Economics
St Louis Fed's Regional Economist, January 2006
The Regional Economist, January 2006 edition, from the St Louis Fed includes the article "A lesson in productivity for higher ed". College tuition has increased dramatically over the past decade, yet few think the quality of graduates has kept up…
Bank of Italy rejects Unipol bid
The Bank of Italy said on Tuesday 10 January it had rejected insurer Unipol's 5 billion euro ($6 billion) bid for BNL. The move marks the second domestic bank takeover offer to fail following the financial scandal that tarnished Italy's image.
Fed's Guynn on strengthening economic foundation
In the speech 'Now is the time to strengthen our economic foundation' given on 9 January Jack Guynn of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta said the U.S. economy was on track for a third consecutive year of good growth in 2006, and it was essential policy…
BIS to host Irving Fisher Committee
The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) announced on Tuesday10 January that it has agreed to provide the Secretariat for the Irving Fisher Committee on Central Bank Statistics with immediate effect.
Europe's central bank must show some backbone
According to this article published on Monday 9 January , political pressure could be responsible for the European Central Bank's 'timid' interest rate move last month.
Federal Reserve needs English elocution lessons
Once Ben Bernanke becomes Federal Reserve chairman after the bank's 31 Jan meeting, suggests this article published on Tuesday 9 January, a top priority should be ending the textual semaphore that's become the central bank's way of not quite…
Tanigaki warns BOJ in ending loose policy
Japanese Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki on Monday 9 January urged the Bank of Japan to be cautious in determining when to end its ultra-loose monetary policy.
German govt confirms Bundesbank staff cut plan
The German government is considering plans to reduce the size of the Bundesbank's staff with cuts that go beyond a current round of planned reductions, the Finance Ministry said on Saturday 7 January.
Burundi central bank gets new governor
Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza has appointed economist Gabriel Ntisezerana as the new governor of the Bank of the Republic of Burundi (BRB) instead of Gabriel Toyi, official sources said in Bujumbura.
McCreevy welcomes new Bank of Italy governor
European Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy Tuesday 10 January welcomed Mario Draghi's appointment as the new governor of the Bank of Italy.
Wellink says growth pickup may see rates higher
European Central Bank council member Nout Wellink said Monday 9 January a pickup in economic growth raises the chances of further increases in interest rates.
Boston Fed's Minehan on uncertainty
In the speech 'How should monetary policymakers cope with uncertainty?' given on 6 January, Cathy Minehan of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston said the U.S. has entered a period in which Federal Reserve policy changes are increasingly dependent on…
The costs of increasing transparency
This Working Paper from De Nederlandsche Bank, published January 2006, sets up as an explicit interactive game between the Central Bank, the objectives of which is modelled explicitly, and the private sector. The authors show that in the absence of costs…
Jurgen Stark on the IMF's strategic direction
In an Editorial published on Friday 6 January, Jurgen Stark, currently vice president of the Deutsche Bundesbank, says efforts to strengthen the IMF's surveillance function and the so-called "exceptional access framework" - must now be locked in and…
Fed speeches may send investors in wrong direction
This article published on Saturday 7 January reports on research presented in Boston by Vincent Reinhart, director of the Fed's monetary affairs division, and Brian Sack, a former Fed economist which says Federal Reserve speeches "are the least accurate…
Federal Reserve Bulletin, Autumn 2005
The Federal Reserve published its Bulletin for Autumn 2005 on 5 January. The article 'Recent developments in the credit card market and the financial obligations ratio' says three developments in the credit card market contributed to the rise in the…
Central bankers upbeat on world economy
The global economy is growing at a dynamic pace and may even accelerate in 2006, central bankers from major countries said on Monday 9 January.
IMF's Rato calls for 'market value' yuan
International Monetary Fund Managing Director Rodrigo Rato on Sunday 8 January said China should take full advantage of its decision last year to introduce more flexibility to its currency regime.
Jean-Pierre Roth to chair BIS Board
The Board of Directors of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) on Monday 9 January elected as its new Chairman Jean-Pierre Roth, Chairman of the Governing Board of the Swiss National Bank.
Soros expects global economy slow down in 2007
International financier George Soros said in Singapore Monday 9 January that he expects a global recession in 2007 if the U.S. housing market continues to cool after the Fed halts it rate hike campaign.
Danmarks Nationalbank, Monetary Review 4th Q 2005
The Danmarks Nationalbank's Monetary Review for the Fourth Quarter 2005 notes that even though oil prices are very high, momentum in the global economy remains robust.
Norges Bank, Economic Bulletin, December 2005
Norges Bank, the central bank of Norway, has published its December 2005 Economic Bulletin. The latest Bulletin includes the article "Norges Bank's role in cash distribution" the major changes Norges Bank has made in its cash operations during the past…
Muto: Price stability, central bank responsibility
In the speech 'Price stability and central banks' responsibility' given on 2 December (published 29 December) Toshiro Muto of the Bank of Japan said he holds a different view from other central bank policymakers who say the bank should end its ultra-easy…
Fed may take pass at Jan. 31 meeting
According to this article published on Thursday 5 January, there's an outside chance the Federal Reserve could pass on raising rates on 31 January following 25-basis-point moves at each of the last 13 meetings. The next move skywards would put the Fed's…