Interest rates
PBOC won't hike rates if economy grows
China will not raise interest rates as long as the nation's economy keeps growing, People's Bank of China Vice Governor Su Ning said at a symposium in Tokyo, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported.
BoJ and govt agree to watch interest rates
Top government and central bank officials agreed in a meeting on Friday 21 May that they should carefully watch interest rates, Bank of Japan Deputy Governor Toshiro Muto said.
Markets right to expect rate rise: Fed's Stern
Minneapolis Fed President Gary Stern said in an interview on Wednesday 19 May that financial markets are right to expect the Federal Reserve to start raising interest rates.
UK's Brown signals rate rise support
UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown said on Wednesday 19 May that he is concerned that rising wages and higher oil prices may lift inflation, and he signalled support for the Bank of England's decision to raise interest rates.
Fed minutes show concern at ultra-low rates
Some FOMC members expressed concern at their March meeting that a long period of ultra-low short-term interest rates might lead to increased speculation in financial markets, according to Federal Reserve minutes released ON Thursday 6 May.
Bank of England raises interest rates to 4.25%
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee voted on Thursday 6 May to raise the Bank's repo rate by 0.25 percentage points. In a statement the MPC said although inflation was likely to remain below the 2% target in the near term inflationary…
ECB holds rates, sees improving eurozone economy
European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet said on Thursday 6 may that after a "mixed" set of economic indicators for the 12-country eurozone so far this year, the most recent data appeared to be more "encouraging".
Fed set to hold rates, but signal change in stance
Federal Reserve policy-makers were due to meet on Tuesday 4 May to plot the beginning of the end for the lowest U.S. official interest rates in 46 years. Some analysts believe there's a chance that the Fed might drop the word ''patient'' in its statement…
Sweden holds rates steady at 2%
At its meeting on Wednesday 28 April the Executive Board of the Riksbank decided to leave the repo rate unchanged at 2 per cent. After a mild economic downturn the recovery in the Swedish economy has proceeded largely as expected, the Riksbank said.
ECB rates not an obstacle: Stark
The current level of interest rates in the 12-country eurozone is no obstacle to economic growth in the single currency region, the Bundesbank's interim president Juergen Stark said in newspaper interviews on Monday 26 April.
Interview with former Fed governor Larry Meyer
In an interview with BusinessWeek published this week former Federal Reserve governor Laurence Meyer said he still isn't convinced the inflation evidence is strong enough for the Fed to rush through a rate hike, but he does believe that it could well…
Canada's Dodge sees global rates rise in 2005
In his opening statement to the Senate Banking, Trade and Commerce Committee on 20 April David Dodge of the Bank of Canada said the main uncertainty for the outlook continues to relate to how the Canadian economy adjusts to global developments. But…
BOJ's Suda says must tolerate rate rises
Bank of Japan Policy Board member Miyako Suda said on Wednesday 21 April that small rises in interest rates need to be tolerated because they reflect Japan's recovering economy.
Too early to judge inflation trend- SF Fed's Parry
Outgoing San Francisco Federal Reserve President Robert Parry said on Wednesday 14 April that the Fed will have to raise interest rates "at some point" to head off inflation, but rising prices are not a concern yet.
Bank of England leaves rates unchanged
The Bank of England made no statement to explain its thinking after its MPC meeting on Thursday 8 April left interest rates unchanged at 4%. Much speculation preceded the meeting with many analysts predicting a rate increase.
Guynn: Rates must return to neutral
Low US interest rates must be brought back to a more neutral level and if they stay down for too long financial market excesses can build, Atlanta Fed chief Jack Guynn said on Tuesday 30 March.
Bank of England's Nickell sees rapidly rising debt
Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee member Stephen Nickell said on Monday 29 March that most UK borrowers can afford the burden of "rapidly" growing mortgage debt, signalling it may see room for higher interest rates.
Broaddus says Fed patience is right
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond president Alfred Broaddus said in an interview that clear evidence of tighter labour markets and higher core inflation will be needed before the Fed can raise interest rates.
Ireland's Hurley on ECB interest rates
The Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland, John Hurley, has told the Irish Financial Markets Association (FMA) that the ECB is monitoring the interest-rate situation very closely.
Hungary's central bank cuts base rate to 12.25%
The Monetary Council of Hungary's national bank (MNB) cut its base rate by 25 bp to 12.25% at its Monday meeting. The MNB said as a result of improving external and internal economic developments, the conditions for meeting the end-2005 inflation target…
Minutes show Fed wanted increased flexibility
The FOMC was unanimous at their January meeting that they should ditch a pledge to keep interest rates low for "a considerable period" in favour of wording that would increase their flexibility, minutes showed Thursday.
Bank of England MPC Minutes 3/4 March
Minutes of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee Meeting were released on 17 March for the meeting of 3 and 4 March 2004. All nine members of the MPC voted to keep interest rates steady earlier this month, but their arguments may suggest…
Federal Reserve maintains its patience
The Federal Open Market Committee decided on Tuesday 16 March to keep its target for the federal funds rate at 1 per cent, repeating that it can be "patient in removing its policy accommodation".
Fed policy: steady as she goes
Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan and his colleagues were predicted to keep interest rates stable on Tuesday 16 March as data showed further jobless recovery.