Interest rates
Norway's Bergo on interest rate projections
In the speech 'Interest rate projections in theory and practice' given on 26 January Jarle Bergo of the Norges Bank said the benefit of commitment hinges on the credibility of the central bank's actions and communication.
Europe's uneven growth challenge
According to this article on the Project Syndicate website, growth has become less evenly balanced throughout the eurozone with the resurgence in German growth.
ECB policy still accommodating says Bini Smaghi
ECB board member Lorenzo Bini Smaghi said Saturday 27 January in a speech in Milan that current eurozone interest rates are still "accommodating" and will continue to be so in the coming months.
ECB's Trichet sees risk of inflation spiral
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet told French television there is a risk of an increase in inflation in the eurozone and noted that ECB rates are well below those of the US Fed.
The Bank of Japan's big mistake
According to this article by Stephen Roach, published on Friday 26 January by Money Week, the Bank of Japan has dealt a stunning blow to central bank independence.
ECB's Weber says rates must keep rising
ECB governing council member Axel Weber said on Friday 26 January must keep withdrawing monetary stimulus from the euro zone economy.
Kansas Fed's Hoenig on monetary policy in 2007
In the speech 'The national economy and monetary policy in 2007' given on 19 January Thomas Hoenig of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City said there has been a discrepancy lately between the views of FOMC members, as summarised in the Committee's…
RBNZ's Bollard signals rates may rise
The Reserve bank of New Zealand said Thursday 25 January it will probably raise the benchmark interest rate from a record-high 7.25 percent because a surge in consumer spending and house prices may fuel inflation.
Interview with Bank of Japan's Fukui
In an interview with Reuters, published on Wednesday 24 January, Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui said he is not sure how quickly board members can agree on lifting rates.
Rates should rise if confident, says BoJ's Suda
The Bank of Japan needs to avoid spending too much time examining data and policy makers should raise interest rates as long as they're confident in the outlook for the economy, BoJ board member Miyako Suda said in a speech Thursday 25 January.
BoE's King on UK inflation and monetary policy
In a speech given on 23 January Mervyn King of the Bank of England said inflation in the UK could fall quite sharply this year and that there was room for reasonable people to disagree about the timing or level of interest rate changes. On Wednesday the…
Minutes show BoE split 5-4 on rate increase
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee voted 5-4 in favour of the surprise rate hike on 11 January, minutes of the meeting published Wednesday 24 January showed.
BoJ policymakers say rate rise is likely
A few Bank of Japan policymakers said the central bank should raise interest rates in January if it were to gain confidence about the economic outlook, according to minutes of the policy board's December meeting, which were released Tuesday 23 January.
Bini Smaghi says ECB rate may rise further
ECB board member Lorenzo Bini Smaghi told La Repubblica in an interview published Tuesday 23 January that the ECB's rate is "still accommodating" and may have to rise further if growth expectations are confirmed to avoid excess liquidity.
Stark on monetary policy: a view from the ECB
In the speech 'Objectives and challenges of monetary policy: a view from the ECB' given on 19 January Jurgen Stark of the ECB said the ECB retains the freedom to move interest rates whenever it considers it necessary to control inflation pressures,…
Why did the Bank of Japan freeze interest rates?
According to this article published by MoneyWeek on Monday 22 January, the Bank of Japan's decision last week to hold interest rates steady has unleashed a storm relating to its independence from political pressure.
Buba's Weber warns on German wage hikes
Bundesbank president Axel Weber warned Friday 19 January that sharp wage increases in Germany could set off a new round of inflation and hinder the European Central Bank's price stability goal.
Economists may review RBA testimony
Australian lawmakers are likely to invite economists to review the twice-yearly testimony of Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Glenn Stevens, Bloomberg reported Friday 19 January.
BoE's Besley on inflation and the service sector
In the speech 'Inflation and the service sector' given on 18 January Timothy Besley of the Bank of England said he expects limited spare capacity in the services sector to drive up wages in the wider economy.
SF Fed's Yellen on the U.S. economy in 2007
In the speech 'The U.S. economy in 2007: Prospects and puzzles' given on 17 January Janet Yellen of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco said inflation is too high at the moment, but the current level of a key interest rate is high enough to bring…
Fukui says BoJ not bowing to pressure
The Bank of Japan will try to change interest rates slowly but has no timetable for such moves at present, central bank governor Toshihiko Fukui said Thursday 18 January.
Rosenberg: Introducing own path for the repo rate
In the speech 'Riksbank to introduce own path for the repo rate' given on 17 January Irma Rosenberg of the Sveriges Riksbank said the central bank will start issuing its own repo rate forecasts when it publishes its predictions for inflation.
Theater of the absurd surrounds BOJ's decision
According to this article from Bloomberg, published Wednesday 17 January, the Bank of Japan may be about to lose even more of the credibility is has worked to restore.
BoT says cut rates to spur economy
The Bank of Thailand said Wednesday 17 January it cut its key interest rate for the first time in more than three years to spur the economy after currency controls.