Monetary policy
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…
BoJ's Monetary Policy Meeting Minutes, 14/15 June
The Bank of Japan released the minutes from its 14 and 15 June Monetary Policy Meeting on 16 July. Members said that many economic indicators released since the previous meeting were relatively strong for Japan, and agreed that the economy continued to…
Brazil cb COPOM Minutes15/16 June
The Banco Central Do Brasil has published the minutes of the 97th meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (COPOM), 15 and 16 June. Recent economic activity indicators confirm the continuity of the economic rebound process initiated in the second quarter…
BoJ's Monetary Policy Meeting Minutes, 19/20 May
The Bank of Japan released the minutes from its 19 and 20 May Monetary Policy Meeting on 30 June. Many members said that the Bank was conducting monetary policy in accordance with the commitment based on the CPI. Some members said that it was becoming…
UK's King says MPC doesn't target house prices
The Bank of England's governor Mervyn King insisted on Tuesday 29 June that the interest rate-setting Monetary Policy Committee does not target house prices when it sets 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.
BOE's Nickell sees further rate rises
Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee member Steve Nickell said in an interview with the Times newspaper that the bank's benchmark interest rate will need to rise further.
Seven rules of foreign exchange
Economic fundamentals hold in the long run, but what drives currency markets in the short run? In this personal view, Avinash Persaud finds clues in watching what central banks say, and what they do.
Bank of Japan's MP Meeting Minutes, April 04
The Bank of Japan released the minutes from its 8 and 9 April Monetary Policy Meeting on 25 May. Some Policy Board members said domestic long-term interest rates needed close monitoring and cited the risk of long-term interest rates rising before there…
Bank of England MPC Minutes 5/6 May 04
Minutes of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee Meeting were released on 19 May for the meeting of 5 and 6 May 2004. The minutes showed the MPC voted unanimously in favour of raising interest rates to 4.25% but also considered a half-point…
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…
BoE's Barker on asset prices
In a speech given on 28 April, Kate Barker of the Bank of England's MPC downplayed concerns about a possible housing-market crash and high levels of household debt, which the International Monetary Fund has called a main risk to the UK economy.
BoE's Bell hints at need for higher rates
A member of the Bank of England's nine-strong Monetary Policy Committee thinks interest rates need to rise, according to an interview. Continued above trend growth, she said, would likely impact on prices.
The new Bank of England quarterly model
The Bank issued an article entitled "The New Bank of England Quarterly Model" on 22 April, describing a new macroeconomic model used to help prepare the Monetary Policy Committee's Quarterly economic projections.
Bank of England MPC Minutes 7/8 April
Minutes of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee Meeting were released on 21 April for the meeting of 7 and 8 April 2004. Eight of the nine MPC members opted to keep interest rates unchanged with only deputy governor Andrew Large supporting a…
Bank of England's Bean reappointed to MPC
Charlie Bean, Executive Director for Monetary Policy and Chief Economist of the Bank of England, has been reappointed for a further three-year term as a member of the Monetary Policy Committee with effect from 1 June 2004.
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.
Kate Barker reappointed to MPC
The UK Chancellor Gordon Brown announced the reappointment of Kate Barker to the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) on Friday 2 April for a second term of three years.
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…
RBNZ's 2004 Monetary Policy Challenge
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand is again hosting the Monetary Policy Challenge this year. The Challenge is aimed at secondary school economics students and is designed to expand their understanding of monetary policy.
Doubts over Jamaica monetary committee
Bank of Jamaica governor Derick Latibeaudiere has raised doubts over Jamaica's readiness for a monetary policy committee, citing the central bank's lack of independence in controlling monetary policy tools.
Bank of England MPC Minutes 4/5 February
Minutes of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee Meeting were released on 18 February for the meeting of 4 and 5 February 2004. In a rare move, the MPC voted unanimously to raise interest rates by a quarter point.
Making markets work - the central banker's role
For financial markets in transition countries to develop effectively, a broad policy overview is needed. Central bankers have an important role to play in this, argues John Chown, and so they should not confine themselves only to their core functions.
Bank of England raises rates to 4%
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee voted on Thursday 5 February to raise the Bank's repo rate by 0.25 percentage points. In a statement the MPC highlighted the 'more broadly based' world economic recovery but judged the change was need to…