Interest rates
No rates change, recovery "gradual" - BoK's Park
The Bank of Korea (BoK) on Thursday 10 November left its benchmark short-term interest rate unchanged at 3.5 percent. The decision was widely expected by market participants, following a 25 basis point increase last month.
Comment: Activism the ECB way
Yesterday, 9 November, Jean-Claude Trichet explained how the ECB's decision to leave interest rates unchanged for more than two years should not be equated to non-activist monetary policy.
ECB's Weber sees inflation risks
Bundesbank president and ECB governing council member, Axel Weber, told reporters at a news conference on 8 November that risks to price stability have increased in the eurozone in recent weeks, primarily due to a rebound in economic growth, soaring oil…
Brazilian CB reduces number of meetings
The Central Bank of Brazil will lengthen the period between its interest rate policy meetings to 44 days from the current 30 days.
Euro ministers warn against rate hikes
Finance ministers meeting in Brussels renewed their calls for the European Central Bank to refrain from interest rates hikes.
Jordan's interest rates on the move
The Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ) governor, Umayya Touqan, announced on Sunday 6 November that interest rates on repurchase agreements for a week would be raised by 25 basis points.
Markets well prepared for rate hike says Stark
Bundesbank Vice-President Juergen Stark said in an interview on Friday 4 November financial markets are well prepared to digest an interest rate hike by the European Central Bank.
Fed may be on road to neutral monetary policy
The Federal Open Market Committee will make the 13th consecutive rate increase at its next meeting on 13 December, as it continues on its way to the so-called neutral level, according to this article published on Wednesday 2 November.
Trichet says ECB ready to raise rates when needed
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet said Thursday 3 November that the ECB stands ready to raise interest rates whenever this becomes necessary.
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.