Australia
RBA holds rates
The Reserve Bank of Australia announced Wednesday morning, 4 August, that the official cash rate would remain at 5.25 per cent, where it has been since December.
Australian PM says no case for rate rise
Australian Prime Minister John Howard said that there is no case for an interest rate rise. The Reserve Bank of Australia was due to hold a Board Meeting on 3 August, with most analysts expecting interest rates to remain unchanged.
RBA's Battellino, some comments on securitisation
In a speech 'Some comments on securitisation' given on 28 July Ric Battellino of the Reserve Bank of Australia said there is no doubt that an efficient and dynamic financial sector contributes importantly to the growth and development of the economy, but…
RBA's McGauchie promoted at Telstra Corp
Donald McGauchie, an external board member of the Reserve Bank of Australia, has been promoted to chairman of Telstra Corp, Australia's largest phone company.
RBA says credit card reforms working
Shopkeepers stood to save $430 million a year from lower credit card costs after the Reserve Bank stepped in to regulate fees, the RBA said in its July Bulletin released Thursday.
Costello meets RBA board, says inflation in check
Australian Treasurer Peter Costello said he met with the board of the Reserve Bank of Australia after their monthly meeting on the morning of Tuesday 6 July, but refused to speculate on what the central bank would do.
Reform of card payment systems in Australia
The Reserve Bank of Australia is considering whether it would be in the public interest for it to designate the EFTPOS payment system and the ATM payment system in Australia. Doing so would be a precursor to the bank deciding whether to determine…
Inflation convergence across countries
OECD countries with a history of high inflation before the 1990s were shown to have subsequently experienced a larger degree of disinflation than countries with a history of low inflation. This RBA discussion paper explores further this phenomenon of…
RBA's McKibbin barred from providing advice
The Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, Ian Macfarlane, blocked board member Warwick McKibbin from advising a residential home equity fund, the Sydney Morning Herald reported this week.
RBA's Macfarlane sees growth close to 4 percent
In his opening statement to the House of Representatives Standing Committee given on 4 June, Ian Macfarlane of the RBA said that the Australian economy was set to grow by 3.75 percent in 2004 and signalled the Reserve Bank was "comfortable" with interest…
RBA's Stevens on economic conditions and prospects
In a speech on 'Economic conditions and prospects: June 2004' given on 2 June, Glenn Stevens of the Reserve Bank of Australia said Australia's economy was still growing comfortably but at a slower rate than the unsustainable pace of late 2003.
Reserve Bank of Australia Bulletin, May 2004
The Reserve Bank of Australia published its May 2004 Bulletin on 20 May. The Bulletin includes articles titled 'Residential Property Investors in Australia' And 'Banking Fees in Australia'.
Trans-Tasman currency to be discussed
Australia's high commissioner to New Zealand is promoting a common currency between the two countries as a way to advance the trans-Tasman relationship.
RBA Statement on Monetary Policy, May 2004
The Reserve Bank of Australia has published its May 2004 Statement on Monetary Policy. The RBA said easing currency woes, a cooling housing market and an improving global economy had improved the prospects for balanced growth. While the risks to the…
RBA's Stevens on regional financial arrangements
In a speech on 'Regional Financial Arrangements: Recent Developments' given on 15 April, Glenn Stevens of the RBA said a key reason for wanting well-developed capital markets is that having a diversity of funding sources for governments, businesses and…
Macfarlane on the world economy and Australia
In a speech on 'The World Economy and its Implications for Australia' given on 14 April, Ian Macfarlane of the RBA said we are still waiting for the durability of the world economic recovery to be sufficiently recognised so that the major central banks…
RBA Financial Stability Review, March 2004
The Reserve Bank of Australia has published the first edition of its new report, the Financial Stability Review for March 2004. The report will be published every six months.
RBA's Edey on economic issues in 2004
In the speech 'Economic Issues in 2004' given on 3 March Malcolm Edey of the Reserve Bank of Australia said the Australian economy has generally grown at a pretty good pace over the last few years, despite an unfavourable international climate for much…
RBA's Edey on the international economy
In a speech on 'The International Economy' given on 27 February, Malcolm Edey of the Reserve Bank of Australia said the world economy does seem to be recovering after three years of underperformance in the early part of this decade but the outlook is…
RBA's Edey upbeat on world economy
Reserve Bank of Australia's Assistant Governor, Economic Group, Malcolm Edey said on Friday 27 February that the year 2004 is likely to be an above average year for the world economy as once-important risks fade.
RBA tackles hidden fees in credit cards
The Reserve Bank of Australia ruled on Monday 23 February that Visa's debit card was a payments system and covered by the Payment Systems Act, allowing the bank to set standards for the card.
RBA's Stevens on recent issues for monetary policy
In a speech on 'Recent issues for the conduct of monetary policy' given on 17 February, Glenn Stevens of the Reserve Bank of Australia said the bank raised interest rates late last year because of inflationary risks and demand for credit.
RBA Statement on Monetary Policy, February 2004
The Reserve Bank of Australia released its February 2004 Statement on Monetary Policy on 9 February. The report painted a positive picture of domestic and global growth but said that while inflation is currently tailing off, it is likely to rise next…
Macfarlane's credit card bill rumpus
Australia's newspapers went into overdrive this week after one was able to obtain RBA governor Ian Macfarlane's American Express statements under a "Freedom of Information request". The bank was forced to defend Macfarlane's $249,000 credit card bill,…