Central Banking
French fin min hints over ECB intervention
The newly appointed French finance minister, Herve Gaymard, warned in an interview that the US dollar's weakness is "very worrying" and suggested possible intervention by the European Central Bank.
St Louis Fed's Central Banker, Winter 2004
The Winter 2004 edition of the St. Louis Fed's Central Banker magazine has been published. In the Feditorial, St. Louis Fed President Bill Poole announces several interactive features that facilitate debates and discussions on issues important to its…
Phil Fed's Survey of Professional Forecasters
The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia has published its Fourth Quarter 2004 Survey of Professional Forecasters. Growth over the next five quarters looks slower now than it did three months ago, according to 34 forecasters surveyed by the Federal…
Canada's Dodge on financial system efficiency
In a speech on 'Financial system efficiency: A Canadian imperative' given on 9 December, David Dodge of the Bank of Canada said it is imperative that Canada work to enhance the efficiency of its financial system.
Fed's Poole on maintaining financial stability
In a speech on 'Maintaining financial stability: A central banker's perspective' given on 27 November, William Poole of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis said central banks should not respond to every wiggle from inflation as they seek steady prices…
Fed raises rates, says economic outlook unchanged
The Federal Open Market Committee decided on Tuesday 14 December to raise its target for the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to 2-1/4 percent. In its press release the FOMC signalled there had been no change in its assessment of current economic…
Norges Bank keeps interest rate unchanged at 1.75%
Norges Bank's Executive Board decided on Wednesday 15 December to leave interest rates unchanged at 1.75 per cent. The Executive Board said in a press release it did not see any clear alternatives to leaving the interest rate unchanged.
Bank of Japan, a role model for the ECB?
This article looks at recent comments from Gerhard Schroder that Europe "can learn something from Japan and its great monetary policy." Japan is the only major industrialized economy in the past 70 years to experience prolonged deflation and now its much…
IMF's Rajan says US dollar fall is a wake-up call
International Monetary Fund research department director and economic counsellor Raghuram Rajan told the Australasian Finance and Banking Conference in Sydney that the depreciating US dollar is a wake-up call and urged policymakers to pay attention to…
China seeing gold-buying surge as dollar hedge
China is seeing a gold-buying surge as a hedge against the weakening dollar and negative real interest rates, the South China Morning Post reported, citing figures from the China Gold Society and analysts.
Poll shows Sweden still opposed to euro
Opposition to the euro in Sweden remains strong 15 months after voters rejected the single currency in a referendum, but the number of opponents has fallen, a poll published on Wednesday 15 December by Statistics Sweden showed.
Central Bank of Jordan - Annual Report 2003
The Central Bank of Jordan has published its Annual Report for the year ended 2003. The Jordanian economy managed in 2003 to overcome the negative effects of the unfavorable regional developments that affected the region. The performance of the Jordanian…
RBA's Stevens on economic and financial conditions
In the speech 'Economic and financial conditions December 2004' given on 14 December Glenn Stevens of the Reserve Bank of Australia said Australia's economic growth is running more slowly than anticipated, despite strong domestic demand.
ECB's Gonzalez-Paramo on the euro after six years
In the speech 'The euro after six years: achievements and challenges ahead' given on 9 December Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Paramo of the ECB said the euro has done its job in terms of fostering sustainable growth in the euro area. However, in order to achieve…
SARB, Quarterly Bulletin, December 2004
The South African Reserve Bank said in its latest Quarterly Bulletin for December 2004 that the South African economy appears to have adjusted to the combination of a stronger world economy, favourable terms of trade, lower interest rates and less…
Moskow: Perspective of the Federal Reserve on HOPI
In the speech 'Perspective of the Federal Reserve on HOPI' given on 7 December Michael Moskow of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago said the Home Ownership Preservation Initiative has been an ambitious, and so far very successful, effort under the…
Portugal's central bank warns over 2005 deficit
The governor of the Bank of Portugal, Vitor Constancio, said Monday that Portugal's fiscal deficit was on target to reach 5 percent of output next year, breaching European Union rules, without exceptional revenues.
Korean won climbs on central bank comments
South Korea's won had its biggest gain in more than two weeks Tuesday after the Bank of Korea signaled it won't sell the currency to protect exporters, prompting them to speed up the conversion of their overseas earnings.
Fed likely to raise rates a quarter-point
Federal Reserve policy-makers were widely expected to raise target for the federal funds rate to 2.25 percent from 2 percent on Tuesday, their last regularly scheduled session of 2004.
Mersch says ECB ready to act on inflation
European Central Bank council member Yves Mersch said the bank would act if inflation expectations in the eurozone rise further after record oil costs raised prices this year.
EU may clear France, Germany on deficit rule break
The Associated Press reported Tuesday that the European Union's executive office was expected to end an three-year battle with France and Germany on Tuesday, dropping EU procedures against them after the two pledged to get their budget deficits back…
Competing visions of EU regulation
At a conference in his honour at the London School of Economics, Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa and FSA chairman Callum McCarthy presented competing visions of financial regulation in Europe. Paul Brione reports.
Bank of England Financial Stability Review, Dec 04
The Bank of England published its latest Financial Stability Review for December 2004 on Monday 13 December. Near-term credit, market and liquidity risks to UK financial stability have remained subdued since the June Review, and the immediate prospects…
SARB to issue upgraded banknotes in the new year
The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) announced on Monday 13 December that it plans to issue upgraded banknotes with improved security features from 1 February 2005.