Central Banking
Guynn to vote as an alternate on FOMC
The U.S. Federal Reserve has said Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Jack Guynn will vote as an alternate on the Open Market Committee in 2005.
Richmond Fed's Lacker gives economic outlook
Next year will likely see "a continuation of growth along a quite similar trajectory," said Jeffrey Lacker, president of the Richmond Fed, in a speech on Monday 20 December. Economic recovery from the recession of 2001 finally put down "firm roots" in…
Bank of Japan's monthly economic report - December
The Bank of Japan said that the economy was continuing on a recovery trend although there were weak spots, notably in production.
Chavez calls for BCV president's resignation
Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez called on Diego Castellanos, president of the country's central bank, to step down from his post as the row over the distribution of the central bank's reserves continues.
Hungary passes amendments to central bank law
Hungary's president has signed into force a controversial set of amendments to the law governing the country's central bank, which gives the prime minister the ability to appoint a majority of the bank's monetary board.
Slovakia leaves rate unchanged
The Slovakian central bank maintained interest rates on Tuesday 21 December, as was widely expected by markets.
BoE Inflation attitudes survey
The Bank of England's latest inflation attitudes survey reveals expectatsions hovering about 2.4% (compared to 2.3% in the August survey).
Fund: Pakistan on course, but inflation a worry
The IMF has released details of its recent article IV surveillance of Pakistan.
FRC issues new regulation strategy
The Financial Reporting Council, the UK's unified, independent regulator for corporate reporting and governance, announced its intention to become more pro-active in its enforcement of accounting standards, in a strategy plan issued on Tuesday 21…
A not-so-merry Christmas message
Giving the Henry Thornton lecture at the Cass Business School in London on Wednesday 15 December, the economic historian Barry Eichengreen gave his view on the international financial system, and issued a worrying warning to those that downplay the…
Bundesbank holds back on gold sales
The Bundesbank announced on Monday 20 December that it would not be exercising an option to sell 120 tonnes of its gold reserves. This followed earlier speculation that it was under pressure from the German government, who wanted to use gold sales to…
Zimbabwe closes seventh troubled bank
Zimbabwe's central bank shut commercial bank CFX over the weekend, bringing the total number of closures in 2004 to seven, as problems in the country's financial system continue.
ECB starts publishing administrative decisions
The ECB published details of operational decisions taken by the governing council for the first time on 17 December, in a move towards greater transparency.
Market remains fragemented: ECB-CFS study
According to a study published today, 20 December, by the European Central Bank and the Center for Financial Studies, integration of Europe's financial markets is still some way away.
How far must US dollar fall?
A new paper, entitled "How much depreciation of the US dollar for sustainability of the current accounts?" by Eiji Ogawa and Takeshi Kudo of Hitotsubashi University Research Unit considers various scenarios for the future path of the dollar.
US forgives $4.1 billion of Iraqi debt
The US concluded a bilateral agreement on Friday 17 December to write off debts of $4.1 billion owed to it by Iraq, and expressed the hope that other countries would follow its example.
Norges Bank's December Economic Bulletin
The December issue of Norges Bank's Economic Bulletin includes articles on benchmark rates in the long-term bond market, credit risk models and managing financial crises.
Turkey to join inflation targeters in 2006
Turkey's central bank will start "formal" inflation targetting in 2006, according to its Monetary and Exchange Rate Policy document for 2005.
Interest rate round-up
A number of central banks adjusted their interest rates in the last week, some in line with market expectations and others providing a surprise.
Japanese experts comment on dollar prospects
Three Japanese experts gave their views on the dollar yen exchange rate and the prospect of central bank intervention at a panel discussion on December 17. The dollar has further to fall, they suggested, but Asian central banks will not liquidate their…
FOMC Minutes, 10 November
Minutes from the Federal Reserve's 10 November FOMC meeting released on 16 December revealed that policy makers wrestled with the best way to foreshadow the course of short-term interest rates.
Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin, Winter 2004
The Bank of England released its Quarterly Bulletin Winter 2004, on 17 December. In the report the bank said it has underestimated the strength of the pound in the past 18 months, while another article concludes that UK household debt "remains affordable…
Sweden's Heikensten on economic governance in EMU
In a speech on 'Strengthening economic governance in the EMU - A comment' given on 15 December, Lars Heikensten of the Sveriges Riksbank said better and more efficient methods of following up Member States' public finances are needed. Budget discipline…
Mboweni on the South African banking sector
In a speech on 'The South African banking sector: An overview of the past 10 years' given on 14 December, Tito Mboweni of the South African Reserve Bank said the presence of international banks in South Africa's banking retail sector would benefit…