Interest rates
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.
Turkey continues to cut rates
The Central Bank of Turkey's monetary policy committee voted on Thursday to lower its benchmark overnight borrowing rate by 25 basis points to 15.5%.
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…
Canadian banks may not match central bank cut
Some of Canada's biggest commercial banks say they are considering leaving borrowing rates unchanged even if, as expected, the Bank of Canada cuts rates next Tuesday.
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.
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.
Chile raises rates
The Central Bank of Chile voted on Thursday to hike rates by 25 basis points to 6.25%.
Peruvian rates hit 5.25% on inflation fears
The Central Bank of Peru's rate-setting board raised rates to 5.25%.
Fed ready to act on worsening outlook: Bernanke
The Federal Reserve looks set to cut rates further after its chairman, Ben Bernanke, said central bank policy would look to counter the increasing risk of an economic slowdown.
UK rates held at 5.5%
The Bank of England's monetary policy committee (MPC) on Thursday voted to keep the benchmark bank rate at 5.5%.
Bank of Canada plans to increase transparency
Canada's central bank will review whether to provide more information about its predictions for the economic outlook in a bid to improve transparency.
France renews onslaught on ECB policy
The French government has resumed its campaign calling for the European Central Bank (ECB) to cut rates.
Should rate policy note Wall Street's influence?
Reflecting on the Federal Reserve's recent decisions, Stephen Cecchetti, the Rosenberg professor of global finance at the Brandeis International Business School, asks whether it is wise to separate actions to ensure financial stability from those to aid…
Eurozone retail banking data shows convergence
Though cross-border differences in interest-rate levels persist, retail banking markets in the eurozone are becoming more integrated, research published by the Bank of Finland finds.
Fed's Rosengren calls for banks to declare losses
Banks must fully disclose their losses to limit the damage of the subprime fallout, says Eric Rosengren, the president of the Boston Fed.
Fed's Plosser stays hawkish on rates
Charles Plosser, the president of the Philadelphia Federal Reserve and a voting member of the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), hinted that he would back a rate hold when the committee meets later this month.
Bank Indonesia avoids rate cut on price fears
Bank Indonesia's rate-setting board voted to keep rates on hold at 8% on Tuesday after inflation remained way above the central bank's medium-term target in December.
Japan's Iwata praises new communication strategy
The Bank of Japan's new communication policy framework has improved both transparency and flexibility, says Kazumasa Iwata, a deputy governor at the central bank.
ECB ready to act as inflation stays high
Jean-Claude Trichet, the president of the European Central Bank (ECB), said on Saturday that the rate-setting governing council was ready to act to control rising prices after figures published Friday showed euro-area inflation stayed at 3.1%.
Romania hikes rates to 8%
The National Bank of Romania's rate-setting board on Monday voted to raise the benchmark monetary policy rate by 50 basis points to 8%.
Differences are a strength of Fed strategy: Kohn
Recent disparities in speeches by FOMC members on the economic outlook in the United States reflect the pace of change rather than any failure in the Fed's communication strategy, says Donald Kohn, the vice-chairman of the Federal Reserve board.
India's central bank cuts again
The Reserve Bank of India cut rates by a percentage point for the second time in less than a month and eased deposit requirements for commercial banks in a bid to limit the impact of the financial crisis.
Research shows dollarisation and rates link
Since the adoption of inflation targeting and a floating exchange rate in 1999, real interest rates in Brazil have fallen as levels of dollarisation in the economy have dropped, research published by the International Monetary Fund finds.
Fed minutes reveal clear shift in outlook
The minutes of the December meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), published on Wednesday, reveal a more dovish Federal Reserve than was suggested at the time.