Interest rates
ECB voting reform urgently needed economists claim
UK - The way in which the European Central Bank sets interest rates needs to be reformed urgently in order to prepare for enlargement of the European Union, a group of leading economists said.
Several ECB members wanted 11 Oct rate cut: Report
GERMANY - Several members of the European Central Bank's governing council wanted to cut interest rates at its 11 October meeting in Vienna, according to a report to be published late Monday in French daily Le Monde.
NIESR report - UK to avoid slide into recession
UK - The UK will weather a sharp global slowdown and there is no reason to cut interest rates further, according to a leading think-tank.
Canada cuts rates to lowest level in 40 years
CANADA - The Bank of Canada surprised the markets by cutting interest rates by three-quarters of a point to the lowest level in 40 years on Tuesday.
ECB leaves interest rates on hold
EUROPE - The European Central Bank has left interest rates unchanged at 3.75% on Thursday.
Expectations of rate cut up in ECB monthly report
GERMANY - The European Central Bank yesterday strengthened expectations that it will cut interest rates soon by saying the eurozone faced moderate inflationary pressures but continuing risks to economic growth.
Ecofin mins press rate cut case - ECB receptive
LUXEMBOURG - Euro zone finance ministers kept the heat on the European Central Bank to lower interest rates yesterday, Monday 15 October - and there are signs that central bankers may be sympathetic to their views.
BoE's Clementi says "clear downside risk" to rates
UK - Bank of England deputy governor David Clementi said on Friday there were "clear downside risks" to UK interest rates due to the slowing world economy, made worse by September's attacks on the United States.
B of E's George predicts 3-year downturn
UK - Sir Edward George hinted last night in a speech that he would back further cuts in interest rates and warned the global economic slowdown could last for three more years.
Poland's Miller denies plan to curb central bank
POLAND - Poland's Prime Minister designate Leszek Miller denied in a radio interview that his future coalition government had agreed to curb the central bank's independence if it does not cut interest rates by 600 basis points over the next six months,…
Eurozone interest rates remain unchanged
GERMANY - The European Central Bank (ECB) has left interest rates unchanged, despite growing pressure for a cut to boost the flagging eurozone economy.
BoE's Clementi makes no comment on future of rates
UK - Bank of England Deputy Governor David Clementi used a speech on Wednesday 10 October to discuss the international financial system, confounding rumours that he planned to signal the Bank would not cut interest rates again.
Australia RBA Stevens cautious on monetary policy
AUSTRALIA - Reserve Bank of Australia assistant governor Glenn Stevens struck a cautious note on monetary policy in a speech given on Wednesday, indicating that the actual level of interest rates is more important than changes in rates.
G7 leaders unite to overcome economic fallout
US - The chairman of the US Federal Reserve, Alan Greenspan, has said that the terror attacks on America have penalised the global economy in a manner similar to raising interest rates worldwide.
'No prior talks' on emergency interest rate cuts
UK - The world-wide cuts in interest rates in the wake of the terror attacks on New York and Washington was not coordinated in advance, according to a prominent former member of the Bank of England's policy-making Monetary Policy Committee.
Fed met on rates twice in wake of attacks
US - The U.S. Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee held two telephone conferences in the aftermath of the 11 September attacks in New York and Washington, agreeing unanimously on 17 September to cut interest rates sharply, according to minutes…
2.5% - US Interest rates at lowest since 1962
US - The US central bank, the Federal Reserve, has cut interest rate for the ninth time this year, by half a percentage point to 2.5%.
Australia slashes rates to a 29-year low of 4.5%
AUSTRALIA - Australia's central bank cut official interest rates on Wednesday 3 October by a quarter of a percentage point to a 29-year low of 4.5 percent in a bid to bolster the economy in an international downturn.
Monetary policy at centre stage
US - The US Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates by 50 basis points when it meets this week.
ECB Press Release - Monetary policy decisions
ECB PRESS RELEASE - At today's meeting the Governing Council of the ECB decided that the minimum bid rate on the main refinancing operations and the interest rates on the marginal lending facility and the deposit facility will remain unchanged at 3.75%,…
Euro zone rates kept on hold
EUROPE - The European Central Bank (ECB) has kept eurozone interest rates on hold.
Bank had considered UK rate rise
UK - The Bank of England had been considering raising interest rates this month, minutes of a key meeting have revealed.
US and ECB slash rates 0.5% to stabilise markets
INTEREST RATES - Monday 17 September saw both the ECB and US Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 0.5 percent. The Us move failed to stop substantial falls on the US stock market.
Fed cuts rates but Wall Street plunges
US - Giving a sharp jolt to financial markets, the Federal Reserve cut US interest rates just one hour before the re-opening of Wall Street. (Later shares on Wall Street fell dramatically as the American markets opened after its near week long absence.)