Economics
Bank of Canada Review, Winter 05-06
The Bank of Canada published its Review for Winter 2005-2006 on 16 February. The Review includes the article "70 Years of Central Banking: The Bank of Canada in an International Context, 1935-2005".
Over a barrel no more
Compared to the shocks of the 1970s, the world economy has taken recent record oil prices in its stride. Sebastian Dullien and Mark Schieritz investigate why.
The debate on global imbalances
Paul Brione reviews how leading economists have analysed the build-up in global imbalances and how they envisage resolution.
Lacker on transition and continuity at the Fed
In the speech 'Transition and continuity at the Federal Reserve in 2006' given on 14 February Jeffrey Lacker of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond said that incoming Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke must preserve the hard-won credibility for maintaining low…
Bank of England Inflation Report, February 2006
The Bank of England published its February 2006 Inflation Report on 15 February. Governor Mervyn King told a press conference the outlook for the UK economy is "benign" and the slowing of consumer spending growth that began in the middle of 2004 "appears…
Solomon Islands - Annual Report 2004
According to the Central Bank of Solomon Islands Annual Report 2004, the economic performance in 2004, although generally positive, highlighted the vulnerability and fundamental structural weaknesses underlying the economy.
Fed nominees emphasise inflation control
The two nominees for the Federal Reserve Board, Randall S. Kroszner and Kevin M. Warsh, said on Tuesday 14 February, in testimony to the Senate Banking Committee that controlling inflation was the key to maintaining economic growth in the United States.
Fisher: Fed won't let inflation raise "ugly head"
Dallas Fed President Richard Fisher said on Tuesday 14 february that the Federal Reserve is committed to pursuing monetary policy that supports economic growth without higher inflation.
ECB is wrong to stamp on Europe's property boom
The ECB is wrong to be complaining about house prices, according to this article published Wednesday 15 February. You can't target anything unless you know what you are aiming at, it says.
Comment: Bernanke's debut
New Fed chairman, Ben Bernanke, provided little further insight into the likely further path of interest rates in the US on Wednesday. On the whole he painted a fairly rosy picture of the economy's health - both in a cyclical and structural sense. His…
SADC central banks meet in Malawi
Central banks from the Southern Africa Development Corporation (SADC) region are meeting at Ryalls Hotel in Malawi's commercial city of Blantyre to devise new laws that would be used as a benchmark for the standardization of central banks.
PBOC rules out 2nd revaluation - reports
The People's Bank of China has ruled out a second revaluation of its currency, but plans broader reform of its interest rates, including a simplification of deposit rates, local media said on Wednesday 15 February.
Phil Fed's Survey of Professional Forecasters
The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia published its First Quarter 2005 Survey of Professional Forecasters on 13 February. The U.S. economy will grow strongly in the first quarter, following unexpectedly slow growth in last year's fourth quarter,…
ECB paper: A new theory of forecasting
This ECB Working Paper argues that forecast estimators should minimise the loss function in a statistical, rather than deterministic, way.
South African Reserve Bank - Annual Report 2005
According to the South African Reserve Bank's - Annual Report 2005, the 2004/05 financial year saw the balance sheet of the Bank increase by a significant margin, mainly as a result of the accumulation of foreign reserves.
Committee says Gieve fulfils BoE criteria
The UK Treasury select committee said Wednesday that new Bank of England Deputy Governor Sir John Gieve 'fulfils the criteria' for his new position.
EU's Almunia says Slovenia meets euro criteria
EU economic and monetary affairs commissioner Joaquin Almunia has said Slovenia stands alone as the only euro entry candidate that currently qualifies for membership of the single currency.
Alan Greenspan in memoir talks
According to Reuters, Alan Greenspan is in talks with major publishers about writing a memoir and bidding has already hit $5 million.
Stark formally nominated for ECB job
Austrian finance minister Karl-Heinz Grasser said EU finance ministers formally nominated Bundesbank vice-president Juergen Stark as Otmar Issing's successor at the European Central Bank.
Bank of Spain - Annual Report 2004
According to the Bank of Spain's Annual Report 2004, the Spanish economy departed, for another year, from the pattern of behaviour of the euro area, with its activity running at a brisker pace and firmer continuity in its growth pattern.
Why the Bank of Japan should just shut up
According to this article published on Monday 13 February, until the consumer price index and other inflation measures turn positive and stay there for six months or even longer, Bank of Japan officials should keep their heads down and their mouths…
Bank of Japan Monthly Report, February 2006
The Bank of Japan published the English version of its February 2006 monthly report on 13 February. In the report the BOJ said Japan's economy is expected to continue to recover steadily.
BIS plans to deepen its involvement in Asia
The Bank for International Settlements on Monday announced initiatives to deepen its relationship with its Asian shareholders.
Fed announces Michelle Smith to stay on
The Federal Reserve Board on Friday announced that Michelle A. Smith will continue in her position as Assistant to the Board and Director of the Office of Board Members. The Board had previously announced that she would be leaving to work for former…