Central Banking
ECB's new HQ begins to take shape
The construction of the new European Central Bank headquarters in Frankfurt moved one step closer this week with demolition work on the former site of the Grossmarkthalle (wholesale market) due to begin on Thursday 1 July.
BoE's Lomax on reasons for raising interest rates
In a speech given on 1 July, Rachel Lomax of the Bank of England said that "the UK emerged from the slowdown in the world economy with less slack than other economies. That is the key reason why we were the first to start raising interest rates".
FOMC minutes, 4 May, show worries over inflation
Minutes from the Federal Reserve's 4 May FOMC meeting released on 1 July showed that nearly two months before the Fed raised short-term interest rates on Wednesday, some board members made it clear that they were more worried about inflation than Alan…
The development of statistics for EMU - ECB book
The European Central Bank published a book on 2 July recording the work to develop statistics for Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). Part A of the book concerns the preparatory work in the years 1992 - 98. Part B describes the numerous enhancements made…
Trichet and Caruana on Basel II
The BIS published on 1 July the opening remarks by Jean-Claude Trichet and Jaime Caruana at the press conference announcing the publication of Basel II, held on 26 June.
Reserve Bank of New Zealand Bulletin, Jun 2004
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has published its quarterly Bulletin for June 2004. The June issue contains articles spanning most of the Reserve Bank's core functions including "What drives the New Zealand dollar?". In addition, for the first time the…
EurAsEC central banks celebrate 10th anniversary
The council of the chiefs of the central banks of EurAsEC countries held their 10th anniversary session in Bishkek last week.
Arhar says Slovenia not ready for euro
Slovenia is not sufficiently prepared to enter the Exchange Rate Mechanism II (ERM II), France Arhar, chairman of the Slovene branch of Bank Austria Creditanstalt, told the weekly Mag, saying that the country is experiencing unusual circumstances in long…
Turkey to introduce new lira notes
Turkey has already completed the printing of the first run of the new one lira note and delivered them to branches of the Central Bank, the deputy chairman of the Turkish Central Bank announced on Thursday 1 July.
Dutch and Belgians plan to scrap small change
The Netherlands and Belgium have indicated that they will soon scrap the one and two cent euro coins, EUobserver reports.
Hosokawa calls for flexible BOJ policy
Koichi Hosokawa, who on Friday 2 July took over as the top career official at the Ministry of Finance in Japan, said he wants the Bank of Japan to implement "flexible" monetary policy amid a rise in long-term bond yields.
QC ends BCCI address after record 79 days
The longest opening address in English legal history ended on Thursday 1 July with Gordon Pollock, QC, winding up the evidence that liquidators of the collapsed Bank of Credit and Commerce International are citing in the £850m damages suit versus the…
Chicago Fed National Activity Index, May 2004
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index May 2004 moved sharply higher, to +0.91, from a downward revised +0.52 the previous month. As was the case in April, production- and employment-related data added the most to May's CFNAI, although each of the four…
Fukui at BOJ representative office centenary event
In a speech given on 29 June at the reception for the centenary of the Bank of Japan Representative Office in London, Toshihiko Fukui of the Bank of Japan said the imminent objective for the Bank of Japan to open an office in London 100 years ago was to…
Safer, smarter, more secure US $50 note
The newly redesigned Series 2004 US $50 notes, featuring subtle background colours of blue and red, images of a waving American flag and a small metallic silver-blue star, will be issued beginning on September 28, the U.S. government announced on 30 June…
Federal Reserve increases rates by 0.25%
The Federal Open Market Committee decided Wednesday 30 June to raise its target for the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to 1-1/4 percent. In a press release the FOMC repeated "policy accommodation can be removed at a pace that is likely to be…
Central Bank of Aruba - Annual Report 2003
The Central Bank of Aruba has published its Annual Report for the year ended 2003. Stimulated by a more favourable external environment, the economy of Aruba started to recover from the 2001-2002 recession. In 2003, the production volume rebounded by 1.4…
BOJ's Taya says recovery gaining momentum
Japan's economic recovery is "clearly" gaining momentum, according to Teizo Taya, a Bank of Japan policy board member. But he said it was still "not appropriate" for the BOJ to change its current policy at the moment.
World should expect further rate rises says King
The world economy is set on a new trend of gradually higher interest rates, the governor of the Bank of England, Mervyn King, said in an interview published Thursday. He also said UK house prices had been "very important" in recent months in MPC meeting…
Russian PM proposes central bank restructuring
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov has suggested the Russian central bank consider its restructuring at a government meeting on Thursday.
Trichet says ECB not influenced by Fed, BoE
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet said Thursday, at the ECB's post meeting press conference after it left eurozone interest rates unchanged, that the ECB is not being influenced by decisions of the Federal Reserve, Bank of England and…
Trichet on European financial sector integration
In a speech on 'Integration of the European Financial Sector' given on 29 June, Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said the financial system plays an essential role in the transmission of monetary policy and integrated European financial markets facilitate…
Sweden's Srejber: asset prices in monetary policy
In a speech on 'What role do asset prices and credit play in monetary policy' given on 30 June, Eva Srejber of the Sveriges Riksbank said the economic costs in the shape of sharp fluctuations in demand are likely on average to be higher if the central…
BIS Conference on Inflation, 18-19 June
The programme from the BIS Conference on "Understanding Low Inflation and Deflation" Brunnen, Switzerland, 18-19 June 2004, includes speeches "Changes in the inflation process" by Stephen Cecchetti and "Deflation in historical perspective" with…