Opinion

Brown should bank on a change of approach

This article published on Tuesday 11 October asks whether it could be time for the UK's Chancellor to re-order the remit of the Bank of England's MPC? Or at least place growth, which ultimately leads to jobs and prosperity, as an equal priority to price…

Comment: ECB on banking in the EU

The ECB recently published its annual report on EU banking structures, outlining the main developments in the sector in 2004 and the first half of 2005. The report identifies a number of important structural developments that are of great importance for…

Comment: Trichet on European reforms

In order to enhance or even maintain its economic prospects, Europe needs substantial economic reforms. While continental electorates appear reluctant to accept this argument, it has become the battle cry of the European centre-right and international…

Comment: Venezuela's reserves

The Central Bank of Venezuela last week confirmed that it had liquidated more than half of its operational reserves and deposited the funds at the Bank for International Settlements (BIS).

Asian integration and the IMF

In this commentary article IMF Managing Director Rodrigo de Rato says the next step for Asia should be to develop more resilient national and regional financial markets. This would further reduce vulnerabilities by improving the channeling of savings and…

Comment: Intervention tightrope

Central bank officials from three of the world's most important emerging markets this week made comments to the effect that they are intervening in foreign exchange markets and could continue to do so in the future. The reasons they put forward for doing…

IMF rebuffs US Treasury on China - Bravo!

After years of marginalization and soul-searching, the IMF seems to be finding its voice again, according to this article published on Wednesday 5 October. IMF chief Rodrigo de Rato isn't about to do the US's dirty work, by branding China as a currency…

Argentina explains: Why gold?

According to this article published on Tuesday 4 October, suggestions that the Central Bank of Argentina, along with other South American nations, might increase its gold holdings has now become a realistic scenario.

Walk, don't run, to the eurozone

This article asks why the Czech Republic is in such a hurry to join the euro? After all, Britain's GDP is growing significantly faster than overall levels in the eurozone, it says.

Comment: The Old Lady stands her ground

The Bank of England's decision to turn down a settlement offer from the Bank of Credit & Commerce International's (BCCI) liquidator, Deloitte, in the ongoing litigation case related to the BCCI's collapse in 1991, shows how tough the Bank can be when…

Fed wary of inflation, preparing rate increase

According to this article published on Tuesday 4 October, Federal Reserve officials are on track to raise interest rates at their next meeting. Right now they are on the watch for any sign that expectations for future inflation are deteriorating, it says.

Comment: Roach slates Greenspan

Do Alan Greenspan's recent comments regarding the relationship between asset prices, monetary policy and macroeconomic stability present an about-face on some of his most controversial views? If so, what does this mean for the person who is to succeed…

Comment: IMF under fire again

Writing in the Financial Times yesterday eminent economist, Michael Mussa, who served as economic counsellor and director of the department of research at the International Monetary Fund from 1991-2001, joined the chorus of voices arguing that the Fund…

ECB's power over market inflation outlook queried

According to this article published on Friday 30 September, the European Central Bank may have less control over financial markets' inflation expectations than it thinks, despite its increased rhetoric about the importance of keeping them under control.

High time for a single GCC currency

This article published on Thursday 29 September notes that there has been a fair amount of scepticism towards the proposed Gulf single currency, and says that for the currency union to be effective, there will need to be a single independent central bank…

Comment: When will Basel II bite

The Basel committee's members are committed to implement their new capital accord in just 15 months. The basic framework should go live on January 1, 2007; with the most advanced approaches following at the end of 2008. But what about those non-member…

Italy should leave a horse's head on Fazio's bed

According to this article published on Tuesday 27 September, by now Bank of Italy governor Antonio Fazio's career prospects should make Kate Moss look like employee of the year. Instead, he still has a job for life under Italian law, it says.

Why has gold been rising?

With gold reaching a near-18 year high in trading, this article published on Monday 26 September says gold bugs are now enthusiastically talking of $500 an ounce and beyond.

Comment: What triggered global imbalances

Ian Macfarlane, the governor of the Australian Reserve Bank, yesterday provided a fascinating analysis of the causes of the macroeconomic imbalances that plague the global economy at present. His analysis of the causes also bears important implications…

The ECB: Villain, or a savior of Europe?

According to this article published on Saturday 24 September, the challenges facing the European Central Bank are particularly acute, with the ECB under fire for refusing to deviate from its inflation-fighting mandate in order to stoke growth through…

Comment: The IMF ducks challenges

The meeting of the IMF, the World Bank and G7 finance ministers and central bankers have as usual afforded influential international policymakers the opportunity to reflect on the role of these international institutions. Key is the role of the IMF.

Comment: Chinese gradualism

The invitation of China's finance minister and central bank governor to the G7 meeting in Washington this week would have dispelled any suggestion that "yuan politics" would not be a major talking point. But has anything new actually been said? The…

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