European Central Bank (ECB)
ECB says forgers favouring 20-euro notes
The European Central Bank has reported the number of forged bank notes traced in 2005 fell 2.5 percent, but the number of 20-euro notes rose sharply in the second half of the year.
ECB's Trichet on European financial integration
In the speech 'The process of European financial integration: where do we stand?' given on 13 January Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said as regards the further integration of securities (i.e. bonds and equity) markets, a prominent role should be…
Forecasting ECB monetary policy accuracy
The ECB Working Paper 'Forecasting ECB monetary policy accuracy is (still) a matter of geography' uses a database of surveys of professional ECB policy forecasters in 24 countries, the authors find remarkable differences in forecast accuracy, and show…
Trichet says ECB's message well understood
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet told a press conference Thursday 12 January that market expectations for further interest rate hikes show that the ECB's position has been well understood.
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.
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.
Euro 'War of the words' continues
Latvia has poured oil on the fire in the standoff over the Eurozone common currency spelling (EURO) and supported Malta for sticking to its principles in wanting to use the spelling which is correct according to its national language.
Interview with ECB president Jean-Claude Trichet
In recent comments European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet said that monetary policy "cannot resolve all problems by itself". "We need profound structural reforms to increase our growth potential", Trichet warned.
ECB addendum to bond markets report
The European Central Bank published an addendum to the November 2004 report entitled "Bond markets and long-term interest rates in non-euro area Member States of the European Union and in accession countries" (third edition) on Monday 2 January.
ECB's message can get lost in translation
On occasions the European Central Bank's monthly news conferences on interest rates can be as much an exercise in linguistic guesswork as a window on the thinking of the world's number two central bank, according to this article published Wednesday 4…
ECB paper on the new Basel capital framework
The ECB Occasional Paper "The New Basel Capital Framework and its implementation in the European Union" published December 2005 gives an overview of the main issues that relate to the EU implementation, mainly from the perspectives of financial stability…
Switzerland gives ECB a lesson on interest rates
According to this article published on 28 December, it's only four hours on the train from the ECB's Frankfurt headquarters down to Zurich - yet it provides a very different brand of central banking.
Constancio says no specific ECB rate rises planned
The European Central Bank has no specific plans for future monetary policy changes, ECB Governing Council member Vitor Constancio of Portugal said on Wednesday 4 January.
The Eurosystem, the Union and beyond
The European Central Bank on 27 December published a collection of contributions made on the occasion of the ECB colloquium "The Eurosystem, the Union and Beyond - The single currency and implications for governance", which was held in honour of Tommaso…
ECB paper The timing of central bank communication
This European Central Bank Working Paper explores whether there are systematic patterns as to when members of the decision-making committees of the Federal Reserve, the Bank of England and the ECB communicate with the public, and under what circumstances…
ECB's Quaden says rates supportive
Eurozone interest rates of 2.25 percent are still supportive of economic growth, European Central Bank Governing Council member Guy Quaden told Belgian magazine Tendances Trends on Thursday 29 December.
Interview with ECB's Otmar Issing
In comments published on Monday 19 December, European Central Bank Executive Board member Otmar Issing said even if it is not in line with the spirit of the Treaty, he expects "voices" on the ECB's policy to continue, although not at the level we have…
Interview with ECB's Lucas Papademos
Lucas Papademos, vice president of the European Central Bank, said in comments published on Monday 19 December that labour market inflexibility meant that Eurozone countries are at risk of inflation accelerating even as unemployment remains …
Review of the international role of the euro
The European Central Bank published its fifth annual review of the international role of the euro on Wednesday 21 December, focusing on developments between mid-2004 and mid-2005.
Trichet defends ECB's rate rise
European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet told Der Spiegel magazine that the ECB's recent decision to increase interest rates would increase confidence and encourage investment in the eurozone.
Bank of Portugal offloads 10 tonnes of gold
The Bank of Portugal has said it has sold 10 tonnes of gold from its reserves over the past month.
Trichet says ECB 'fully respects' Fazio's decision
The European Central Bank "fully respects" the decision of Bank of Italy governor Antonio Fazio to resign, its president, Jean-Claude Trichet, said in a statement.
ECB's Trichet on European financial integration
In the speech 'European financial integration' given on 16 December Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said a lack of integration in eurozone mortgage markets may affect the impact that ECB rate decisions have in different countries.
Garganas says ECB will act on rates if needed
The European Central Bank will raise interest rates in the future if December's hike isn't enough to keep inflation subdued, Bank of Greece governor and ECB Governing Council member Nicholas Garganas said Monday 19 December.