Interest rates
Federal Reserve raises US rates
The Federal Open Market Committee decided on Tuesday 21 September to raise its target for the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to 1-3/4 percent. In its press release the FOMC said despite the rise in energy prices, inflation and inflation…
Norges Bank keeps interest rates unchanged
Norges Bank's Executive Board decided on Wednesday 23 September to leave interest rates unchanged. Norges Bank's key interest rate, the sight deposit rate, therefore remains at 1.75 per cent. The overnight lending rate also remains unchanged.
Bank of England voted 9-0 to hold rates in Sept
The Bank of England said on Wednesday 22 September that it voted 9-0 to hold rates at 4.75 per cent in its 8 and 9 September MPC meeting. The Bank noted that recent labour market data was "surprisingly weak," though inflationary pressures were still…
Brazil hikes interest rates to 16.25%
Brazil's central bank interest rate setting Copom committee increased interest rates on Wednesday 15 September for the first time since February 2003, saying that it hoped to rein in inflation without disrupting the country's economic recovery.
China eyes capital market reforms
China has succeeded in curbing investment and credit growth, and the priority now is to free up interest rates, People's Bank of China deputy governor Li Ruogu said in remarks that may signal long-awaited capital market reforms are drawing nearer.
Former RBA chief criticises PM on rates
Former Reserve Bank of Australia governor Bernie Fraser said in an interview he expects interest rates to rise straight after the election, partly because of what he sees as the lax budgetary policies of the Howard government.
Bank of Canada raises interest rates 0.25%
The Bank of Canada announced on Wednesday 8 September that it would raise its key overnight interest rate by one-quarter of a percentage point to 2.25 per cent, a move widely expected by financial markets. In a press release the bank said with the…
PBOC's Zhou says rates on hold for now
The People's Bank of China will not consider changing the interest rates until August's statistics are released, according to PBOC Governor Zhou Xiaochuan.
Too soon to evaluate long term rate falls,Takenaka
Japanese Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Heizo Takenaka said it is too soon to form any opinions about the meaning of the recent decline in long-term domestic interest rates.
ECB press conference with questions and answers
At the ECB's press conference on Thursday 2 September, after holding eurozone interest rates unchanged, Jean-Claude Trichet said looking ahead, the conditions for a continuation of the recovery remain in place. We expect the economic recovery in the euro…
Fukui says Japan headed toward sustainable growth
Japan's economy is moving toward sustainable growth, Bank of Japan Governor Toshihiko Fukui said on Thursday 2 September, pledging to maintain interest rates almost at zero while pumping money into the financial system.
ECB's Guy Quaden says no rate rise
In an interview with L'Echo on 12 August, Guy Quaden offered reassurances that the ECB had no plans to raise interest rates in the immediate future.
Minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee
Minutes from the Federal Reserve's 29-30 June FOMC meeting released on 12 August showed that Fed officials had no sense that the U.S. economy had hit a "soft patch" when they met in late June and decided to raise key short-term interest rates for the…
Fed sees stronger pick up in growth
The Federal Open Market Committee decided on Tuesday 10 August to raise its target for the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to 1-1/2 percent. In its press release the FOMC maintained its stance that policy accommodation could be removed at a…
Polish central banker Rybinski warns on rates
Deputy governor of the National Bank of Poland Krzysztof Rybinski said on Wednesday 11 August that the central bank may have to be more aggressive in raising interest rates to contain inflation.
Fed expected to lift US interest rates
The Federal Reserve was expected to raise interest rates on Tuesday 10 August for the second time this year, despite weak US employment growth statistics.
Research says BoE's MPC lacks 'vigorous debate'
Research published on Thursday 5 August suggested the Bank of England's interest rate setting Monetary Policy Committee lacks "vigorous debate" partly explained by the increasingly dominant influence of Mervyn King.
Brazil's cb has 'autonomy' on rates:, Palocci
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva gave the central bank power to set interest rates as it sees fit to control inflation, said Antonio Palocci, Brazil's finance minister, in an interview with the Epoca newsmagazine.
Australian PM says no case for rate rise
Australian Prime Minister John Howard said that there is no case for an interest rate rise. The Reserve Bank of Australia was due to hold a Board Meeting on 3 August, with most analysts expecting interest rates to remain unchanged.
Hungary holds key interest rates steady
The National Bank of Hungary left its key interest rates unchanged at 11.5 per cent on Monday.
OECD report says ECB should hold rates steady
The European Central Bank (ECB) will probably keep interest rates in the dozen euro nations at their six-decade low for the rest of the year to help an economic recovery still threatened by "large risks," the Organization for Economic Co-operation and…
BoE united on decision to hold rates, 7/8 July
Minutes for the Bank of England's 7 and 8 July Monetary Policy Committee meeting released on Wednesday 21 July showed the MPC voted unanimously to keep interest rates steady at 4.5 per cent but indicated that borrowing costs would have to rise again in…
Thailand holds interest rates unchanged
The Bank of Thailand maintained its key interest rate at 1.25% on Wednesday 21 July, but said it will consider raising rates in the face of inflationary pressures.
Bank of Canada keeps interest rates unchanged
The Bank of Canada announced on Tuesday 20 July that it is maintaining its target for the overnight rate at 2 per cent. The operating band for the overnight rate is unchanged, and the Bank Rate remains at 2 1/4 per cent, the bank said in a press release.