Central Banking
Japanese Tankan report shows signs of improvement
There are further signs of economic recovery in Japan, with a key measure of Japanese business confidence at its highest level in seven years.
IMF warns of Philippines debt crisis
The International Monetary Fund has expressed "serious concerns" over the Philippines government's budget and indebtedness in a report.
Fed says Greenspan in 'fine' health
The Federal Reserve has dismissed the rumour which swept financial markets on Wednesday 31 March that Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan had suffered a heart attack.
Top Islamic bankers meeting in Bali
The Islamic world's top central bankers are meeting in Bali to tackle problems ranging from personnel to paperwork that hinder Islamic banking.
Back to the future? Assessing the deflation record
This BIS Working Paper looks back to a period when deflation was a regular feature of the economic environment, and says the phenomena comes in three basic types: the good, the bad and the ugly. It finds that despite periods of deflation it was not…
Kohn on research at the Federal Reserve
In a speech on 'Research at the Federal Reserve Board: The Contributions of Henderson, Porter, and Tinsley' given on 26 March, Donald Kohn of the Federal Reserve said the Fed's armada of economic researchers play an important role in helping policymakers…
Brazil doesn't plan to renew IMF accord, Meirelles
The Brazilian government doesn't plan to renew a $14.8 billion loan accord with the International Monetary Fund that expires this year, as it is accumulating foreign reserves, central bank president Henrique Meirelles said.
IADB conference opens in Peru
Finance ministers and central bank presidents from 46 nations are meeting in Lima to participate in the Inter-American Development Bank conference, which opened on Monday 29 March.
Eurozone inflation remains at four-year low
Inflation in the 12-nation eurozone stood at a four-year low point of 1.6 percent in March, unchanged from February, Eurostat said in a preliminary estimate on Wednesday 31 March.
BSP raises $500M from foreign banks
The Philippine central bank said on Wednesday 31 March that it has raised 500 million dollars in financing from a syndicate of eight foreign banks.
Eurozone to recover despite mixed signals
Slow consumer spending is casting a shadow over the short-term outlook for the eurozone economy, the European Commission said in a report, agreeing with concerns expressed by the European Central Bank.
Venezuela central bank against reserves plan
Venezuela's central bank has again repeated its opposition to President Hugo Chavez's plan to deprive the bank of its autonomy and take $7 billion of international reserves to fund projects and social programs.
Japan denies scrapping yen policy
Japan's Ministry of Finance has taken the unusual step of denying a report on The Times newspaper's website that Japan's campaign to suppress the rise of the yen against the dollar had 'officially' ended.
Canada's Jenkins on Asia and the Global Economy
In a speech on 'Asia and the Global Economy' given on 30 March, Paul Jenkins of the Bank of Canada explores the issues arising from the growing importance of Asian emerging-market economies, notably China and India, in the global economy.
Parry on community development and leaving the Fed
In opening remarks given on 29 March at the Community Reinvestment Conference in Hollywood, California, Robert Parry of the San Francisco Fed discussed why community development is a priority for the Federal Reserve System. Parry also talks about what…
IMF Research Review
The latest round-up of IMF academic publications, featuring papers by Ayhan Kose and Tito Cordella and country studies of Chile and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Zambia's Fundanga speaks to the media
Dr Caleb M.Fundanga speaks on media relations and key economic developments in Zambia during 2003. He asks the press to talk in a constructive way of the positive developments that have taken place in the last year and goes on to list these.
Return and volatility spillovers In Hong Kong
Laurence Fung and Ip-wing Yu discuss the effects of return and volatility spillovers in Hong Kong financial markets.
OeNB's Liebscher: reviving the European economy
Klaus Liebscher gives his view of the euro as a success story and discusses the areas he believes must be addressed to revive the Lisbon Agenda.
New Zealand cb's reserves boosted
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand will receive an extra NZ$1.9 billion (US$1.2 billion) in foreign exchange "for the purpose of stabilising the foreign exchange market in a period of, or to avoid, market dysfunction," Michael Cullen, the finance minister,…
Edwards to replace Carson as IMF statistics head
Anne Krueger, acting managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) since Horst Kohler resigned, is to appoint Rob Edwards, an Australian, to replace Carol Carson as the IMF's head of statistics.
BoE's s Barker: no need to raise rates
A high inflation forecast does not mean the Bank of England has to raise rates, a member of its rate-setting monetary policy committee told a Scottish newspaper, as figures released today showed the UK housing boom continuing apace.
Economy vulnerable to rate rise says Forum
Following a meeting in Rome, chaired by Fed vice chairman Roger Ferguson, the Financial Stability Forum (FSF) issued a generally upbeat assessment of the global economy but highlighted worries about excessive levels of debt and capital flows to emerging…
Federal Reserve to close Columbia branch
The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond's regional office in Columbia will close in August, it was announced earlier this month.