Interest rates
Li Yang says China shouldn't follow US
China should not follow in the footsteps of the United States by starting a cycle of interest rate rises, former central bank adviser Li Yang said in an article published on Monday 7 August.
ECB's Bini Smaghi sees further policy tightening
European Central Bank executive committee member Lorenzo Bini Smaghi said in an interview published Sunday 6 August that he sees further increases in euro zone interest rates in the next months.
Belgium's Quaden says all things possible
Belgian National Bank governor Guy Quaden said in a radio interview it is possible for the European Central Bank to control inflation at the same time as promoting growth.
Trichet says further rate rises may be 'warranted'
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet said Thursday 3 August more interest rate increases may be "warranted" after the bank increased eurozone rates for the fourth time in eight months.
Surprise as Bank of England tightens early
The Bank of England raised interest rates by a quarter-point on Thursday 3 August, bringing the official bank rate to 4.75% after a year on hold.
Comment: BoE brightens silly season slumber
The Bank of England surprised practically everyone on 3 August by raising rates by 25 basis points. The Bank's next Inflation Report, to be released on 9 August, and the minutes from the August meeting will make intriguing reading. The move will also the…
The Old Lady can afford to be patient
According to this article by the Financial Times, published on Wednesday 2 August, there is a big difference between the predictability of the ECB's plans on Thursday, and the uncertainty surrounding the Bank of England's decision the same day.
SF's Yellen on prospects for the U.S. economy
In the speech 'Prospects for the U.S. economy' given on 31 July Janet Yellen of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco said the current federal funds rate is "in a vicinity" of the right level even though news on inflation has been "disappointing."
Comment: Has Trichet's gambit paid off?
The ECB heads into this week's monetary policy meeting with markets fully expecting a 25 basis point hike. Has the decision to have an unscheduled meeting, which effectively pre-announced the decision, changed the prospects for the course of eurozone…
Kohn says Fed policy lags may be shorter
The communication of interest-rate moves during the Fed's latest tightening campaign may mean their impact on the economy will be felt more quickly than otherwise, a top Fed official said in a letter released on Friday 28 July.
RBNZ leaves OCR unchanged at 7.25 per cent
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand announced Thursday 27 July that the Official Cash Rate (OCR) will remain unchanged at 7.25 per cent. Reserve bank governor Alan Bollard said: "Recent economic developments have been broadly in line with our June Monetary…
Japan - Effects of the quantitative easing policy
The Bank of Japan Working Paper "Effects of the quantitative easing policy: A survey of empirical analyses" surveys the empirical analyses that examine the effects of the Bank of Japan (BOJ)'s quantitative easing policy (QEP).
Minutes suggest smaller rate cuts in Brazil
Brazil's central bank said Thursday 27 July it sees a "low probability" of inflationary pressures in the coming quarters, but interest rate cuts may need to be smaller to avoid a pickup in inflation.
BoJ 'very careful' about drastic rate hike-Yosano
Japan's Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Kaoru Yosano said Thursday 27 July the Bank of Japan is "very careful" about implementing credit tightening too drastically.
BoJ's Suda sees 'gradual' rate rises
Bank of Japan policy board member Miyako Suda repeated Wednesday 26 July the central bank's view that future rate increases would be 'gradual' if the economy continues to show sustained growth.
Israel's Fischer says fighting damages economy
The conflict between Israel and Hizbollah has had a "considerable" negative impact on Israel's economy but financial markets are expressing confidence it will bounce back, Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer told CNBC television on Tuesday 25 July.
Comment: RBI sounds warning call
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) raised interest rates by 25 basis points on 25 July. The central bank warned that the higher oil prices were having a "permanent" effect. Rapid credit growth and rising risk-premia were also top of the list of concerns…
SNB's Hildebrand says Middle East a risk
Philipp Hildebrand, a member of the Swiss National Bank's (SNB) governing board said in an interview the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah constitutes a new risk factor.
Minutes show Fed unsure on future rate path
Federal Reserve officials were uncertain about future interest rate steps at their last meeting, minutes released Thursday 20 July showed.
Some BOJ members wanted 0.5% hike - report says
Jiji Press reported on Friday 21 July that three Bank of Japan Policy Board members sought a steeper increase in the official discount rate at the central bank's meeting last week.
Minutes show BOJ waited to monitor markets
Minutes released on Thursday 20 July showed the Bank of Japan put off raising interest rates from zero at a board meeting in June because it wanted to monitor factors such as global markets and the U.S. economy.
OECD urges caution on BOJ rate moves
The Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development warned on Thursday 20 July that the Bank of Japan should not rush further interest rate increases while there is a risk of slipping back into deflation.
Bank of England voted 7-0 to hold rates
Minutes from the Bank of England's 5 and 6 July Monetary Policy Committee meeting, published Wednesday 19 July, showed policy makers voted unanimously to keep the benchmark interest rate at 4.5 percent this month.
BOJ raises rates, Fukui staying put
The Bank of Japan on Friday 14 July ended its five-year-old policy of keeping interest rates near zero, saying that the nation has emerged from deflation and overcome the long economic slump.