European Central Bank (ECB)
Monitoring the European Central Bank - Update
RESEARCH - Surviving the Slowdown, Monitoring the European Central Bank Update No. 4, December 2002, authors include David Begg and Paul De Grauwe. MECB 4 describes the challenge for monetary policy and assesses the ECB response. Interest rates fell much…
ECB rate cutting far too slow says report
ECB watcher David Begg had some harsh words to say on the ECB's recent performance, but offered a little sympathy for a central bank that is not allowed to take the credit when it deserves it.
ECB's Duisenberg wins award after euro launch
An awards ceremony Tuesday gave ECB president Wim Duisenberg the title of "Business Leader of the Year" after the successful launch of the euro. There was also a somewhat tongue in cheek prize for Romano Prodi.
Duisenberg on economic and monetary developments
TESTIMONY - In testimony before the European Parliament Wim Duisenberg of the ECB welcomed new proposals by the EU to reform the euro zones much criticised Stability and Growth Pact telling the economic and monetary affairs committee that the proposals…
Issing on the euro after four years and deflation
SPEECH - In the speech 'The euro after four years: is there a risk of deflation?' Otmar Issing of the ECB said stagflation was a bigger threat to the euro zone than deflation. This he said, "deserves much more attention than the risk of deflation". In a…
Review of the international role of the euro
REPORT - The European Central Bank published its annual review of the international role of the euro on 2 December. The main findings are that the euro is the second most widely used currency internationally and its role is still growing, albeit…
ECB chief says euro zone inflation risks falling
Duisenberg's comments on Tuesday, in testimony to the European parliament, seem to strengthen feeling that the ECB will cut interest rates when it meets on Thursday. The futures market seems certain of at least a quarter point cut with a fifty per cent…
Hamalainen - Reflection on euro area membership
SPEECH - In the speech 'Reflection on euro area membership' Sirkka Hamalainen of the European Central Bank said the approaching enlargement of the EU means the ECB must reform, particularly as most of these countries have expressed a firm interest in…
Issing: ECB not satisfied with inflation rate
European Central Bank Chief Economist Otmar Issing Monday attempted to debunk talk of deflationary risks in the euro zone, indicating that stagflation is actually a bigger risk for the region. The ECB's Governing Council meets this week and is widely…
Euro group meets to study future of stability pact
Euro group finance ministers met on Monday for the first time since Brussels proposed new ideas to strengthen the 12-nation zone's much-maligned stability pact. The pact, while staunchly defended by the ECB as 'indispensable' has received much criticism…
ECB may be ready to cut rates - Lucas Papademos
European Central Bank Vice-President Lucas Papademos on Wednesday gave the latest sign the bank was ready to reduce interest rates, saying the improved inflation outlook gave more room for a rate cut. The ECB Governing Council is due to meet on 5…
Hamalainen on The euro - a world currency
SPEECH - In the speech 'The euro - a world currency' Sirkka Hamalainen of the ECB said that although price stability is necessary for a healthy economy and a competitive currency, on its own it is not sufficient. She said all the Member States that have…
ECB worried inflation hasn't slowed with economy
The European Central Bank is concerned that inflation in the euro zone hasn't slowed as much as growth has this year, Chief Economist and Executive Board member Otmar Issing said in a newspaper interview.
ECB Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - European Central Bank launches international architectural competition, 26 November.
ECB to study lending policies with survey
The European Central Bank will begin conducting a quarterly survey next year of credit policies practised by banks operating in the 12-nation euro zone. The move comes just days after the Irish central bank warned lenders to stick within guidelines.
Solans on the performance of the ECB
SPEECH - In the speech 'Some thoughts on the performance of the ECB' Eugenio Domingo Solans of the ECB said the ECB is almost five years old. But in that five years the Eurosystem has become a fully-fledged central bank which formulates and implements a…
Welteke says risks to economic growth are high
Bundesbank chief Ernst Welteke implied the ECB may be close to easing interest rates. Speaking in Stockholm he said that the euro zone economy had risks on the downside and that low growth posed more of a threat than inflation.
Eurozone inflation edges higher
The eurozone inflation rate rose a further point to 2.3 percent it was revealed on Monday. The ECB is not considered to be worried about inflation at the moment with Ernst Welteke recently saying the bank expected inflation would head downwards.
Domingo Solans on the euro as a driving force
SPEECH - Eugenio Domingo Solans of the European Central Bank said five years is a very short period of time in the normal life of a central bank. He compared the ECB to the Banco de San Carlos, the forerunner of the Bank of Spain created in 1782…
New financial regulator chief named in Ireland
IRELAND - The new Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority has appointed Liam O'Reilly, a member of the ECB Banking Supervision Committee, as its chief executive.
ECB Monthly Bulletin, November 2002
REPORT - The European Central Bank published its November 2002 Monthly Bulletin on 14 November. The bulletin contains three articles. The first focuses on the issue of the accountability of the ECB. The second addresses the importance of transparency in…
Duisenberg at the Banco de Mexico conference
SPEECH - In a speech to the 2nd international conference organised by the Banco de Mexico made on 12 November, Wim Duisenberg of the European Central Bank said over recent months, a high degree of uncertainty - stemming mainly from developments in stock…
European Central Bank Working Paper No 194
RESEARCH - ECB Working Paper, "Sensitivity analysis of volatility: a new tool for risk management" by Simone Manganelli, Vladimiro Ceci and Walter Vecchiato, November 2002.
European Central Bank Working Paper No 192
RESEARCH - ECB Working Paper, "Is the European Central Bank (and the United States Federal Reserve) predictable?", by Gabriel Perez-Quiros and Jorge Sicilia, November 2002. This paper examines the predictability of the monetary policy decisions of the…