Central Banking
A punch bowl made in China
China is supplying a punch bowl to keep the party going despite the Federal Reserve's best efforts, according to an article published on Wednesday 10 August. So consumers can thank Beijing and other Asian central banks for all the cheap credit, it says.
RBA's Macfarlane on the Australian economy
In a statement to the House of Representatives given on 12 August Ian Macfarlane of the Reserve Bank of Australia said that inflation was largely under control and the economy strong.
Bank of Japan Policy Board Minutes
The Bank of Japan published the minutes from its 12 and 13 July meeting on Friday 12 August. Two of nine policy board members at the Bank proposed cutting the 30-35 trln yen liquidity target for banks, at the mid-July policy meeting.
PBOC's Xiaochuan on developing capital markets
In the speech 'Improve corporate governance and develop capital market' given on 13 July, Zhou Xiaochuan of the People's Bank of China said if we hold the view that the objective of financial sector reform is to make the financial institutions stronger…
Greenspan, her art-throb
Fascinated by the Federal Reserve chairman, this article looks at the work of an artist who has completed 20 paintings and sketches of Alan Greenspan. The artist then decided to display her works at a gallery on Long Island over the summer.
Korea suggests it may hike rates
The Bank of Korea said on Thursday 11 August that it would consider increasing interest rates if the economy recovered fully.
Italian economy minister wants ECB rate cut
Italy's deputy economy minister Mario Baldassari said he favours the European Central Bank cutting its interest rates, as well as the euro being valued at parity with the dollar.
CITIC Securities to revamp China Securities
China's CITIC Securities Co confirmed media reports on Friday 12 August that it is teaming up with Jianyin Investment Ltd, an investment arm of the central bank, to restructure Beijing-based China Securities Co.
Bank of Mexico holds interest rates steady
Mexico's central bank held monetary policy steady on Friday 12 August saying after its twice-monthly policy meeting it was keeping its money market "short" steady at 79 million pesos a day.
Foreign central banks buying more US debt
Foreign central banks were big buyers of US debt in the latest week, swallowing up similar amounts of both Treasury and agency debt in what was the heaviest week of buying in 2-1/2 months, Federal Reserve data showed on Thursday 11 August.
New spokesman for the New York Fed
Peter Bakstansky has been the spokesman for the New York Fed for so long - 30 years, to be precise - that his impending retirement will be hard to get accustomed to, at least for any journalist.
Comment: Faster growth to spur higher rates?
What does the recent spate of good news in terms of economic growth in most of the world's largest economies imply for interest rate and the bond market?
Prodi outlines Bank of Italy reform ideas
Italy's opposition leader Romano Prodi outlined a number of reform proposals for the beleaguered Bank of Italy on Friday 12 August and the country's other financial institutions.
Comment: China points way to wider reform
Robert Pringle, editor of Central Banking, explains why China's recent moves underline the need for a wider reform of world money (extracts from an interview with the German newspaper, Handelsblatt published on 11 August).
Bank of England needs to re-examine its forecasts
This article published on Wednesday 10 August says that the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee is under great pressure to get its forecasts right. It asks whether it's possible we are too reverential when it comes to the Bank's projections.
Cultural days of the ECB 2005: Hungary
Hungary will be the country featured in this year's Cultural Days of the European Central Bank, which will be held from 2 to 28 November 2005 in cooperation with Magyar Nemzeti Bank, the central bank of Hungary, the ECB said on Thursday 11 August.
IMF letter on the famine in Niger
In a letter published by The Independent newspaper on Friday 5 August, the IMF's Director of External Relations, Thomas Dawson, defended the Fund against accusations that the IMF contributed to the crisis in Niger.
ECB Monthly Bulletin, August 2005
The European Central Bank published its August 2005 Monthly Bulletin on Thursday 11 August. The euro zone economy is on track for gradual expansion without pressing inflationary problems, the report said.
PBOC's Xiaoling on financial theoretic research
In a speech given on 3 June (published 10 August) Wu Xiaoling of the People's Bank of China said researchers need to be objective, independent and scrupulous with the research work and this will help promote China's economic and financial theoretic study.
Australian govt to quiz RBA chief on economy
Reserve Bank of Australia governor Ian Macfarlane will be grilled Friday 12 August on the chances of another rate rise, or possibly a rate cut, in coming months.
German finance minister calls for ECB rate cut
German Finance Minister Wolfgang Clement called on the European Central Bank to cut interest rates, saying it was "remarkably" more reserved than other central banks.
Taiwan central bank denies extraordinary meeting
The Central Bank of China, Taiwan's central bank, denied on Thursday 11 August that it is planning to call an extraordinary board meeting in the near term.
Philippines, EC sign anti-money laundering pact
The European Commission (EC) and the Philippines have signed a 73-million peso (1.33-million US dollars) financing agreement to assist with the country's anti-money laundering drive, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo has said.
Norway keeps interest rates unchanged at 2%
Norway's central bank held its key deposit rate steady at 2.0 percent on Thursday 11 August as was widely expected.