Economics
Single currency in SADC remains elusive
Dreams of a regional central bank are far from fruition for the countries of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), according to this article published Tuesday 16 August.
In search of King's defence
Two articles published Thursday reflected on the Bank of England's last MPC meeting which saw the governor outvoted for the first time. One says the UK's "boring" monetary policy just got a whole lot more interesting, noting that heavyweight Charlie Bean…
Italy's Fazio on economic and financial planning
In testimony given on 22 July Antonio Fazio of the Bank of Italy said in order to return to a path of growth, it will be necessary to remove the factors that cause uncertainty and weigh on the decisions of firms and households regarding investment and…
Chicago Fed National Activity Index, July 2005
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index for July 2005 was +0.16 down from +0.40 in June. Three of the four broad categories of indicators that make up the index - employment, consumption and housing, and sales, orders, and inventories - made positive…
Growth rate in Korea at second-lowest: ADB
Korea's economic growth rate for 2006 will be the second-lowest out of a dozen Asian economies, the Asia Development Bank predicted in a report.
BIS's Knight on the global economy
In the speech 'The global economy: so far so good?' given on 8 July (published 11 August) Malcolm Knight of the BIS analyses recent global macroeconomic trends.
Oil-market frenzy and the Fed
This editorial by The Washington Times, published on Tuesday 16 August, says the job of the Federal Reserve has become far more complicated today. Today, following years in which international financial markets have been increasingly integrated, global…
Deutsche Bundesbank Monthly Report, July 2005
The Deutsche Bundesbank published the English version of its July 2005 Monthly Report on 9 August. Germany's economy probably did not grow in the second quarter as negative net exports offset stronger domestic demand, the report said.
Bank of England MPC Minutes, 3 & 4 August
The minutes from the 3 & 4 August meeting of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee published on Wednesday 17 August showed governor Mervyn King and three other top officials voted against this month's decision by the nine member MPC to cut…
Review of the IMF's Transparency Policy
The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) discussed the IMF's transparency policy on 20 June 2005, based on a staff report entitled 'Review of the Fund's Transparency Policy'.
World Bank projects China's growth to slow
China's economic growth will fall to about 8 percent in 2006 from 9 percent this year as domestic demand declines, the World Bank predicted Wednesday 17 August.
Poland's Walesa: EU membership of limited value
Lech Walesa has said European Union membership has failed to improve living standards enough or increase the nation's influence in EU policymaking.
Comment:Test for Mervyn King's communication skill
What does yesterday's revelation that the top brass of the Bank of England's MPC were outvoted at August's monetary policy meeting imply for the market's view of future interest movements in the UK? And what does it tell us about the institutional set-up…
Paper: Central bank credibility during ERM crisis
Financial markets embed expectations of central bank policy into asset prices. The Working Paper "Assessing central bank credibility during the ERM crises: Comparing option and spot market-based forecasts" from the Center for Financial Studies compares…
Bank of Japan Monthly Report, August 2005
The Bank of Japan published the English version of its August 2005 monthly report on 11 August. The BOJ upgraded its outlook of the economy, saying exports and wages were picking up.
PNG's Bakani on financial system reform
In the speech 'Financial system reform in Papua New Guinea' given on 23 June (published 15 August), Loi Bakani of the Bank of Papua New Guinea said the Bank of PNG is in a process of establishing a legal framework for the microfinance industry and will…
Why China has to revalue more
This article suggests another reason for China's recent decision to revalue the renminbi. Rather than bowing to international pressure to end the trade advantage it received, it suggests China's attempts to engineer a soft landing for its economy simply…
Phil Fed's Survey of Professional Forecasters
The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia published its Second Quarter 2005 Survey of Professional Forecasters on 15 August. The economy in the second half of the year looks stronger now than it did three months ago, according to 53 forecasters surveyed.
India to ensure stability in forex market
India will ensure stability in the country's $12bn-a-day foreign exchange market amid surging inflows and will maintain its slow pace in opening up the capital account, a senior Reserve Bank of India official said.
PBOC says money supply growth 'suitable'
M2, the broad measure of money supply, grew 16.3 per cent year-on-year by the end of July, the People's Bank of China (PBoC) announced in Beijing Friday 12 August.
Buba report says weak growth in EU 'real' problem
The Bundesbank published its August monthly report on Monday 15 August, saying that weak economic growth in the EU is responsible for feelings of discontent with eurozone economic growth.
Ghana's Acquah: W Africa may face financial crisis
Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Paul Acquah, expressed fear at the weekend of an impending financial crisis in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Inflation view falls to 5.4% in Brazil
The average market forecast for Brazil's benchmark inflation index fell on Monday 15 August for the 13th straight week to 5.4 percent.