Interest rates
Hedge funds vs. central bankers
This article from the Los Angeles Times Service, published Wednesday 21 June, asks what on earth is going on with world stock markets?
Trichet will 'fiercely' defend ECB independence
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet told the European Parliament on Wednesday 21 June that he will "fiercely" defend the independence of the ECB.
Comment: Eastern European tightrope
Amidst renewed inflation fears in the developed world and the prospects of further interest rate hikes there, a number of central banks in Eastern Europe and the Baltics will be silently grateful for a little bit of latitude. But with question marks…
Fukui says reserve level reduction nearly complete
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui said Thursday 15 June that the reduction in the level of banks' current account reserves at the BOJ is nearly complete.
Comment: May inflation surprise
In a murky environment, this week's inflation data was billed as crucial to providing clarity on the future direction of US interest rates in the months to come. By that logic, another hike in two weeks time is a certainty, with another probably…
Comment: Fukui's gaffe
Bank of Japan governor, Toshihiko Fukui, faces an uncertain future following his admission of a supposedly unethical investment. Even though prime minister Junichiro Koizumi immediately jumped to Fukui's defence, pundits are already saying the incident…
Nyberg on the Riksbank's monetary policy strategy
In the speech 'The Riksbank's monetary policy strategy' given on 19 May Lars Nyberg of the Sveriges Riksbank said the decision to hold the repo rate unchanged at the most recent monetary policy meeting was not a self-evident decision.
Fukui says BoJ will 'carefully watch' markets
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui told a parliamentary hearing on Tuesday 13 June that the central bank will "carefully watch" the impact of financial markets on the real economy.
Comment: Hawkish Fed
After a string of speeches by its senior staff this week, the Fed appears to be in an increasingly hawkish mood. The growing perception that that US interest rates will have to rise further could be bolstered by today's release of consumer price data for…
RBI's Reddy says monetary policy 'in sync'
Reserve Bank of India governor Y. V. Reddy said on Saturday 10 June that the recent increase in overnight interest rates was necessary so that India was not "out of sync" with the monetary developments in the world.
Trichet on activism & alertness in monetary policy
In the speech 'Activism and alertness in monetary policy' given on 8 June Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said we are not in a position that we would judge "abnormal", in the sense that we would have to increase as rapidly as possible our interest rates…
BOJ's Iwata sees chance of sustained growth
Bank of Japan deputy governor Kazumasa Iwata said on Thursday 8 June that Japan's economy was moving from a period of deflation to normal growth.
Weber: Rate moves not subject to FX considerations
Bundesbank president and European Central Bank council member Axel Weber said Friday 9 June that the ECB cannot make interest rate decisions with reference to the level of the euro.
Fed, under pressure, may go ahead with increase
According to this article by John Berry of Bloomberg, published Friday 9 June, Federal Reserve officials now seem likely to raise US interest rates later this month.
Comment: Rates on the up
Monetary policymakers from Mumbia to Madrid to Pretoria stepped firmly on the monetary brakes yesterday, with no less than six central banks hiking rates.
ECB raises rates, sees further hikes ahead
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet said Thursday 8 June that the ECB is likely to raise interest rates again in future if the euro zone economy continues to recover.
BOJ urged to maintain zero rate policy
Japan's government has urged the central bank to maintain its zero interest rates policy in order not to choke off the country's economic recovery.
BIS's Knight on long-term interest rates
In the speech 'Why have long-term interest rates been so low? Is the global interest rate cycle beginning to turn?' given on 12 May Malcolm Knight of the BIS discusses the surprising decline in real long-term interest rates that has taken place in…
Interview with BOJ's financial markets head
In an interview with Reuters published on Monday 5 June, Hiroshi Nakaso, director-general of the Bank of Japan's financial markets department said the BOJ is not targeting a particular level of reserves as it draws down excess liquidity from the banking…
BOJ's Muto says no set timetable on rate rise
Bank of Japan deputy governor Toshiro Muto said on Monday 5 June the central bank has no timetable for raising interest rates.
Fed minutes show uncertainty on future hikes
Federal Reserve policymakers at their May meeting considered raising a key interest rate by half a percentage point before deciding on a quarter-point increase, minutes published Wednesday 31 May showed.
BoJ's Haru urges caution on rate moves
Bank of Japan board member Hidehiko Haru said on Thursday 1 June that the central bank need not end its zero interest policy too fast, and must avoid surprising markets.
BOJ's Fukui sees slow rate rises
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui said the central bank would raise interest rates slowly and would proceed without focusing on one particular economic indicator, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday 1 June.
RBA's Stevens on risk and the macroeconomy
In the speech 'Risk and the macroeconomy' given on 27 May Glenn Stevens of the Reserve Bank of Australia said interest rates around the world can't stay low and steady ``permanently'' and central banks will continue to control inflation.