Opinion
Comment: More pounds in their pockets
According to the most recent IMF data on reserve holdings, the pound sterling has surpassed the yen as the third most popular reserve currency. A number of factors could see the pound's popularity increase further.
Comment: A new era for the BoJ
As expected the Bank of Japan raised interest rates for the first time since March 2001 at its monetary policy meeting on 14 July. The decision to end the zero interest rate policy (ZIRP) with a 25 basis point hike in the overnight rate was unanimous one.
Comment: Will McCreevy's approach work?
The European commissioner for internal market and services, Charlie McCreevy, has called for an industry-driven "code of conduct" to reduce the costs of European cross-border settlement and clearing, rather than propose a directive. Will his famous light…
Comment: Left out in the cold
While Slovenia celebrates its imminent entry to the eurozone, the Baltic aspirants can feel more than a little peeved by Brussels' handling of their efforts to join the club.
Comment: Is the Fed's message getting clearer?
The chairman of the US Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke, has received much criticism for allegedly failing to explain the Fed's view to markets clearly. Are there signs that after a shaky start, Bernanke is starting to get his message across more clearly?
Comment: Dutch banks lose on payments
A recent report by McKinsey, a consulting firm, finds that Dutch banks are losing money on processing payments. Moreover, the report suggests that margins will be under even greater pressure as banks have to implement a plethora of new regulations.
Comment: LCH.Clearnet chief departs
After months of speculation that his days were numbered, David Hardy resigned as chief executive of LCH.Clearnet on 5 July. The announcement was met with an air of inevitability. The episode raises some fundamental questions about the European clearing…
Comment: The ECB's gamble
The president of the ECB, Jean-Claude Trichet, has announced that the central bank will take the highly unusually step of meeting in person on 3 August, rather than conduct the scheduled conference call. In doing so, Trichet has effectively pre-announced…
Comment: All eyes on Trichet
All but two of the 43 economists polled by Bloomberg recently expect the European Central Bank (ECB) to keep interest rates at 2.75% this week. All eyes will, however, be on the central bank's president, Jean-Claude Trichet, to see if he alludes to the…
ANALYSIS: The irresistible rise of e-trading
Technological innovations are making electronic trading the method of choice - even in assets where floor-based trading looked set to dominate. Resisting technology can prove costly for the world's more established exchanges.
Comment: Bernanke's ally
The nomination of Frederic Mishkin to fill one of the two vacant seats on the Fed's board of governors will bolster the chairman, Ben Bernanke, in his attempts to quantify the central bank's inflation objective and move towards a more rule-based monetary…
Comment: Talking points in June
June has been a particularly eventful one for many emerging markets, with talk of increase risk aversion and reduced international liquidity driving a reversal of market sentiment towards emerging market currencies. The month also saw some important…
Comment: When 364 economists were wrong
It is rare to find two economists who can agree on anything, but in 1981 no less than 364 British economists agreed to write an open letter condemning the tightness of that year's budget. Amongst them: a certain Mervyn King.
Comment: Passing the buck
The current outcry over American intelligence officials' access to private information linked to international money transfers has raised some thorny issues over who regulates the international messaging and financial telecommunications group, SWIFT.
Comment: Bold CBT holds its breath
After another emergency meeting over the weekend the Central Bank of Turkey has raised interest rates by 225 basis points (bp). This has taken interest rates to 17.25%, following an initial hike of 175 bp earlier this month. Will this bold move make any…
Comment: Wanted: experienced US central banker
The perception of a "Fed in flux" has been strengthened by the departure of two more senior officials. With the unprecedented rate of turnover in personnel, the Fed now appears somewhat short of experience. Chairman Ben Bernanke's job could be made…
Comment: Vacant BoE MPC seats
Following the sad and unexpected news of the death of David Walton, a member of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee, the British Treasury has yet another appointment to make.
Comment: Uganda eyes inflation target
The Bank of Uganda will implement an inflation-targetting framework in the near future, the governor of the central bank, Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile, told CentralBankNews.com. Only a lack of adequate and timely data is holding it back.
Comment: Testing times for the SARB
After almost three years of stable economic conditions, the South African Reserve Bank faces a new challenge. Widely applauded for its sound management of the economy, the central bank now has to show that it can the do the job when the external…
Comment: Fukui comes out fighting
The governor of the Bank of Japan came out fighting on Tuesday 20 June in response to a public outcry due to a dubious personal investment. Fukui reiterated that he would not bow down to opposition politicians' calls for his head, and squashed rumours…
Comment: A shaky vote of confidence
The Bank of England enjoys solid public backing for its policymaking. This is the main finding of a survey reported in the Bank's latest Quarterly Bulletin. While the Bank will be reassured by this survey finding, more worrying for Threadneedle Street's…
Comment: Eastern European tightrope
Amidst renewed inflation fears in the developed world and the prospects of further interest rate hikes there, a number of central banks in Eastern Europe and the Baltics will be silently grateful for a little bit of latitude. But with question marks…
Comment: May inflation surprise
In a murky environment, this week's inflation data was billed as crucial to providing clarity on the future direction of US interest rates in the months to come. By that logic, another hike in two weeks time is a certainty, with another probably…
Comment: Fukui's gaffe
Bank of Japan governor, Toshihiko Fukui, faces an uncertain future following his admission of a supposedly unethical investment. Even though prime minister Junichiro Koizumi immediately jumped to Fukui's defence, pundits are already saying the incident…