News/Monetary Policy
BOJ Mitani: Econ close to deflationary spiral
JAPAN - Many companies in Western Japan think the economy is on the verge of a deflationary spiral, the manager of the Bank of Japan's Osaka branch said Monday.
Greenspan: Fed carried on 11 Sept without him
US - Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, who is often praised for his steady hand during times of crisis, said Friday that he was "essentially incommunicado" on 11 Sept, yet the Fed functioned quite well without him.
Germany 'on the brink of recession' - Report
GERMANY - Germany has suffered a sharp fall in growth this year and the recovery next year is likely to be very slight, a bi-annual report from the country's top six economic institutes has warned.
Rate cut row mars summit
GERMANY - The European Union has called for the European Central Bank (ECB) to take "further decisive action" in easing monetary policy in order to boost the eurozone's economy.
Soros lashes out at ECB
US - George Soros, the billionaire financial expert, has lashed out at the monetary policy of the European Central Bank (ECB).
Hayami says Greenspan against inflation targeting
JAPAN - Bank of Japan Governor Masaru Hayami said on Thursday U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan had told him the U.S. central bank chief was opposed to the idea of setting an inflation target for central banks.
Finland tops economic league
FINLAND - Little Finland has knocked the United States off its perch as the world's most competitive economy, according to an annual ranking from the World Economic Forum (WEF).
Reserve Bank of Australia Bulletin - October 2001
REPORT - The Reserve Bank of Australia has published its regular monthly bulletin for October, Future Directions for Monetary Policies in East Asia.
HKMA exec says no to US$ as Hong Kong's currency
HONG KONG - Hong Kong Monetary Authority Deputy Chief Executive Tony Latter said Monday said there was no need to make the U.S. dollar the city's official currency.
Philadelphia Fed Oct. index plunges
US - The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia's business outlook survey for October indicated the regional economy reversed following the 11 September terror attacks.
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.
Testimony of the Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan
TESTIMONY - Testimony of Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan, before the Joint Economic Committee, U.S. Congress, 17 October.
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.
Has a Recession Already Started? - FRBSF
US - In this latest Economic Letter, San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank Senior Research Advisor Glenn Rudebusch examines the definition and dating of recessions.
Richmond Fed's Broaddus says inflation target good
US - Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President Alfred Broaddus said on Friday 12 October the Fed should have an explicit long-term inflation objective to further boost the U.S. central bank's credibility.
Duisenberg adds voice to fears over EU hopefuls
GREECE - The European Central Bank raised fresh concerns on Wednesday 17 October over the economic policies of future European Union members, underlining its doubts over their fitness for swift entry to the single currency.
Japanese policy makers clash over economy
JAPAN - Japanese policy makers are increasingly clashing on how to fix the nation's moribund economy, with the finance minister issuing a clear call for re-inflating the economy by actively boosting price levels, even as the central bank decided not to…
Greenspan upbeat on economy
US - Prospects for the future of the US economy have been "scarcely diminished" by the 11 September attacks, Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan has said.
Minutes of Bank of England MPC meeting 3-4 October
MINUTES - The Bank of England has published the minutes from its Monetary Policy Committee meeting held on 3 and 4 October.
Minutes of Bank of England special MPC meeting
MINUTES - The Bank of England has published the minutes from its special Monetary Policy Committee meeting held on 18 September.
Sweden's Riksbank leaves repo rate unchanged
SWEDEN - Sweden's central bank, Sveriges Riksbank, left its key repo rate unchanged at 3.75% Tuesday 16 October, as expected, in conjunction with the release of its latest inflation report.
Thai central bank head: IMF satisfied with rates
THAILAND - The governor of the Bank of Thailand, Pridiyathorn Devakula, said Monday 15 October that the management team of the International Monetary Fund was satisfied with the level of the bank's policy signalling interest rate.
EU candidates told not to focus only on inflation
UK - Central banks in countries seeking to join the European Union should ensure that their battle against inflation doesn't harm economic growth, a senior official at the European Central Bank said.