Central Banking
Jordan's interest rates on the move
The Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ) governor, Umayya Touqan, announced on Sunday 6 November that interest rates on repurchase agreements for a week would be raised by 25 basis points.
Comment: Issing - federal deficit not to blame
At a Banque de France symposium on globalisation on Friday, Ottmar Issing of the ECB added his voice to those arguing that the root of global imbalances do not lie with the US budget deficit.
SARB publishes Monetary Policy Review
The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) released its bi-annual Monetary Policy Review yesterday. It expects the main inflation rate to stay inside its 3-6 percent target range over the next two years, although the outlook has deteriorated because of high…
New York Fed's Foreign Exchange Operations Report
According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's Treasury and Federal Reserve Foreign Exchange Operations quarterly report for July-September 2005, the U.S. monetary authorities did not intervene in the foreign exchange markets during the quarter.
Fed's Ferguson on monetary credibility & inflation
In the speech 'Monetary credibility, inflation, and economic growth' given on 3 November Roger Ferguson of the Federal Reserve said that central bankers must use "all our tools" to stop inflationary expectations from taking hold in the economy.
Norges Bank Inflation Report, November 2005
Norway's central bank, Norges Bank, has published its latest Inflation Report for November 2005. After a period of very low consumer price inflation, there are prospects that inflation will again rise at a faster pace, the report says.
IMF's Rato on building better institutions
In the speech 'Building better institutions' given on 3 November Rodrigo de Rato of the IMF said central banks in emerging markets that used inflation targeting not only reduced inflation but experienced less volatility.
Interview with PBOC's Tang Xu
In an interview published on Wednesday 2 November, Tang Xu, director-general of the research bureau of the People's Bank of China, said China's economy has already achieved its long-awaited landing even with growth rates around 9 percent.
Swaziland appoints new board member
Finance Minister Majozi Sithole has appointed Swaziland Finance and Development Corporation CEO Vincent Mhlanga to the Central Bank of Swaziland's Board of Directors.
Ireland's Hurley ranked tops for pay
Central Bank of Ireland governor John Hurley was listed as the third-highest paid governor in the twelve-nation eurozone this week, even though he leads the smallest central bank.
Chicago's Moskow on the future of higher education
In a speech given on 2 November Michael Moskow of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago said an evolving economy means education, productivity and economic growth are more closely linked than ever at a time U.S. universities are under mounting financial…
Lazear may replace Bernanke on Advisory Council
US President George W Bush may replace Ben Bernanke with Edward Lazear as chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, a report quoted sources as saying.
Bank of Japan's course might renew deflation
This article published on Friday 4 November says that while caution may be a good trait for central bankers when it comes to inflation, in the case of Japan, it's totally misplaced.
With Bernanke at bat, Fed will target inflation
According to this recent article, Ben Bernanke will devote significant staff resources to further study on issues he has spoken and written about, when he takes over at the Fed. And the advantages of his approach will become overwhelming enough in the…
Former World Bank chief moves to Citigroup
Citigroup said this week that James D. Wolfensohn, 71, who left as president of the World Bank last spring after 10 years at the helm, would serve as a global strategy adviser to senior management and clients.
Further rapid fx reserve rise undesirable - PBOC
A further rapid increase in Chinese foreign exchange reserves is undesirable, an official with the People's Bank of China told Market News.
Kosovo to establish central bank by end of 2006
The Banking and Payment Authority of Kosova will be transformed into the Central Bank of Kosovo by the end of next year, the BPK and the Ministry of Economy and Finance were quoted as saying by KosovaLive.
Dallas Fed's Fisher wants smooth transition
Dallas Fed president Richard Fisher said on Thursday 3 November that the Federal Reserve should ensure it has a smooth changeover in its chairmanship before it starts debating issues like inflation targeting.
Markets well prepared for rate hike says Stark
Bundesbank Vice-President Juergen Stark said in an interview on Friday 4 November financial markets are well prepared to digest an interest rate hike by the European Central Bank.
Greenspan questions gold holding, notes usefulness
In testimony to Congress on Thursday 3 November Alan Greenspan said why the Fed holds gold is a very interesting question and it's one that has been debated at length on rare occasions within government.
New deputy governor appointed to ECCB
Trevor Brathwaite, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, International Financial Services and Economic Affairs, St Lucia, was appointed Deputy Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) this week.
Comment: Who's to blame for global imbalances?
The issue of the global economic imbalances has become a very political one. Does the current system of largely floating exchange rates allow for a resolution based on careful economic analysis or are we destined for a prolonged series of political…
Estimating China's 'equilibrium' real ex rate
This IMF Working Paper looks at a sample of studies that have attempted to estimate the "equilibrium" real value of China's currency. It suggests the wide variation in such estimates can be explained by various factors including the different…
Fed may be on road to neutral monetary policy
The Federal Open Market Committee will make the 13th consecutive rate increase at its next meeting on 13 December, as it continues on its way to the so-called neutral level, according to this article published on Wednesday 2 November.