Monetary Policy
Fed Reserve Bank of Dallas - Annual Report 2002
The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas has published its Annual Report for the year ended 2002. Following the 2001 recession, the report says, economic activity expanded throughout 2002, but not vigorously enough to sustain or promote employment growth…
Germany's inflation falls to 0.7 percent
Inflation in Germany fell to 0.7 percent in May, the lowest rate in over 3 years, according to Associated Press. The figures released on Wednesday June 11 showed the rate fell by 0.3 percent from 1 percent in April.
Chikaura set to take over as RBZ governor
The acting governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), Charles Chikaura, may take over as a permanent replacement to Leonard Tsumba who resigned last week amid the country's bank note crisis. The Daily News reported that candidates from the private…
Luxembourg's Mersch visits Malta central bank
The governor of central bank of Luxembourg visited Malta's central bank on Monday June 9 as part of a networking policy, designed to establish close working relationships with the central banks of both EU member States and accession countries, according…
"Too important for central bankers"
Central banks' ruthless pursuit of price stability holds back economic growth and boosts unemployment, says Joseph Stiglitz in an article published in the Guardian on Tuesday June 10.
NZ's Bollard boosts inflation guidelines
Appearing before a parliamentary select committee Reserve Bank of New Zealand Governor Alan Bollard said the changes made to the bank's inflation targeting guidelines last year may have helped the RBNZ begin its easing of interest rates in April,…
Malaysia PM - Reserve level up to central bank
Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad has said that the level of reserves the country's central bank holds is up to it to decide. "I think Bank Negara is managing its reserves very well," he said, as reported by the New Straits Times.
Bulgaria delays election of central bank governor
The Bulgarian parliament has delayed its decision to appoint a new governor to the central bank by a week, according to BG News. The decision made on Tuesday 10 June was blamed on disagreements in the ruling coalition on whom to nominate for the post.
Santomero - FOMC should consider inflation target
Philadelphia Fed president Anthony Santomero said on Tuesday 10 June that with inflation at its current levels "Inflation targeting makes sense in principle for the U.S.", according to a Bloomberg report.
Fed Reserve Bank of Boston - Annual Report 2002
The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston has published its Annual Report for the year ended 2002. In the report President Cathy Minehan said information learned in 2002 through new Federal Reserve research that the use of checks is declining faster than had…
Macfarlane on prospects for the world economy
In his opening statement to House of Representatives I.J. Macfarlane of the Reserve Bank of Australia said the international environment has not yet improved in the way we had hoped, and the changing fortunes of the US dollar throw an additional…
RBNZ Monetary Policy Statement, June 2003
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has published its Monetary Policy Statement (MPS) for June 2003. New Zealand's economic growth has been strong and comparatively stable for an extended period, but it is now slowing to a more modest pace, the report said…
European Parliament response to UK euro decision
Christa Randzio-Plath, Chair of the European Parliament's Committee of Economic and Monetary Affairs, called the UK's decision on the euro politically motivated and said it was "unimaginable" for the UK to remain outside the single currency indefinately.
Solomon Is's Hou cites govt interference
Rick Hou, the soon to depart governor of the central bank of the Solomon Islands, has suggested it might be difficult to find a candidate to replace him as government interference may put people off from the job, according to Radio Australia
Bundesbank cuts growth forecast
The Bundesbank has cut its growth forecast for 2003 to between 0.1 and 0.2 per cent, down from 0.5 per cent, Reuters reports. The move follows weak growth for the first three months of this year.
Bulgaria parliament to name new central bank chief
Bulgaria's parliament was due to name the new governor of the national bank of Bulgaria on Tuesday with criticism made that the choice may be politically motivated, according to BG News.
Bank of Estonia Council may see new chair
Political party Res Publica has said it does not support Mart Sorg for a second term as chairman of the supervisory council of the Bank of Estonia, according to the Baltic News Service.
Joseph Stiglitz - Big lies about central banking
Central banks make decisions that affect every aspect of society, including rates of economic growth and unemployment, but because there are tradeoffs, these decisions can only be made as part of a political process, writes Joseph Stiglitz in the Taipei…
Interview with central bank governor: Yves Mersch
In an interview with Reuters, Yves Mersch of the central bank of Luxembourg said he hopes for a "euroisation" effect with the opening up of EU markets because of the single currency.
Brazil's Meirelles reiterates 8.5% inflation goal
Interest rates "may ease" in Brazil if inflation falls by half, central bank president Henrique Meirelles told journalists after speaking at a seminar in Seville, southern Spain, reports Bloomberg
ECB press conference on Governing Council mtg
At the ECB's post-meeting press conference Thursday Wim Duisenberg said the Governing Council had decided the outlook for price stability over the medium term has improved significantly since the last decision to lower interest rates in March, and as a…
Sweden's Riksbank cuts rates by 0.5%
The Sveriges Riksbank announced on Friday June 6 that it was reducing its repo rate from 3.5 per cent to 3.0 per cent based on the picture of future inflation presented in its Inflation Report and no clear indication of a strengthening in economic…
Sveriges Riksbank Inflation Report, No.2, 2003
Sweden's central bank published its Second Inflation Report for 2003 on 5 June. In the report the Riksbank said CPI inflation is expected to be 1.2 per cent one year ahead and 1.8 per cent two years ahead while the degree of uncertainty in the…
Stewart to be acting CEO of NY Fed
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York said on Thursday 5 June that Jamie B. Stewart will act as chief executive officer of the bank as of June 11, while the search for the new president continues. He will also serve as a voting member of the Federal Open…