Interest rates
Fed looks to stabilise economy with rate hold
Against a backdrop of mounting concern over the health of the American economy, the Federal Reserve decided to leave its federal funds rate at 5.25% yesterday.
BoE inflation report suggests rate hike
The Bank of England looks set to raise rates to 6%, after its August inflation report, released on 8 August, indicated that further hikes were needed to bring inflation down towards the 2% target.
Indonesia holds rates
After two 25 basis point cuts in as many months, Bank Indonesia decided today to hold its benchmark interest rates at 8.25%
Mboweni predicts interest rate increase
Tito Mboweni, the governor of the Reserve Bank of South Africa, says the central bank is more likely to raise interest rates than reduce them at its policy meeting next week.
South African inflation target band remains
The South African Reserve Bank's current inflation target band of 3% to 6% will be maintained despite criticism from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), finance minister Trevor Manuel announced on Monday 6 August.
Czech central bank predicts further rate hikes
The Czech National Bank will increase interest rates if its macroeconomic forecast is correct, minutes of latest policy meeting, released on Friday 3 August, revealed.
Philippines to hold rates
Amando Tetangco, governor of the Central Bank of the Philippines, hinted that interest rates would remain unchanged for the foreseeable future.
Unexpected tightening in Pakistan
Pakistan's central bank has unexpectedly raised its benchmark interest rate to its highest level in more than five years after inflation exceeded its target.
Indian cash reserve ratio increase
The Reserve Bank of India, the country's central bank, today left its key interest rates - the repurchase rate and the reverse repurchase rate - unchanged at 7.75% and 6% respectively, but increased the cash reserve ratio.
Slovakian rates on hold
The board of Narodna Banka Slovenska, the central bank of Slovakia, decided keep current interest rates on hold after a meeting of the monetary policy committee.
Colombia raises rates
Colombia's central bank raised the overnight interbank rate by a quarter of a percentage point to 9.25%, the highest level since 2001.
New Zealand raises official cash rate
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has raised its official cash rate (OCR) by 25 basis points to 8.25%, while indicating that further rises may not be necessary.
Czech National Bank raises rates
As widely expected the Czech National Bank (CNB) today raised its main interest rate by 25 basis points to 3% in an ongoing rate tightening cycle.
Unexpected rise in eurozone money supply
Data from the European Central Bank (ECB) released today showed a surprise jump in M3 money supply in the eurozone and loans to the private sector.
Polish rates stay at 4.5% as expected
Poland's central bank kept interest rates unchanged at its meeting on 25 July. The halt in monetary tightening comes after two rises in the three previous months raised rates to 4.5%.
Malaysian central bank leaves key rate unchanged
The central bank of Malaysia, Bank Negara Malaysia, has left interest rates unchanged at 3.5%. The decision had been widely expected as inflation has eased substantially to 1.4% in June, after averaging 2% in the first six months of this year.
South African inflation remains well above target
Inflation in South Africa remained well above the central bank's target for inflation in June. It was the third consecutive month that inflation, as measured by the central bank's target measure CPIX index, breached the South African Reserve Bank's (SARB…
Bank of Israel closes "interest rate gap"
The Bank of Israel has announced an interest rate increase of 25 basis points. The hike, which takes rates to 3.75%, was somewhat unexpected as most observers expected rates to remain unchanged.
Hungary keeps rates on hold - as expected
As expected by analysts the National Bank of Hungary, the country's central bank, kept its policy rate unchanged today at 7.75% after its monthly review of interest rates.
Brazil makes 17th consecutive rate cut
Brazil's central bank made its 17th consecutive cut in the overnight lending rate on July 18, as inflation continued to be kept in check by the strong exchange rate.
Rate tightening agreed by Polish cb in June
At its most recent meeting, Poland's central bank agreed that rate tightening in the future was necessary, although the bank's policymakers were split over when a move should occur.
BoE minutes show rate rise split
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted 6 to 3 to raise interest rates this month, according to the minutes of the July meeting published today. Kate Barker and Paul Tucker voted with the governor, Mervyn King, in favour of a rise of…
Japanese policymakers fear US housing problems
Minutes of the June 14-15 meeting of the Bank of Japan's policy board, published today, show that some board members have concerns about the persistence of housing problems in the United States, which may point to difficulties in making future rate rises.
Thai rates cut with one eye on baht
Thailand's central bank cut its benchmark interest rate, the one-day bond repurchase rate, to 3.25% from 3.5% today, the fifth consecutive cut this year. Suchada Kirakul, the assistant governor, told reporters after the rate decision that the cut "will…