Inflation
Cyprus and Malta join gold agreement
Cyprus and Malta, the two newest members of the eurozone, have signed up to the Central Bank Gold Agreement, which limits the amount of gold cooperating institutions can sell.
The optimal horizon for inflation targeting
The optimal horizon for inflation targeting is highly shock-specific, research published by the Central Bank of Norway finds.
ECB sticks to inflation line amid OECD cut calls
Jean-Claude Trichet, the president of the European Central Bank, and fellow members of the rate-setting governing council have defended the central bank's decision to fight inflation, in spite of increasingly vociferous calls for them to cut rates.
New Zealand holds rates at 8.25%
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand's rate-setting board voted on Thursday to keep the benchmark official cash rate at 8.25% in spite of high inflation.
Czech deputy Niedermayer says economy set to slow
The pace of economic expansion in the Czech Republic will decline in 2008, Ludek Niedermayer, a deputy governor at the Czech National Bank, warned on Wednesday.
Brazil rates remain at 11.25%
The Central Bank of Brazil's rate-setting board on Wednesday voted unanimously to keep the benchmark Selic rate at 11.25%.
UK's King unlikely to take Fed tack on rate cuts
Mervyn King, the governor of the Bank of England, signalled he would prefer a gradual decline in rates on Tuesday in a speech that noted the risks to inflation as much as those to growth.
Norway keeps rates at 5.25%, warns on prices
The Bank of Norway's rate-setting board on Wednesday left its key policy rate unchanged at 5.25%, despite concern over inflation.
UK MPC voted 8 - 1 in favour of rate hold
David Blanchflower was the only member of the nine-strong Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee to object to the decision earlier this month to hold rates at 5.5%, opting instead for a 25 basis point cut.
Canada cuts rates by 25 basis points to 4%
The Bank of Canada's rate-setting board opted on Tuesday to lower its benchmark overnight rate by 25 basis points to 4%.
Mexico holds rates at 7.5%
The Bank of Mexico's rate-setting board voted on Friday to keep rates at 7.5%.
Fisher urges Fed to avoid "trigger-happy" cuts
Having an itchy trigger finger with monetary policy risks shooting everyone in the foot, said Richard Fisher, the president of the Dallas Federal Reserve.
Poor growth will curb inflation: Fed's Pianalto
The impact of the housing crisis on the rest of the United States economy will help dampen price hikes, says Sandra Pianalto, the president of the Cleveland Federal Reserve.
British MPC faces tough choices warns deputy Gieve
The Bank of England's monetary policy committee (MPC) faces difficult decisions in the months ahead because of the dual threat of slowing growth and rising inflation, said Sir John Gieve, the deputy governor responsible for financial stability.
Fed must "respond pragmatically" to poorer outlook
Policymakers must be prepared to respond pragmatically to a recent bout of worse-than-expected data on the United States economy, said Dennis Lockhart, the president of the Atlanta Federal Reserve and a non-voting member of the Federal Open Market…
An inflation forecasting model for the eurozone
The Banque de France is building tools to predict euro-area inflation as well as price levels in the national economy.
Emirates must cooperate on inflation: Al-Suwaidi
Sultan bin Nasser al-Suwaidi, the governor of the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates, said on Tuesday that officials in all of the emirates had to work on curbing soaring inflation, but warned against tampering with exchange rates.
Thailand holds rates at 3.25%
The Bank of Thailand's monetary policy committee voted on Wednesday to keep rates at 3.25% in spite of rising inflation.
Paper highlights influence of Taylor rule
The rise in influence of the Taylor rule, which shows how monetary policy should adjust to ensure growth and inflation remain near target levels, played an important part in the shift towards a more transparent, more independent era of central banking,…
Philippines's Tentangco notes strong performance
The Filipino economy achieved the ideal confluence of high growth and low inflation in 2007, said Amando Tetangco, Jr, the governor of the central bank.
Hawkish Hoenig stresses inflation risks
The likelihood of a recession in the United States is smaller than others are suggesting, says Thomas Hoenig, the president of the Kansas City Federal Reserve.
Central banks with dual role face tough choices
Central banks, such as the Federal Reserve, with the dual mandate of maintaining price stability and economic growth, should not give equal weight to their inflation and unemployment goals, a study by the Kansas City Federal Reserve finds.
Saudi must diversify investments, says top bank
The National Commercial Bank, Saudi Arabia's largest state bank, has called on the government to set up a sovereign wealth fund to cut the country's exposure to the greenback. The central bank should also look at de-pegging the riyal from the dollar.
ECB should discuss inflation disparities
The divergence between actual eurozone inflation and that perceived by the public in a number of euro area countries represents a communication challenge for the European Central Bank, says Lucas Papademos, the vice-president.