Interest rates
Poll gives full marks to swift action of Fed
US - The US economy is highly unlikely to slip back into recession, but its recovery had far more to do with lower interest rates than tax cuts, according to a survey of leading economists issued yesterday.
Wadhwani - Current high interest rate policy risky
UK - Rising household debt and the possibility of a depreciation in sterling's exchange rate aren't sufficient grounds to keep interest rates higher than necessary, said one of the Bank of England's nine interest-rate setters Monday.
Interest rates may not rise says Bank governor
UK - Sir Edward George, governor of the Bank of England, yesterday hinted that interest rates may not need to rise this year.
Israeli cabinet OKs diluting cen bank chief power
ISRAEL - Israel's cabinet on Sunday approved sweeping changes to the way interest rates are set but analysts said the plans, which include setting up a monetary council, would weaken the central bank and harm the economy.
South Africa raises interest rates
SOUTH AFRICA - South Africa's Reserve Bank has raised interest rates by one percentage point to 11.5% to counter the inflationary impact of the rand's steep slide last year.
BIS-Central bankers see world economy improving
SWITZERLAND - Top central bankers see the world economy's prospects more positive than they did two months ago and expect key interest rates to rise only once a more broad-based recovery has been firmly established, Bank of England Governor Sir Edward…
Bank of England News Release
NEWS RELEASE - Bank of England Maintains Interest Rates at 4.0%, 7 March.
Ethiopia slashes interest rates
ETHIOPIA - The Ethiopian central bank has halved interest rates to 3%, due to plunging deflation, weakening trade and investment and the global economic slowdown.
Nigeria's c bank urged to review monetary policy
NIGERIA - Central Bank of Nigeria and other regulatory authorities have been asked to reconsider their control strategies with the aim of striking a balance between exchange and interest rates policies in the overall interest of the productive sectors of…
Fraga sees room for more interest rate cuts
BRAZIL - Brazilian central bank governor Arminio Fraga said there's room for more cuts in interest rates following the 20 February decision to slash the key Selic lending rate target to 18.75% from 19%.
Swedish c.bankers signal tighter monetary policy
SWEDEN - Two senior Swedish central bankers on Monday reinforced expectations that interest rates will be raised, possibly already next month, sending the crown and short-term yields sharply higher.
Rate cut by Brazil's central bank chief
BRAZIL - Central bank governor Arminio Fraga's surprise move to cut interest rates marks a shift in strategy, and a gamble, as he weighs the need to contain inflation yet entice investors in a presidential election year.
Beijing set to cut rates as deflation fears return
CHINA - China is set to cut interest rates today for the first time in more than two-and-a-half years to combat a return of the deflationary pressures Beijing fought so hard to banish during the Asian financial crisis.
BoE's George plays down talk of jump in UK rates
UK - Bank of England Governor Sir Edward George warned financial markets on Tuesday they should not get too carried away with the idea that British interest rates are set to rise sharply this year.
ECB Feb bulletin - Reiterates Duisenberg remarks
GERMANY - The European Central Bank Thursday repeated that interest rates in the euro zone remain at an appropriate level and that it expects a gradual economic recovery this year.
UK inflation posts sharp rise
UK - UK inflation has soared unexpectedly, making an increase in interest rates in March more likely.
Bank of England keeps UK rates on hold
UK - The Bank of England has kept interest rates on hold following its latest rate-setting meeting.
Bank of England - News Release
NEWS RELEASE - Bank of England Maintains Interest Rates at 4.0%, 7 February.
Fed minutes suggest rate hikes sooner than thought
US - A clearly recovering economy may allow the Fed to lift interest rates higher sooner, and by a wider margin, than currently projected - simply because the markets are prepared for such a development.
Welteke sees no need for rate cuts now - report
PORTUGAL - Current European Central Bank interest rates are appropriate and there is no need for a cut at this time, Bundesbank President and ECB governing council member Ernst Welteke said in a newspaper interview published Friday.
US keeps interest rates unchanged
US - The US central bank, the Federal Reserve, has left interest rates unchanged Wednesday at 1.75%, saying signs for an economic recovery were "promising".
Noyer - Rate cut possible, strong dollar a worry
GERMANY - European Central Bank Vice-President Christian Noyer says a slight cut in interest rates depends on the speed of economic recovery and the behaviour of wage negotiators, the Boersen-Zeitung reports.
Bank chiefs unanimous on rate freeze
UK - Bank of England gurus in charge of setting interest rates voted unanimously in favour of a rate freeze this month.
Speech by Eddie George, Bank of England Governor
SPEECH - In the speech Sir Edward said that the timing of any rise in interest rates would depend on the strength of the global recovery. He described himself as "reasonably optimistic" about the prospects of an improvement later in the year, but said…