Interest rates
Bini Smaghi says ECB rate may rise further
ECB board member Lorenzo Bini Smaghi told La Repubblica in an interview published Tuesday 23 January that the ECB's rate is "still accommodating" and may have to rise further if growth expectations are confirmed to avoid excess liquidity.
Stark on monetary policy: a view from the ECB
In the speech 'Objectives and challenges of monetary policy: a view from the ECB' given on 19 January Jurgen Stark of the ECB said the ECB retains the freedom to move interest rates whenever it considers it necessary to control inflation pressures,…
Why did the Bank of Japan freeze interest rates?
According to this article published by MoneyWeek on Monday 22 January, the Bank of Japan's decision last week to hold interest rates steady has unleashed a storm relating to its independence from political pressure.
Buba's Weber warns on German wage hikes
Bundesbank president Axel Weber warned Friday 19 January that sharp wage increases in Germany could set off a new round of inflation and hinder the European Central Bank's price stability goal.
Economists may review RBA testimony
Australian lawmakers are likely to invite economists to review the twice-yearly testimony of Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Glenn Stevens, Bloomberg reported Friday 19 January.
BoE's Besley on inflation and the service sector
In the speech 'Inflation and the service sector' given on 18 January Timothy Besley of the Bank of England said he expects limited spare capacity in the services sector to drive up wages in the wider economy.
SF Fed's Yellen on the U.S. economy in 2007
In the speech 'The U.S. economy in 2007: Prospects and puzzles' given on 17 January Janet Yellen of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco said inflation is too high at the moment, but the current level of a key interest rate is high enough to bring…
Fukui says BoJ not bowing to pressure
The Bank of Japan will try to change interest rates slowly but has no timetable for such moves at present, central bank governor Toshihiko Fukui said Thursday 18 January.
Rosenberg: Introducing own path for the repo rate
In the speech 'Riksbank to introduce own path for the repo rate' given on 17 January Irma Rosenberg of the Sveriges Riksbank said the central bank will start issuing its own repo rate forecasts when it publishes its predictions for inflation.
Theater of the absurd surrounds BOJ's decision
According to this article from Bloomberg, published Wednesday 17 January, the Bank of Japan may be about to lose even more of the credibility is has worked to restore.
BoT says cut rates to spur economy
The Bank of Thailand said Wednesday 17 January it cut its key interest rate for the first time in more than three years to spur the economy after currency controls.
PBOC researcher says reserve, rates need adjusting
A People's Bank of China researcher has said in a report that the PBOC needs to raise the reserve requirement again as well as adjust interest rates to rein in liquidity.
Economy minister calls on BoJ to hold rates steady
Japan's economic and fiscal policy minister Hiroko Ota on Monday 15 January called for the Bank of Japan to hold interest rates unchanged ahead of its meeting this week.
Bank of Japan seen leaning toward raising rates
The Bank of Japan is leaning towards raising interest rates at next week's policy board meeting, with consumer spending remaining firm and worries of a US economic slowdown receding, the Nikkei reported Friday 12 January, without citing sources.
Unpredictable Bank fails in mission to be dull
According to this article from Reuters, published Thursday 11 January, the Bank of England is failing miserably in its quest to be boring.
A reassuring Reserve
According to this article from the Financial Times, published Thursday 11 January, the Federal Reserve's decision to halt its series of interest rate rises in June last year now looks to have been correct.
BoE surprises markets with rate rise
The Bank of England unexpectedly raised interest rates by a quarter-point on Thursday 11 January, the third increase since August, saying inflation may accelerate.
PBOC chief wants more data before decision
Chinese central bank governor Zhou Xiaochuan said on Wednesday 10 January in comments to Reuters he was waiting to see more economic data before making any decision to change interest rates.
IMF's Rato says euro, Fed rates may have to rise
The European Central Bank and the U.S. Federal Reserve may have to raise interest rates once more to keep inflation in check, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Rodrigo Rato was quoted on Monday 8 January as saying.
Fed minutes show inflation concern
Federal Reserve officials continued to view the current rates of core inflation as "uncomfortably high" at their meeting last month, minutes released Wednesday 3 January showed.
OECD says ECB rates still below neutral level
The OECD said Thursday 4 January European Central Bank interest rates are still below a 'neutral' level and continue to stimulate activity in the euro zone.
PBOC's Wu expects Fed rate cuts in 2007
The US Federal Reserve is expected to cut rates in 2007 and that will reinforce the dollar's downwards bias and the yuan's tendency to rise, a senior Chinese central banker was reported by the Financial News as saying.
Central banks will give less of the same in 2007
According to this article published by Bloomberg on Tuesday 26 December, current forecasts suggest there might be fewer changes in key central bank interest rates in 2007.
Sweden's Riksbank unanimous on recent rate rise
Minutes released Tuesday 2 January showed Swedish central bank policymakers were unanimous in raising the repo interest rate by 25 basis points to 3.00 percent on 14 December.