Central Banks
Fed disappoints markets with 50 bp rate cut
The US Federal Reserve cut interest rates on Mar 20, 2001 by half a percentage point to 5.0%, continuing its aggressive effort to resuscitate the faltering economy but disappointing investors who had hoped for more.
RBNZ monetary policy review recommendations
Responding to an independent inquiry into monetary policy, New Zealand Treasury Department officials said on Mar 21, 2001 they will issue recommendations by month's end to Finance Minister Michael Cullen.
IMF praises Croatia's economic programme
Croatia's authorities deserve to be praised for their three-year economic programme, the IMF's Stanley Fischer said on Mar 19, 2001 after the IMF approved a 14-month stand-by credit for $255 million for Croatia.
BoE ready to cut UK rates if necessary-minutes
Britain's central bank is ready to lower borrowing costs if the global economic outlook worsens or British consumer spending starts to ease, minutes of the Bank's last policy meeting showed on Mar 21, 2001.
Credit-card reform goes to the RBA
AUSTRALIA - On Mar 20, 2001, the Australian competition regulator handed the job of reforming Australia's credit-card system to Australia's central bank.
BoJ switches to target monetary base
As expected, the Bank of Japan has reinstated its zero interest rate policy, but it has done this by switching its operational target to expand the money supply.
Bank of Finland Board Member under fire
Finnish newspaper reports parliamentarians' unhappiness with Bank of Finland board member, Sinikka Salo.
Belarus cbank cools on unification with Russia
No unification of Russian and Belarusian central banks says Prakapovich.
UKRAINE: Former deputy central bank chief detained
Reserves scandal claims former deputy governor
Chile and NZ advise on Indonesian central bank law
The central bank governors of Chile and New Zealand will arrive on April 4 to join two Indonesian experts in the discussion on how to amend Indonesia's central bank law.
IDB's Inglesias - priorities for Latin America
IDB president, Enrique Iglesias launched the annual meetings of the Inter-American Development Bank in Santiago Chile (March 19)
New Fed paper probes productivity growth
What's Driving the New Economy? The Benefits of Workplace Innovation (Sandra E. Black and Lisa M. Lynch)
Greek monetary policy report stresses convergence
REPORT: Competitiveness and productivity are key to Greece's economic convergence with the rest of the eurozone, according to the latest report on monetary policy from the Bank of Greece, submitted to parliament yesterday.
IMF data quality framework
RESEARCH - New IMF working paper considers standards for data quality.
ECB keeps rates steady despite growth fears
As expected, the Governing Council of the European Central Bank held interest rates steady (at its March 15 meeting yesterday) undeterred by weak share markets and dimming euro zone growth prospects.
Price stability remit for Croatian Cbank
Croatia's parliment is to debate a new central bank law to reform the payment system and give the central bank more independence.
ECB monetary analysis papers
RESEARCH - The ECB has today (March 16) published a series of papers from a seminar for staff from central banks entitled "Monetary analysis: Tools and applications" held in November 2000.
Govt pressures BoJ to cut rates back to zero
NEWS - The Bank of Japan is under severe pressure from the Japanese government to cut interest rates back to zero at its monetary policy meeting on Monday 19 March.
Tajik central bank retires rouble
NEWS - The National Bank of Tajikistan has set an April 1 deadline for citizens to exchange their old Tajik rouble banknotes for the new currency (Somoni and dirams)
First council members for Montenegran central bank
NEWS - the new central bank council for Montenego's fledgling monetary authority was appointed on 15 March by the Montenegrin assembly. It includes current deputy prime minister Ljubisa Krgovic.
Philippines to hit inflation target
NEWS - Philippine Central Bank Governor Rafael Buenaventura has said that he expects the central bank confortably to meet the 6% - 7% inflation target set by the Philippine government.
The Accidental Redistribution of ECB Profits
ARTICLE - According to the latest calculations of Hans-Wener Sinn and Holgar Feist, the division of European Central Bank profits will see Germany lose E. 30bn and France gain a similar amount.
New CEPR dicussion papers-Mar 2001
ARTICLE - The Centre for Economic and Policy Research are publishing four articles mostly by economist Charles Wyplosz on central bank isssues in March 2001 - Do We Know How Low Inflation Should Be?, How Risky is Financial Liberalization in the…
Optimal Degrees of Transparency in Monetary Policy
ARTICLE - According to most academics and policymakers, transparency in monetary policymaking is desirable. However, an article by Henrik Jensen titled "Optimal Degrees of Transparency in Monetary Policymaking" says that high transparency may be a policy…