Interest rates
Kenya leaves rates at 8.75%
The Central Bank of Kenya's rate-setting committee voted on Thursday to hold the benchmark Central Bank Rate at 8.75%.
Norway raises rates by 25 basis points
The Central Bank of Norway's rate-setting executive board voted on Wednesday to increase its benchmark sight deposit rate by a quarter of a percentage point to 5.25%.
Chinese inflation surpasses previous peak
China's inflation accelerated further in November after matching the 11-year peak reached in August the previous month.
Cyprus holds rates at 4.5%
The Central Bank of Cyprus's rate-setting monetary policy committee voted on Monday to keep its benchmark rate at 4.5% in its last scheduled decision.
UK cut does little to alleviate interbank tension
Sterling interbank borrowing costs fell only slightly in response to the Bank of England's 25 basis point rate cut on Thursday, indicating that the cut did little to alleviate liquidity tensions.
Indonesia cuts rates unexpectedly
Bank Indonesia's rate-setting board surprised markets on Thursday by lowering its benchmark rate by 25 basis points to 8%.
Peru keeps rates at 5%
The Central Bank of Peru's rate-setting board on Thursday voted to hold its benchmark reference rate at 5% after monthly inflation fell to 0.11% in November.
Korean rates on hold amid uncertainty
The Bank of Korea's rate-setting monetary policy committee kept the benchmark uncollateralised overnight rate at 5% despite an increase in inflation.
Old Lady cuts rates to 5.5%
The Bank of England's rate-setting Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted on Thursday to cut its benchmark bank rate by 25 basis points after data suggested the UK economy was weakening.
ECB keeps rates at 4%
The European Central Bank's (ECB) rate-setting Governing Council held its benchmark rate at 4%. The vote contrasts with decisions in recent days to cut rates from the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England.
South Africa bids to cool economy with 50bp rise
The South African Reserve Bank looked to dampen rampant inflation by hiking rates by half a percentage point for the third time since July.
Japan must not be too late in hiking rates
The Bank of Japan needs to ensure that the pace of rate hikes in Japan is not too slow to risk the economy overheating, says Miyako Suda, a board member at the central bank.
Australia holds rates at 6.75%
The Reserve Bank of Australia's rate-setting board voted on Wednesday to leave its benchmark cash rate at 6.75%, an 11-year high.
Nigeria combats inflation with 50bp hike
The Central Bank of Nigeria's rate-setting board voted on Tuesday to raise rates by half a percentage point to 9.5% in a bid to fight inflation.
Interest rates set to climb in China in 2008
The People's Bank of China said on Wednesday that it would step up its fight against inflation by implementing tighter monetary policy controls and utilising other monetary tools in 2008.
Domestic pressures behind Australian rate rise
Members of the Reserve Bank of Australia's rate-setting board voted to hike rates last month on domestic economic grounds, minutes of the 6 November meeting reveal.
Canada surprises markets with quarter-point cut
The Bank of Canada's rate-setting board voted unexpectedly on Tuesday to cut its benchmark overnight rate by 25 basis points to 4.25%.
New Zealand to webcast monetary policy statements
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand is set to webcast the news conference that will follow this Thursday's rate decision.
Bernanke keeps door open for rate cut
The Fed chairman's concern over the effects of renewed turmoil in financial markets lent weight to expectations of a rate cut in December.
SARB policies here to stay regardless of Zuma
Tito Mboweni, the governor of the South African Reserve Bank, moved to assure markets on Thursday night that inflation targeting would remain whether or not the South African presidency changed hands.
Mishkin wants changes to lead to medium-term focus
Frederic Mishkin, a governor at the Federal Reserve, said on Thursday that he hopes the decision to increase the frequency and expand the content of the central bank's economic projections will stop Fed watchers' obsessive focus on where rates are…
UK's King gloomy on economic conundrum
Mervyn King, the governor of the Bank of England, said on Thursday that the economic outlook is "uncomfortable" because the problems of the credit crisis are now coupled with burgeoning inflationary pressures.
Czechs hike rates to 3.5%
The Czech National Bank's rate-setting board voted on Thursday to hike rates by 25 basis points to 3.5% after inflation rose to a six-year high in October.
FOMC members disagree on risks to growth
Stock markets around the world rose sharply on Wednesday after Donald Kohn, the vice chairman of the Federal Reserve, suggested that the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) would cut rates in December. Kohn's comments differ sharply from those made by…