Eurozone
Buba's Weber says ECB won't bow to rate pressure
The European Central Bank will definitely not put off possible further rises in interest rates to avoid potential clashes with eurozone politicians, Bundesbank President Axel Weber said Friday 15 December in an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine…
ECB Monthly Bulletin, December 2006
The European Central Bank published its December 2006 Monthly Bulletin on Thursday 14 December. In the report the ECB said it will act decisively if necessary to keep inflation pressures in check.
Papademos on the ECB's Financial Stability Review
In opening remarks to the ECB's Financial Stability Review press conference given on 11 December Lucas Papademos of the ECB said robust growth of credit to the euro area private sector could pose an upside risk to price stability.
ECB's Financial Stability Review, December 2006
The European Central Bank published its December 2006 Financial Stability Review on 11 December. In the report the ECB said the euro area financial system has proven resilient to adverse disturbances.
Side effects for ECB transparency
This article from the Financial Times, published Monday 11 December, says that a mixture of good luck and good judgment has made this a good year for the ECB.
Villepin wants clarification of ECB role
French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin called on Monday 12 December to "clarify the roles" of European Central Bank (ECB), amid talk regarding the recent high levels of the euro.
Papademos on the global importance of the euro
In the speech 'The global importance of the euro' given on 17 November Lucas Papademos of the ECB said the share of the euro in global official foreign exchange reserves increased during the first few years following its introduction, but has remained…
Optimal currency shares in international reserves
The ECB Working Paper "Optimal currency shares in international reserves: the impact of the euro and the prospects for the dollar" says that foreign exchange reserve accumulation has risen dramatically in recent years.
NBP's Balcerowicz against euro referendum
The head of Poland's central bank Leszek Balcerowicz told a seminar on Thursday 7 December that a referendum on Poland joining the eurozone is unnecessary.
ECB raises interest rates to 3.5%
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet said Thursday 7 December it was essential to act in a "firm and timely manner" to safeguard price stability in the eurozone,after the bank raised interest rates from 3.25pct to 3.5pct.
Illogical rules make Slovenians feel second-class
This article from the Financial Times, published Wednesday 6 December, asks whether Slovenia will be a second-class member of the eurozone with restrictions on the movement of labour from the small state.
ECB's Gonzalez-Paramo on the ageing problem
In the speech 'The ageing problem: its impact on financial markets and possible policy responses' given on 1 December Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Paramo of the ECB said the ECB has repeatedly called on governments to implement comprehensive reforms in public…
Tumpel-Gugerell on financial integration
In the speech 'Financial integration and stability in Europe' given on 1 December Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell of the ECB said effective and efficient banking supervision is essential, both to promote financial integration and to safeguard financial…
ECB issues warning to euro hopefuls
Some of the new members of the European Union lining up to adopt the euro will likely have to wait until the end of the decade, the European Central Bank said Tuesday 5 December.
ECB's Papademos on monetary policy
In the speech 'Monetary policy in a changing world: Commitment, strategy and credibility' given on 1 December Lucas Papademos of the ECB said that the ECB's policy for fighting inflation had been proven successful in the period since Europe adopted a…
ECB's Tumpel-Gugerell on TARGET2-Securities
In the speech 'TARGET2-Securities: from vision to reality. The Eurosystem's contribution to an integrated securities market' given on 30 November Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell of the ECB invited national central securities depositaries (CSDs) to discuss the…
IMF ups eurozone growth forecast
The IMF's European department director, Michael Deppler, said on 28 November that the Fund has raised its eurozone growth forecast for both this year and next.
Malta cb's governor says the euro is not enough
Joining the euro will help, said Michael Bonello, the governor of Malta's central bank, but this is not enough to secure faster economic growth.
Europe's new large-value payment system on target
Europe's new large-value payment system is on schedule to go live in 2007 says the European Central Bank in its third annual report on TARGET2.
ECB's Stark on challenges of euro area enlargement
In the speech 'Economic and monetary challenges of euro area enlargement' given on 20 November Jurgen Stark of the ECB said it is crucial that central banks have full independence in the new EU member states, in practice as well as in theory.
Hungary's Jarai calls for new euro plan
A new convergence program is needed for Hungary to be ready to join the eurozone in 2011, Hungary's central bank Governor Zsigmond Jarai said on Thursday 16 November.
Trichet positive on global growth but sees risks
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet said Monday 20 November that the global economy is set for dynamic growth in 2007 but central bankers must remain vigilant as oil prices still threaten to stoke inflation.
ECB wants more clarity on Sepa for cards
The European Central Bank said Monday 20 November it has laid down a new set of objectives for payment card schemes to achieve in order to become Sepa-compliant, amid concerns that current provisions would lead to higher prices and a deterioration in…
ECB's Bini Smaghi on ageing and pension funds
In the speech 'Ageing, pension funds and household wealth allocation in the euro area' given on 15 November of the ECB said shifts in households' financial investments and liabilities complicate the ECB's analysis of money and credit growth.