Interest rates
Bank of England raises interest rates to 4.5%
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee voted to raise the Bank's repo rate by 0.25 percentage points on Thursday 10 June. The Bank said that inflationary pressures were likely to continue building.
IMF paper on interest rates/ currency pegs
This IMF working paper studies a policy often used to defend a currency peg: raising short-term interest rates. A key implication of the model is that an interest rate defense can always be successful, but has great costs for domestic agents. Hence, it…
Fukui says rate rises reflect changing price trend
The recent surge in Japanese long-term interest rates reflects the changing trend of prices, but deflationary pressures remain within the Japanese economy, said Bank of Japan Governor Toshihiko Fukui, according to Kyodo News.
Bank of Canada keeps interest rate unchanged at 2%
The Bank of Canada announced on Tuesday 8 June that it is maintaining its target for the overnight rate at 2 per cent. In a press release it said all things considered, the Bank's outlook for economic growth and core inflation is essentially unchanged…
BOJ's Haru cautious on possible rise in JGB yields
Bank of Japan Policy Board member Hidehiko Haru said on Thursday 3 June that it was expected that interest rates on Japanese government bonds to rise in line with an economic recovery but that an excessive jump may be harmful.
Greenspan says past no guide to future on rates
According to a letter released on Wednesday 2 June, Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan told a US lawmaker that looking at the past is no guide to predicting how quickly and aggressively the Federal Reserve will raise 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.