Interest rates
Fed raises rates, maintains 'measured' pace
The Federal Open Market Committee decided on Tuesday 1 November to raise its target for the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to 4 percent. In its statement the FOMC kept its 'measured' stance for removing policy accommodation and warned that energy…
Norges Bank increases interest rates by 0.25%
Norges Bank's Executive Board decided on Wednesday 2 November to raise the sight deposit rate by 0.25 percentage point to 2.25 per cent with effect from 3 November. Output growth is high and may in isolation suggest a more rapid increase in the interest…
Japan's Yosano says stable long-term rate critical
Kaoru Yosano, Japan's newly appointed state minister for economic and fiscal policy, said that keeping long-term interest rates stable at low levels is vital to the success of fiscal and budget reforms.
'We will act' on inflation if needed says Trichet
The European Central Bank sees clear signs that inflation will rise in Europe, president Jean-Claude Trichet told Euro am Sonntag.
Brazil sees 'transitory' inflation pressure
Brazil's central bank said in minutes of its COPOM meeting released on Thursday 27 October that it was closely monitoring "transitory" price pressures before it made rate decisions in the coming months.
Missing ingredient in BOK
According to this article published on Wednesday 26 October, although the Bank of Korea's interest rate policy is supposed to be as powerful as the Fed's, few still believe that the BOK operates its monetary policy independently from the government.
Will ECB match hawkish rhetoric with rate hike?
This article published on Friday 21 October reports that the ECB's more hawkish tone has got futures markets speculating that eurozone interest rates could be about to change.
Rato says US rates should rise, ECB hold
The US Federal Reserve should increase interest rates gradually but the European Central Bank should keep its rate on hold for now, the International Monetary Fund chief Rodrigo Rato said in an interview.
Trichet notes that inflation risks have increased
ECB president Jean-Claude Trichet said in an interview that the risk of rising inflation in the euro zone has increased with the recent surge in oil prices, and the ECB would reinforce its vigilance to head-off a widespread rise in prices.
Issing hints at ECB rate rise
European Central Bank chief economist Otmar Issing said on Friday 21 October that inflation prospects in the Eurozone are worrisome and the outlook for interest rates is uncertain.
Bank of England's MPC voted 9-0 to hold rates
Minutes from the Bank of England's 5 and 6 October meeting, released 19 October, showed that all nine members of the Monetary Policy Committee voted to keep interest rates at 4.5 percent this month, not even discussing arguments for a cut.
Report says China to speed up reforms
China will speed up the reform of its interest rate mechanism and foreign exchange regime over the next five years, the Xinhua news agency reported, citing a central bank official.
Bank of Canada raises interest rates
The Bank of Canada announced on Tuesday 18 October that it is raising its main interest rate by 0.25% to 3%. The Bank noted there have been significant movements in energy prices and the Canadian dollar has traded in a higher range against the U.S…
Issing: ECB will act if inflation 'out of control'
European Central Bank chief economist Otmar Issing said in an interview that the ECB will not hesitate to raise interest rates if medium-term inflation pressures increase.
Monetary policy & asset prices: To respond or not?
This Working Paper investigates whether there is a case for asset prices in interest rates rules within a small econometric model of the Norwegian economy.
ECB rates still appropriate according to Trichet
ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet said on Sunday 16 October that European Central Bank interest rates were "still appropriate" and that second-round inflationary pressures from oil prices had not developed so far.
Fed minutes suggest more rate rises
Minutes from the Federal Reserve's 20 September meeting were published on Tuesday 11 October. FOMC members believed more interest-rate increases would be needed to keep inflation down when they raised interest rates at their last meeting, the minutes…
BoE's King on the UK economy
In a speech given on 11 October Mervyn King of the Bank of England warned that the period of low inflation and constant growth in the UK over the past 10 years may be at an end.
PBOC's Zhou sees need for more financial stability
China can't rely solely on central bank interest rate and exchange rate policies to maintain financial stability, People's Bank of China governor Zhou Xiaochuan wrote in the China Economic Weekly.
Trichet says vigilance needed on inflation risks
ECB president Jean-Claude Trichet said on Friday 7 October that the threat of inflation in the eurozone should be watched carefully due mainly to high property prices.
St Louis's Poole: How predictable is Fed policy?
In the speech 'How predictable is Fed policy?' given on 4 October William Poole of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis said the Federal Reserve has no timetable to alter its policy statements but when that change comes it would signal the end of the…
Dallas Fed's Fisher on the economic outlook
In the speech 'A perspective on the economic outlook' given on 4 October Richard Fisher of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas said the Fed needed to be vigilant on inflation and warned a loose fiscal policy risked pushing interest rates higher.
Norges Bank paper on monetary policy, asset prices
A Norges Bank Working Paper investigates whether there is a case for asset prices in interest rates rules within a small econometric model of the Norwegian economy.
Fed wary of inflation, preparing rate increase
According to this article published on Tuesday 4 October, Federal Reserve officials are on track to raise interest rates at their next meeting. Right now they are on the watch for any sign that expectations for future inflation are deteriorating, it says.