Central Banking
Comment: Comparing policy structures
The IMF yesterday released a working paper surveying the governance and decision-making structures of inflation-targeting central banks.
Fed's Greenspan on economic flexibility
In the speech 'Economic flexibility' given on 27 September Alan Greenspan of the Federal Reserve said asset bubbles fuelled by "market exuberance" invariably burst and policy-makers cannot safely pierce them.
RBA's Macfarlane on global imbalances
In the speech 'What are the global imbalances?' given on 28 September Ian Macfarlane of the Reserve Bank of Australia said current account surpluses currently being recorded across Asia are likely to persist in the medium term in the absence of policy…
Why has gold been rising?
With gold reaching a near-18 year high in trading, this article published on Monday 26 September says gold bugs are now enthusiastically talking of $500 an ounce and beyond.
ECB's Papademos on growth in euro area economies
In the speech 'Growth and competitiveness in euro area economies' given on 22 September Lucas Papademos of the ECB said growth in Germany and Italy has lagged behind the rest of the euro zone in recent years because of specific structural problems in the…
ECB Observer - Back to the rules
This publication released on Tuesday 27 September suggests that by publishing Governing Council meeting minutes, the ECB could improve the transparency and efficiency of its monetary policy substantially, thereby supporting its stability-oriented course.
Comment: What triggered global imbalances
Ian Macfarlane, the governor of the Australian Reserve Bank, yesterday provided a fascinating analysis of the causes of the macroeconomic imbalances that plague the global economy at present. His analysis of the causes also bears important implications…
UK's Clarke sees euro off the agenda
Kenneth Clarke, a contender for the Conservative party leadership, reiterated that the euro was off the British political map for the next ten years on BBC Radio's "Today" programme on Wednesday morning, 28 September, as he had first told Central Banking…
China allows IFC, ADB to issue debt
China's State Council has given approval for the International Finance Corp and the Asian Development Bank to issue yuan-denominated debt on the mainland, the Ministry of Finance said in a statement on its website.
RBI adviser says no pressure on rates
An Indian monetary policy adviser said in an interview on Tuesday 27 September he saw no immediate upward pressure on interest rates but warned that the central bank could not ignore rising U.S. rates.
Bernanke sees 'small' impact from oil prices
Top White House economic adviser Ben Bernanke said on Tuesday 27 September that high energy prices are a burden on households and could ultimately restrain economic growth but so far the impact has been modest.
Italy's PM says no more can be done over Fazio
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi told parliament on Wednesday 28 September that the government would do no more to try to remove Bank of Italy Governor Antonio Fazio.
BOJ's Suda doesn't rule out policy shift
A Bank of Japan policy board member left open the possibility on Wednesday 28 September that the central bank could ditch its ultra-loose monetary policy by the end of the fiscal year to next March.
The ECB: Villain, or a savior of Europe?
According to this article published on Saturday 24 September, the challenges facing the European Central Bank are particularly acute, with the ECB under fire for refusing to deviate from its inflation-fighting mandate in order to stoke growth through…
Bies on Basel II developments in the US
In the speech 'Basel II developments in the United States' given on 26 September Susan Schmidt Bies of the Federal Reserve said the Fed is still assessing the potential effects of proposed new international banking regulations on U.S. banks and hopes to…
SARB's Quarterly Bulletin, September 2005
The South African Reserve Bank has released its September 2005 Quarterly Bulletin. According to the latest Bulletin, global economic activity lost some of its earlier vigour in the first half of 2005, but still maintained a sturdy and probably more…
Fed's Greenspan on mortgage banking
In the speech 'Mortgage banking' given on 26 September Alan Greenspan of the Federal Reserve said though mortgage debt is rising, most Americans have built up so much equity in their homes that they could weather a price drop without serious harm.
BSP's Tetangco on capital markets
In the speech 'Capital market: A cornerstone of BSP financial reform agenda' given on 23 August Amando Tetangco of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said the BSP has also been fully supportive of the establishment of the Fixed-Income Exchange (FIE) as an…
Fed must focus on inflation says Hoenig
Kansas City Fed president Thomas Hoenig said on Monday 26 September that the damage to the US economy caused by hurricanes Katrina and Rita can be shaken off and the Fed must focus on keeping inflation at bay to maintain stable growth.
Belgium's Quaden says rates not hampering growth
The Belgian National Bank governor said in an interview that the European Central Bank's interest rates remain appropriate.
Italy considers banking supervision transfer
The Italian parliament will examine the transfer of competition supervision in the banking sector to the antitrust agency from the Bank of Italy, the daily MF said.
PBOC chief repeats gradualist approach on yuan
The head of the People's Bank of China has reiterated, through use of an old saying, that the government will take a gradual and careful approach to exchange rate reform.
BOK report sees China dominant economy by 2040
China will become the world's largest economy in terms of GDP by 2040, and India will closely follow its heels, according to a soon to be released report from the Bank of Korea.
US rebuffs French remarks on Greenspan
US officials have sought to defuse a potentially embarrassing situation after France's Finance Minister, Thierry Breton, told reporters in Washington that Alan Greenspan had admitted America had "lost control" of its budget.