high against the dollars is "orderly" and in line with expectations, newspaper reports said.
Fed's Bernanke on community revitalization
In the speech 'Community revitalization: Lessons from Anacostia' given on 3 May Ben Bernanke of the Federal Reserve said reviving economically distressed communities takes teamwork between the government and private developers and a creative vision of…
Comment: Global impacts of US monetary policy
A recent ECB working paper finds that emerging markets stock markets returns can be reduced by more than 10% in response to a 100 basis point increase in US monetary policy rates. On average global equity markets fall by 3.8%.
SARB Financial Stability Review, March 2006
The South African Reserve Bank published the March 2006 edition of its Financial Stability Review on 3 May. In its latest report the SARB said the global economy continued to expand strongly during the second half of 2005, albeit at a slightly more…
Eastern Caribbean Central Bank - Ann Rep 04-05
According to the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank's Annual Report 2004-2005, the pace of economic recovery in the currency union gained further momentum in 2004 following the sharp downturn in 2002.
Fed's pause may send Asian currencies higher
With Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke signalling a pause in U.S. interest-rate increases, the spotlight is once again on Asia, according to this article published on Tuesday 2 May.
Comment: Bernanke slips up
Ben Bernanke has had to learn very fast indeed. An alleged "off the record" remark has triggered a frenzy in financial markets.
ECB paper on interest rates and exchange rates
The ECB Working Paper "How does information affect the comovement between interest rates and exchange rates?" compares the link between exchange rates and interest rates under full information and two alternative asymmetric information approaches.
Another year awash in liquidity
As liquidity continues to mount amid deepening global imbalances, some members of the central bank community are calling for significant changes in the framework of monetary and regulatory policy. This article examines the proposals and the market…
SNB's Roth at the AGM
In a speech given on 28 April Jean-Pierre Roth of the Swiss National Bank said the economic recovery currently seen in Switzerland does not represent a threat to price stability.
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago - Annual Report 05
Federal Reserve policy has attained one of the benefits often attributed to formal inflation guidelines: well-anchored inflationary expectations, Chicago Fed President Michael Moskow said in an essay in the bank's 2005 annual report.
Atlanta's Guynn says Fed journey ending
The Federal Reserve's journey to bring interest rates back to a more normal setting is almost complete, if the economy performs as expected in coming weeks and months, said Jack Guynn, the president of the Atlanta Federal Reserve on Monday 1 May.
Markets misunderstand testimony says Bernanke
Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke believes that the media and the markets have misinterpreted his words last week as a signal that the Fed would stop after one more rate hike, according to CNBC anchor Maria Bartiromo on Monday 1 May.
Fed's Moskow says inflation contained
Chicago Federal Reserve President Michael Moskow on Monday 1 May said in an interview that core inflation is currently contained, but is at the high end of his "comfort zone," and at the top of his list of worries about the economy.
Interview with IMF's Wanda Tseng
Wanda Tseng, deputy director at the IMF's Asia and Pacific department, said on Tuesday 2 May that China's decision to raise interest rates for the first time in 18 months is welcome but the country needs to let its currency move more freely.
Comment: April in review
April was a particularly eventful month for the International Monetary Fund. The Fund concluded it "spring meeting" in Washington and published new editions of the Global Financial Stability Report and the World Economic Outlook.