Monetary Policy
Hungary's Suranyi says pay cuts against the law
A decision by then-finance minister Zsigmond Jarai to slash the bonuses of the leaders of the National Bank of Hungary (MNB) is a signal that Jarai's appointment as MNB governor will reduce the central bank's independence, outgoing governor Gyorgy…
Slowdown in the US Economy- HKMA's Joseph Yam
The suddenness of the recent slowdown in the US economy has taken many by surprise. But policymakers have plenty of scope for turning this inevitable adjustment into a more sustainable growth path. By Joseph Yam, chief executive of the Hong Kong Monetary…
Tunisia GDP records 5 per cent growth in 2000
The Tunisian Central Bank governor, Mohamed Daoues, this morning presented to President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali the bank's year 2000 performance. The president was satisfied with the good results achieved by the Tunisian economy in 2000, as the overall…
'Monetary Union, Employment and Growth' -P. Padoan
"Monetary Union, Employment and Growth: The Impact of the Euro as a Global Currency", Edited by Pier Carlo Padoan, Professor of Economics, University of Rome 'La Sapienza', Italy and Director of Economic Studies, College of Europe, Bruges, Belgium. Below…
Information Technology and US Productivity Revival
Information Technology and the U.S. Productivity Revival: What Do the Industry Data Say? byKevin J. Stiroh at the New York Federal Reserve. This paper examines the link between information technology (IT) and the U.S. productivity revival in the late…
'Greenspan stirs a tempest' - John Berry
"Mr Greenspan sauntered up to the Hill and wasn't bashful about putting the Fed smack in the middle of the most controversial issue of the day", complained Senator Byron L. Dorgan of North Dakota. Whatever the wisdom of Greenspan's support for big…
Japan govt keeps heat on BOJ as economy struggles
Members of a government council pressed the Bank of Japan (BOJ) to boost the fragile economy through a monetary easing, minutes of an economic council meeting showed on Feb 7, 2001.The minutes were released two days ahead of a BOJ Policy Board meeting at…
ECB's Trichet - European growth to continue strong
European Central Bank council member and Bank of France governor Jean-Claude Trichet said on Feb. 7, 2000 growth in Europe will continue "at a reasonable, strong pace." There were, however, downside risks to real gross domestic product growth, he told a…
Aussie stays lumped with euro despite decisive RBA
Proactive policy action by the Reserve Bank failed to give the Australian dollar much of a lift on Feb. 7, 2001 with the unit undermined against the U.S. dollar by weakness in the euro and flows towards the yen. The half point rate cut by the RBA had…
Treasury's O'Neill courts Wall Street on tax cuts
U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill courted Wall Street support on Feb 7, 2001 for President George W. Bush's $1.6 trillion tax cut plan, saying huge budget surpluses left ample room to give taxpayers a break. Bush is due to propose the cuts on Feb. 8…
Zimbabwe banks experience massive capital flight
Zimbabwe's banks, which for years have been the investor's first choice as they offered annual gains of up to 65 percent in interest, are now facing a massive capital flight to the equity market after cheaper funds made available by the Central Bank…
Gazi Ercel on Turkey's disinflation programme
Central Bank Governor Gazi Ercel said on Feb. 7, 2001 that important benefits had already been obtained from the disinflation program which was put into practice with a three-year perspective.Releasing a statement on "monetary policy implementation in…
Ukraine sticks to inflation forecast despite risks
Ukraine's inflation rate may pick up in the coming months but the government is sticking to its forecast for annual inflation to almost halve this year, the economy ministry said. Rising energy wholesale prices, higher costs for coal used in the smelting…
Chance of late 2001 rate hike - PBOC
China's central bank has left open the door to an increase in local currency interest rates later in 2001, despite a recent monetary policy committee meeting agreeing to maintain rate stability in the near term, state media reported on Feb. 6, citing a…
Czech cbank board vote unanimous on holding rates
The Czech central bank board voted unanimously to keep its main interest rates unchanged at its monetary policy meeting on Jan. 25, 2001, after considering a move in the discount and Lombard lending rates. Minutes from the meeting, which showed a…
Noyer -2001 GDP growth slightly less than forecast
Euro-zone growth will be "slightly less rapid" in 2001 than predicted a few months ago, European Central Bank Vice President Christian Noyer said Feb. 6. Noyer, speaking at the Robert Schuman University, said growth this year will be "close to 3%"…
Polish c.banker hazy on timing of switch to euro
Poland's new central bank chief Leszek Balcerowicz said on Feb. 6, 2001, the timing of the country's eventual switch from the zloty to the euro after joining the European Union was still an open issue.Balcerowicz's statement backs away from his…
Belgium finalises euro note, coin switchover plans
Belgium announced on Feb 6, 2001, its final plans for the switch to euro notes and coins in 2002, a mammoth logistical task which is set to mobilise all 12 euro zone countries in the second half of this year. Belgium's "Euro Commission" said banks and…
EX-MPC members say BoE helped by benign inflation
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee has benefited from a benign inflation climate, according to two top economists who used to sit on the committee. Since the central bank won its independence from government in 1997, the MPC has consistently…
No Swiss monetary change needed now - Gehrig
Swiss National Bank Vice Chairman Bruno Gehrig was quoted in a newspaper interview on Feb. 6, 2000 as saying he saw no need to change Swiss monetary policy at this stage despite an economic slowdown. "The signs that growth is slowing are apparent and…
BOJ has 1st workshop on prices on April 19
The Bank of Japan (BOJ) said Feb. 6, 2001 it will organize a workshop on price stability, inviting market players and businesspeople in the distribution sector as well as academics, government experts and its own staff. With the first meeting slated for…
Kenya annual inflation falls to 6.0 pct in January
Kenya's annual inflation rate eased to 6.0 percent in January 2001 from 7.5 percent in December 2000 due to a fall in food and fuel prices, the central bank said on Feb. 6. "The general decline in inflationary pressure was mainly in the fall in the…
IMF warns on UK's euro plight
Britain's record as a high inflation country meant that the price of joining the single currency would be higher taxes or curbs on public spending, the International Monetary Fund warned on Feb. 6.Fuelling the intense political row over the euro, the…
PBOC agrees to pursue interest rate stability
China's central bank will maintain interest stability in 2001, state media reported Feb. 5, 2001, citing a decision of the People's Bank of China banking and monetary policy committee. China Securities newspaper reported that at a recent quarterly…