Inflation
BoE inflation report suggests rate hike
The Bank of England looks set to raise rates to 6%, after its August inflation report, released on 8 August, indicated that further hikes were needed to bring inflation down towards the 2% target.
Indonesia holds rates
After two 25 basis point cuts in as many months, Bank Indonesia decided today to hold its benchmark interest rates at 8.25%
Mboweni predicts interest rate increase
Tito Mboweni, the governor of the Reserve Bank of South Africa, says the central bank is more likely to raise interest rates than reduce them at its policy meeting next week.
South Africa's Mboweni on monetary policy risks
In this speech Tito Mboweni, the governor of the South African Reserve Bank, outlines some of the major concerns currently facing the central bank.
South African inflation target band remains
The South African Reserve Bank's current inflation target band of 3% to 6% will be maintained despite criticism from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), finance minister Trevor Manuel announced on Monday 6 August.
Czech central bank predicts further rate hikes
The Czech National Bank will increase interest rates if its macroeconomic forecast is correct, minutes of latest policy meeting, released on Friday 3 August, revealed.
Philippines to hold rates
Amando Tetangco, governor of the Central Bank of the Philippines, hinted that interest rates would remain unchanged for the foreseeable future.
Polish inflation to stay below 3.5% until 2009
Slawomir Skrzypek, the governor of the National Bank of Poland, says inflation will not top 3.5% in the next two years. Interest rates, he added, should remain unchanged as a result.
New Zealand central bank defends policy framework
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has published its submission to the government's inquiry into the future monetary policy framework.
Calls for New Zealand to drop inflation target
The New Zealand stock exchange operator, New Zealand Exchange (NZX), has called for on the country's central bank to abandon its strict inflation target. Michael Cullen, the finance minister, called the suggestion "very interesting and very well…
Mboweni dismisses calls for intervention
The governor of the South African Reserve Bank, Tito Mboweni, dismissed the suggestion of a group a renowned economic advisors to the government.
Trichet signals September hike
The European Central Bank (ECB) today left interest rates unchanged at 4%. In a surprise press conference after the announcement, Jean-Claude Trichet, the president of the central bank, dropped a strong hint that rates will rise at the next meeting in…
Bank of England leaves rates unchanged
The Bank of England today announced that it would leave its benchmark interest rate at 5.75%. The decision to hold rates steady was widely expected, though most economists expect rates to rise to 6% before the end of this year.
Explaining inflation differentials
This working paper by the International Monetary Fund suggests that some central banks may aim at comparatively high inflation rates mainly to make up for, and to perhaps exploit, lagging internal and external liberalisation in their economies.
Unexpected tightening in Pakistan
Pakistan's central bank has unexpectedly raised its benchmark interest rate to its highest level in more than five years after inflation exceeded its target.
Indian cash reserve ratio increase
The Reserve Bank of India, the country's central bank, today left its key interest rates - the repurchase rate and the reverse repurchase rate - unchanged at 7.75% and 6% respectively, but increased the cash reserve ratio.
Zimbabwe issues new $200,000 note
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has introduced the latest in a series of temporary banknotes which are intended to relieve a critical shortage of notes in the inflation-ravaged country.
Slovakian rates on hold
The board of Narodna Banka Slovenska, the central bank of Slovakia, decided keep current interest rates on hold after a meeting of the monetary policy committee.
IMF on euro area policies
A report by the International Monetary Fund on euro area policies, released on 31 July, said that the outlook for the region was the best in years, but stabilising inflation below 2% may imply further gradual tightening of monetary policy.
Kuwait lets dinar fall again
Kuwait allowed the dinar to depreciate against the dollar for the second straight working day on Sunday July 29, this time by 0.05%.
Colombia raises rates
Colombia's central bank raised the overnight interbank rate by a quarter of a percentage point to 9.25%, the highest level since 2001.
New Zealand raises official cash rate
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has raised its official cash rate (OCR) by 25 basis points to 8.25%, while indicating that further rises may not be necessary.
Czech National Bank raises rates
As widely expected the Czech National Bank (CNB) today raised its main interest rate by 25 basis points to 3% in an ongoing rate tightening cycle.
Fund raises 2007 and 2008 growth forecast
The July update of the World Economic Outlook (WEO) published on 25 July by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) increased the Fund forecast for global economic growth for 2007 and 2008 to 5.2%, from 4.9%.