Central Banking
Bundesbank comments annoy German officials
The German government expressed annoyance at the Bundesbank on Thursday 21 October following a press report which suggested the German central bank was sceptical about Berlin's growth forecast for next year.
BoE's Lambert sees `low and stable' inflation
UK inflation probably will remain ``low and stable'' amid slowing economic expansion and subdued wage growth, Bank of England policy maker Richard Lambert said, indicating he sees little immediate need for higher interest rates.
Senate approves Azevedo as Brazil's mp director
Rodrigo Azevedo, the nominee for central bank of Brazil monetary policy director, told the senate this week he would seek to keep the currency stable and fight inflation.
BOT investigates computer hacking
The governor of the Bank of Thailand, Pridiyathorn Devakula, ordered a probe on Monday 18 October into computer hacking, TNA news said, after a senior employee, who was arrested last week for theft, told police that he had gained access to the bank data…
Bank of Israel staff to join new protest
Workers at the Bank of Israel, who are currently embroiled in a dispute with the management of the central bank, are set to join staff at the Israel Discount Bank, who are also involved in a dispute, Haaretz reported this week.
Ex-KTB chief to sue Bank of Thailand
The former president of Krung Thai Bank (KTB), Viroj Nualkhair, plans to sue KTB's board of directors and the Bank of Thailand (BOT) for more than 100 million baht in compensation for damage to his job and reputation, TNA reported this week.
Interview with former RBA board member Bob Gregory
In an interview published on Thursday 21 October, former board member of the Reserve Bank of Australia Bob Gregory said that if there is faster growth at the same inflation rate the RBA will not tighten.
Papademos at Third ECB Central Banking Conference
In his opening address at the Third ECB Central Banking Conference 'The new EU Member States: convergence and stability' on 21 October, Lucas Papademos said there is a risk that reform fatigue will set in after EU accession, because the incentive for…
Bank of Canada looks for new deputy governor
The Canadian Prime Minister announced on Thursday 21 October that Mark Carney, Deputy Governor of the Bank of Canada, has been appointed Senior Associate Deputy Minister of Finance, effective from 15 November.
Fed's Bies on financial institution supervision
In a speech on 'Enterprise perspectives in financial institution supervision' given on 21 October, Susan Schmidt Bies of the Federal Reserve said mortgage market giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were taking on interest-rate risk as a way to grow…
BoJ paper on deflationary traps
This Bank of Japan discussion paper provides a theoretical overview of monetary and fiscal policy with the potential to engineer an exit from a deflationary trap, which the author defines as sustained deflation in the presence of zero interest rates.
Survey shows Japanese mystified by central bank
A survey published on the Bank of Japan's website this week showed that most Japanese people find the workings of the central bank a mystery.
Bank of Canada Monetary Policy Report, Oct 2004
The Bank of Canada released its October 2004 Monetary Policy Report on 21 October. The latest report says the Canadian economy has grown faster than was projected in last April's report and the July update, largely because of a surge in exports.
FATF targets cross-border cash movements
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), meeting in Paris from 20-22 October, has added a key element to the world's counter-terrorist financing defences.
Downside risks from oil increasing, IMF's Rato
Head of the International Monetary Fund Rodrigo Rato said Friday rising oil prices pose a growing risk to the world economy and will have a visible impact on global economic growth next year.
Hungary central bank sees tensions with govt
Hungary may be able to cut interest rates further if inflation comes down as expected, but tensions between the central bank and the government will limit the scope for rate reductions, central bank president Zsigmond Jarai said.
EU newcomers should not rush to join euro
European Central Bank chief economist Otmar Issing said Friday the 10 countries that joined European Union in May should not rush to join the euro or the European Exchange Rate Mechanism II until they were really ready.
Interview with ECB's Gonzalez-Paramo
In an interview published this week, ECB Executive Board member Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Paramo speaks out firmly against changing the wording of the Stability and Growth Pact, saying: "The Pact is a cornerstone of the currency union. Nobody had questioned…
ECB President visits the National Bank of Romania
Jean-Claude Trichet, President of the European Central Bank, visited the National Bank of Romania on Monday 18 October and met with Governor Mugur Isarescu and the Executive Board of the National Bank of Romania.
RBNZ Financial Stability Report, October 2004
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand on Thursday 21 October issued the first of a regular series of Financial Stability Reports which will assess the current state of New Zealand's financial system. Topics covered in the October 2004 report include: a review…
Fed's Poole on social security and demographics
In a speech on 'Social security reform and demographic reality' given on 19 October, William Poole of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis told Delta State University demographic change in the United States and elsewhere in the world presents enormous…
Liikanen on the Fund for Finland
In a speech given on 3 October, Erkki Liikanen of the Bank of Finland said the overall picture for the economic outlook is quite comforting, even though higher oil prices have added to the downside risks. The main challenge now is to establish a firm…
Remsperger on FDI and the Deutsche Bundesbank
In the a on 'FDI and the Deutsche Bundesbank' given on 8 October, Hermann Remsperger of the Bundesbank said the German economy has been one of the driving forces behind the globalisation process. The diverse and ever-changing transmission mechanisms of…
CBN autonomy may be under threat
The wholesale autonomy granted to the Central Bank of Nigeria could soon be under threat after Deputy Chairman of Banking and Currency Committee said in Enugu this week that issues of economic interest to the nation should not be left in the hands of the…