Economics
Elements of optimal monetary policy design
This International Monetary Fund Working Paper reviews the relevant economics and social psychology literatures with a view to providing some insights into the question of optimal monetary policy committee design.
Thailand discovers fury of investors scorned
In 24 hours the Bank of Thailand has raised the threat of more widespread use of monetary shock therapy in Asia, according to this article by Bloomberg published Wednesday 20 December.
IMF's Kato on communications
In the speech 'Enhancing macroeconomic policies through communications' given on 18 December Takatoshi Kato of the IMF said the world economy has now seen several years of strong growth.
Review possible on GCC union deadline
Saudi Arabia's finance minister said Tuesday 19 December in an interview with Reuters the GCC states may have to review the 2010 target date for introducing the single currency after Oman's decision to miss the deadline.
Sharp FX moves not in global interest - Trichet
European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet said on Wednesday 20 December that sharp and abrupt moves in currencies would not be in the interests of Europe, the US or the global economy.
Malaysia says won't impose capital controls
Malaysia does not intend to adopt a similar stance as Thailand by imposing capital controls, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Wednesday 20 December.
Central Bank of Kuwait - Annual Report 2005-2006
According to the Central Bank of Kuwait's Annual Report 2005-2006, the CBK continued its efforts aimed at boosting competition among the banking and financial system units during the fiscal year, by allowing foreign banks to open branches in the State of…
NBP's Rybinski on global imbalances
In the speech 'Global imbalances and implications for emerging markets' given on 15 December Krzysztof Rybinski of the National Bank of Poland said an upcoming US slowdown would likely further increase excess saving and lower valuations of US equities…
berg: The Riksbank and wage bargaining
In the speech 'The Riksbank and the wage bargaining rounds' given on 18 December Svante berg of the Sveriges Riksbank said most indications are that we can look forward to wage bargaining rounds in 2007 that are compatible with continued good economic…
Central banks and bubbles: Prevention or cure?
This article published Friday 15 December by Rediff News asks whether it's the Reserve Bank of India's job to go around pricking asset price bubbles.
BoJ's Fukui says prices, spending weaker
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui said Tuesday 19 December that the consumer price index and private consumption have recently been weaker than the BoJ had thought a few months earlier.
BOK's Rhee says won to fall v dollar in 2007
South Korea's won ``has peaked'' according to a Bank of Korea official, and is poised to weaken versus the dollar in 2007.
Confidence in German economy high
Strong global demand for Germany's manufacturing exports has pushed business confidence in Europe's biggest economy to its highest level since the country was reunified at the start of the 1990s, the Ifo institute announced Tuesday 19 December.
Fischer on the openness of Israel's economy
In the speech 'The openness of Israel's economy to the global economy and the importance of Israel's joining the OECD' given on 11 December Stanley Fischer of the Bank of Israel said membership of the OECD would promote Israel's position in the important…
SNB's Roth on recent economic developments
In the speech 'Recent economic and financial developments in Switzerland' given on 14 December Jean-Pierre Roth of the Swiss National Bank said the economic situation in Switzerland has continued to improve.
Deutsche Bundesbank Monthly Report, November 2006
The Deutsche Bundesbank published the English version of its November 2006 Monthly Report on Thursday 14 December. The report said euro- zone interest rates are still very low and inflation risks persist despite a recent drop in the inflation rate.
Sveriges Riksbank Economic Review 3rd Quarter 2006
The Sveriges Riksbank published its Economic Review for the 3rd Quarter 2006 on Monday 18 December. The latest edition includes the article "Who is paying for the IMF?."
UAE says GCC trying to simplify plans
The governor of the Central Bank of the UAE, Sultan bin Nasser Al Suwaidi, on Sunday 17 December tried to play down rumours of cracks in plans for the proposed GCC monetary union by 2010.
US, China agree reforms but differ on timing
Following the talks in Beijing last week U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said China and the US have agreed basic principles on a wide range of issues including economic times, but the timing of any moves remains a stumbling block.
BOT sets limit on Thai baht exchange
The Bank of Thailand (BOT) has made a major intervention in the markets to stem the soaring Thai baht, setting a reserve requirement on short-term capital inflows that will come into effect Tuesday 19 December.
Gulf monetary union is a cracking project?
According to this article published by Gulf News on Saturday 16 December, Oman's decision to pull out of the 2010 deadline indicates pressure on the proposed GCC single currency.
Fed's Bernanke on the Chinese economy
In the speech 'The Chinese economy: Progress and challenges' given on 15 December Ben Bernanke of the Federal Reserve said Chinese policy-makers risk losing control of their economy unless they let the yuan rise in value and strengthen their financial…
Philadelphia Fed Business Review, 4th Quarter 2006
The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia published its Business Review for the Fourth Quarter 2006 on 13 December. The latest issue has articles on housing, exports, and segmented markets. Written by Senior Economic Analyst Tim Schiller, the housing…
International Journal of Central Banking, Dec 06
The December 2006 issue of the International Journal of Central Banking was published on Friday 15 December. The impact of jumps, regime switches, and linearly changing correlation term structures on the risk management of basket options is examined in…