Interest rates
Comment: A new era for the BoJ
As expected the Bank of Japan raised interest rates for the first time since March 2001 at its monetary policy meeting on 14 July. The decision to end the zero interest rate policy (ZIRP) with a 25 basis point hike in the overnight rate was unanimous one.
IMF says BOJ hike welcome news
A senior IMF official on Friday 14 July welcomed the decision by the Bank of Japan to end the era of zero interest rates.
More Greenspan, less Volcker, needed in Japan
This article published Wednesday 12 July by Bloomberg says that the Bank of Japan may engineer its first interest rate increase since August 2000 on Friday.
Bank of Canada keeps rates unchanged
The Bank of Canada left interest rates unchanged at 4.25% on Tuesday 11 July and repeated a May statement that the seven prior increases are enough to return inflation to its 2 percent goal.
Japan ruling party backs ending BoJ rate policy
The Bank of Japan has received clear backing from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party on its plans to end the current zero interest rate policy.
Juncker says ECB 'pointing' to rate rise
Euro group president Jean-Claude Juncker said Monday 10 July the European Central Bank has been signalling that it will raise interest rates again before long.
Trichet gives strong hint on August rate rise
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet said Thursday 6 July that the ECB governing council will meet in person on 3 August rather than by teleconference, as it normally does for its early August policy meeting.
Kohn with reflections on globalization & policies
In the speech 'Reflections on globalization and policies' given on 6 July Donald Kohn of the Federal Reserve said he was aware of the risk of raising rates more than necessary but saw a need for higher global interest rates to maintain stability.
Comment: The ECB's gamble
The president of the ECB, Jean-Claude Trichet, has announced that the central bank will take the highly unusually step of meeting in person on 3 August, rather than conduct the scheduled conference call. In doing so, Trichet has effectively pre-announced…
Comment: All eyes on Trichet
All but two of the 43 economists polled by Bloomberg recently expect the European Central Bank (ECB) to keep interest rates at 2.75% this week. All eyes will, however, be on the central bank's president, Jean-Claude Trichet, to see if he alludes to the…
Japanese cabinet minister backs BOJ rate hike
Japan's Economic and Fiscal Policy minister Kaoru Yosano told public broadcaster NHK conditions are being met for an imminent rate hike by the Bank of Japan.
Riksbank united on rate increase, minutes show
The board of the Swedish Riksbank was unanimous in its 19 June decision to hike the repo rate by 25 basis points to 2.25 pct, according to the minutes of the monetary policy meeting published Monday 3 July.
Fed's 17th increase leaves India with no choice
According to this article published Monday 3 July by Bloomberg, the Reserve Bank of India cannot afford to skip another quarter-point increase in July, with the Federal Reserve boosting rates last week.
Report says BOJ likely to start raising rates
The Bank of Japan is expected to start raising interest rates this month or next, a news report said Monday 3 June.
Fed raises rates, suggests may be nearing end
The Federal Reserve raised US interest rates to the highest point in more than five years Thursday 29 June and suggested the rate hike cycle may be nearing the end.
When facts change, central bank intentions should
According to this article published by the Financial Times on Wednesday 28 June, by Francesco Giavazzi and Charles Wyplosz, the Bank of England, which once pioneered transparency and innovative communication, is trailing behind other central banks.
Comment: When 364 economists were wrong
It is rare to find two economists who can agree on anything, but in 1981 no less than 364 British economists agreed to write an open letter condemning the tightness of that year's budget. Amongst them: a certain Mervyn King.
Federal Reserve expected to raise rates
Federal Reserve policymakers were widely expected to finish a two-day meeting on Thursday 29 June, by raising US interest rates for the 17th consecutive time to 5.25 percent.
Comment: Bold CBT holds its breath
After another emergency meeting over the weekend the Central Bank of Turkey has raised interest rates by 225 basis points (bp). This has taken interest rates to 17.25%, following an initial hike of 175 bp earlier this month. Will this bold move make any…
Garganas says ECB may aggressively raise rates
European Central Bank council member Nicholas Garganas said in an interview the bank is ready to accelerate the pace of interest-rate increases to counter higher inflation risks in the eurozone.
ECB keeping rate options open says Quaden
The European Central Bank is not ruling out the possibility of an interest rate hike in early August, ECB governing council member Guy Quaden was quoted as saying in an interview published Monday 26 June.
Study says markets on Fed's wavelength
According to a recent study by the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, better communication by the U.S. central bank has dramatically cut mistakes by markets betting on future interest rate moves.
BOJ's Nishimura sees low rates problem
Keeping Japan's interest rates at low levels for a prolonged period may cause excessive investment by companies and overstimulate economic growth, according to Kiyohiko Nishimura, a Bank of Japan policy maker.
ECB's Trichet on economic and monetary issues
In the testimony given on 21 June Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said the insight that price stability is the primary goal for monetary policy has also been translated into the mandates of central banks of advanced economies and also of a very large…