European Central Bank (ECB)
ECB pledges price stability, oil risks worsen
The article "ECB bankers pledge price stability, oil risks worsen" published Thursday 11 May says that the oil shock threatens to push up core inflation in the eurozone, a danger the European Central Bank ignores at its peril.
ECB Monthly Bulletin, May 2006
The European Central Bank published its May 2006 Monthly Bulletin on Thursday 11 May. In the report the ECB reiterated its outlook that monetary and credit growth remains very dynamic in the euro area and strong vigilance is needed to ensure price…
Weber charts course for ECB rate rise
European Central Bank council member Axel Weber said in an interview published Tuesday 9 May that interest rates need to be increased by at least a quarter point to curb inflation in the eurozone.
ECB's Bini Smaghi on the growth of pension funds
In the speech 'The growth of pension funds and financial markets: Implications for central banks' given on 4 May (published 8 May) Lorenzo Bini Smaghi of the ECB said financial muscle of the world's pension funds may make it harder for central bank…
Weber on forecasting in eurosystem central banks
In the speech 'Forecasting in eurosystem central banks - Overview and challenges' given on 5 May Axel Weber of the Bundesbank said the European Central Bank's economic forecasts will be based on market expectations for interest rates in future, rather…
Trichet 'not satisfied' with inflation over 2%
Speaking at the Frankfurt Chamber of Industry and Commerce on Friday 5 May, Jean-Claude Trichet said the European Central Bank is 'not satisfied' with inflation above 2 pct in the euro zone.
Issing to leave ECB but monetarism lives on
Otmar Issing's legacy is set to continue, despite his retirement from the European Central Bank at the end of the month, according to this article published Friday 5 May.
Comment: Trichet sounds his warning
After having made it clear that an interest rate increase was highly unlikely, the ECB's monetary policy meeting this week was all about how to signal future rate hikes pencilled in for later this year. Jean-Claude Trichet's message yesterday, 3 May, was…
ECB signals June rate rise
At the ECB's post-meeting press conference, after holding eurozone interest rates unchanged, on Thursday 4 May Jean-Claude Trichet said the Governing Council will exercise strong vigilance in order to ensure that risks to price stability over the medium…
ECB's Gonzalez-Paramo on financial statistics
In the speech 'Financial statistics for a global economy' given on 4 May Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Paramo of the ECB said the global statistical governance for official financial statistics will be guided by the fundamental principles of official statistics…
Issing's views return to fashion
Just as he prepares to leave the European Central Bank, Otmar Issing's views are coming into fashion, according to the article 'Issing's views return to fashion as he prepares to leave ECB' published on Wednesday 3 May.
Fed and ECB communications stumble
Things have gone somewhat awry the past month for major central banks which pride themselves on clear communications, this article published on Tuesday 2 May reports.
ECB paper on interest rates and exchange rates
The ECB Working Paper "How does information affect the comovement between interest rates and exchange rates?" compares the link between exchange rates and interest rates under full information and two alternative asymmetric information approaches.
ECB's Garganas says more rate hikes possible
European Central Bank Governing Council member Nicholas Garganas said on Thursday 27 April that more interest rate rises are probably on the way, with the timing dependant on economic growth and inflation developments.
European Central Bank - Annual Report 2005
European Central Bank vice-president Lucas Papademos told the European Parliament on Tuesday 25 April that further ECB interest rate hikes will be needed.
ECB to weigh rate options - Gonzalez-Paramo
ECB executive board member Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Paramo said on Tuesday 25 April that the euro zone central bank will debate raising interest rates at its meeting next week, but nothing was fixed.
Trichet on why Europe needs structural reforms
In the speech 'Why Europe needs structural reforms' given on 24 April Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said the eurozone economy could grow nearly a percentage point faster each year if governments make markets more flexible.
ECB talk of normalising rates confirms slow pace
This article published on Monday 24 April suggests that a recent shift in ECB rhetoric to talk of normalising interest rates appears to confirm that the central bank has in mind a slow and steady course of rate hikes.
Economist warns over euro currency
Respected European economist Paul de Grauwe has warned of the euro's collapse unless there is progress towards political union.
ECB's Mersch sees inflation risks from oil
European Central Bank council member Yves Mersch said in an interview he is concerned about a surge in liquidity and oil prices pushing up inflation.
MEPs criticise ECB appointment
Following the approval of Jurgen Stark's nomination to the ECB's board by the European Parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee on Wednesday 19 April, some centre-left MEPs have criticised the go-ahead.
Padoa-Schioppa 'serious' candidate for econ min
Romano Prodi, Italy's election winner, said on Friday 21 April that former European Central Bank board member Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa was a "serious" candidate to become his economy minister, but that nothing had been decided yet.
Issing: Inflation forecasts may rise with oil
European Central Bank chief economist Otmar Issing said in an interview that the ECB may have to revise its inflation forecasts upwards after the latest increase in oil prices.
Italy's Prodi may pick Padoa-Schioppa on economy
Italy's centre-left leader Romano Prodi is expected to pick former European Central Bank board member Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa as economy minister, if Prodi succeeds in forming a government, said La Stampa Saturday in an unsourced report.