Interest rates
Bell calls Bank of England forecasts 'ambitious'
Former Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee member Marian Bell said in an interview that the central bank's forecasts for economic growth are "ambitious" and that if she was still on the MPC she would consider cutting rates.
Trichet: ECB must act before inflation develops
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet said in an interview the ECB must not wait for inflation to develop before taking action against it.
Fed raises rates, tweaks statement
The Federal Open Market Committee decided on Tuesday 13 December to raise its target for the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to 4-1/4 percent. In its statement the FOMC removed the term 'policy accommondation' but suggested rates could rise further…
Word junkies get ready for a fix from the Fed
According to this article published on Monday 12 December, while there is little doubt the Fed will raise the funds rate by another 25 basis points to 4.25 percent on Tuesday, the main issue is the language of the statement.
Fed may remove 'accommodation' phrase
The Federal Reserve may say monetary policy is no longer stimulating the economy after it is expected to raise interest rates Tuesday 13 December for the 13th time, according to over half of Wall Street's largest bond trading firms surveyed by Bloomberg.
The ECB's path that was not taken
The ECB risks painting itself into a corner following its recent interest-rate hike, according to this article published on Monday 12 December. The move implies more increases will follow, it says, and that will cost the Eurozone economies heavily.
ECB's Liebscher sees no more hikes 'at the moment'
ECB Governing Council member Klaus Liebscher said in a media interview that the eurozone central bank is not planning any further rate rises for now but will keep a close watch on new economic data.
Quaden notes rates favour euro zone growth
European Central Bank council member Guy Quaden told Belgian TV that the ECB's benchmark rate can still foster economic growth and that policy makers haven't decided whether to add to this month's increase in rates.
ECB's Liikanen says rates support growth
European Central Bank Governing Council member Erkki Liikanen said on Monday 12 December that eurozone interest rates are low and support growth.
ECB's Bini Smaghi on economic forecasting
In the speech 'Economic forecasting and monetary policy' given on 8 December Lorenzo Bini Smaghi of the ECB hinted that further interest rate increases may be on the way for the euro zone.
IMF chief economist sees further US rate hikes
The International Monetary Fund's chief economist, Raghuram Rajan, predicted on Friday 9 December that the Federal Reserve would probably continue to raise interest rates.
Greece's Garganas: ECB won't follow Fed rate rises
The European Central Bank won't follow the US Federal Reserve's practise of continuous interest rate hikes, Bank of Greece governor and ECB Governing Council member Nicholas Garganas said Friday 9 December.
ECB Monthly Bulletin, December 2005
The European Central Bank published its December 2005 Monthly Bulletin on Thursday 8 December. In the report the ECB defended its decision to raise its key interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point earlier this month, saying that the move was…
RBNZ Monetary Policy Statement, December 2005
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand published its December 2005 Monetary Policy Statement on 8 December. It also announced that the OCR will increase by 25 basis points to 7.25 per cent. The report said the RBNZ remains concerned about the tightness of…
Mersch says ECB ready to act when necessary
The European Central Bank has not determined what or when its next move will be, but would act if it felt the need to raise rates again, ECB Governing Council member Yves Mersch told a German newspaper.
Fed's end to rate increases in 2006
Federal Reserve officials will gather on 13 December and for the 13th meeting in a row will raise interest rates by a quarter-percentage point, this article published Tuesday 6 December says.
Ireland's Hurley supports ECB rate rise
Ireland's central bank governor John Hurley has defended the ECB's quarter point rate hike last week, saying it will dampen the threat of inflation across the eurozone.
Score so far is ECB, 1; Unsolicited advisers, 0
This article published on Thursday 1 December looks at the ECB's decision to raise interest rates at its most recent meeting, saying Europe's finance ministers would be better served by putting their own houses in order rather than telling Monsieur…
Bank of Canada raises interest rates
The Bank of Canada announced on Tuesday 6 December that it is raising its target for the overnight rate by one-quarter of one percentage point to 3 1/4 per cent. In a press release the bank suggested rates would rise further saying, "some further…
Turkey to begin inflation targeting
Turkey plans to adopt formal inflation targeting in 2006, according to central bank governor Sureyya Serdengecti.
Quaden says eurozone rates now 'appropriate'
Belgian National Bank governor Guy Quaden has called the level of European Central Bank interest rates "appropriate" for the emerging recovery of the eurozone.
Trichet tight-lipped on future of ECB rates
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet declined to comment on Friday 2 December on the possibility of further rises in euro zone interest rates.
ECB Council Members back rate decision
European Central Bank council members Christian Noyer, Axel Weber, and Klaus Liebscher came out in defense of Thursday's decision to raise eurozone interest rates, saying it won't hurt economic growth.
Comment: IMF criticises ECB's move
The decision by the ECB to increase interest rates by 25 basis points has come in for a fair amount of criticism in the press and from market analysts. On Thursday 1 December the eurozone's central bank received another stinging blow.