Central Banking
China's central bank to issue US$5b in bills
China's central bank will issue up to 40 billion yuan ($4.96 billion) in one-year bills in open market operations on Thursday, down from 45 billion yuan a week earlier, it said on Wednesday 4 January.
ECB paper The timing of central bank communication
This European Central Bank Working Paper explores whether there are systematic patterns as to when members of the decision-making committees of the Federal Reserve, the Bank of England and the ECB communicate with the public, and under what circumstances…
Fed minutes signpost end to rate hikes
The Federal Reserve on Tuesday 3 January said it considers its 1-1/2 year long policy of raising U.S. interest rates is nearing an end, saying a statement after its December meeting aimed to signal only a few more increases were likely.
Fed can see an end to interest rate increases
Federal Reserve officials may be close to ending the series of interest-rate increases they started 18 months ago, according to this article published on Wednesday 4 January, though they will keep going as long as necessary to combat inflation, it says.
How the RMB revaluation will play out in 2006
According to this article, China's RMB will continue the gradual pace of its appreciation in the next 12 months despite the recent flurry of policy manoeuvring to increase forex flexibility.
ECB's Quaden says rates supportive
Eurozone interest rates of 2.25 percent are still supportive of economic growth, European Central Bank Governing Council member Guy Quaden told Belgian magazine Tendances Trends on Thursday 29 December.
Bank of Italy's Draghi to start mid-Jan
The Bank of Italy said on Wednesday 4 January that its newly appointed governor Mario Draghi is expected to take up his job in mid-January.
Redesigned BIS website now live
The Bank for International Settlements relaunched its website on Wednesday 4 January.
Lord Woolf chairs Financial Markets Law Committee
The Bank of England announced on Tuesday 20 December the appointment of Lord Woolf as Chairman of the Financial Markets Law Committee (FMLC), beginning 1 February 2006.
Dirk Witteveen to chair Joint Forum
The Joint Forum's parent organisations announced on Wednesday 21 December the appointment of Dirk Witteveen as chair of the Joint Forum for a two-year term beginning January 2006.
IFSRA announces new Chief Executive
The Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority announced on Friday 16 December that Patrick Neary has been appointed to the post of Chief Executive.
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.