Europe
Comment: ECB signals its move
ECB president Jean-Claude Trichet on Friday 18 November dropped his strongest hint yet that interest rates will be increased at the governing council meeting on December 1.
Rato promotes central bank communication
IMF Managing Director Rodrigo Rato told a European Banking Congress in Frankfurt on Friday 18 November that central banks should communicate their monetary policy plans clearly to avoid disruptive shocks to financial markets.
ECB's Issing on addressing global imbalances
In the speech 'Addressing global imbalances: the role of macroeconomic policy' given on 4 November Otmar Issing of the ECB said structural reforms in Europe and Japan may help to promote growth and resilience and are in the countries' own best domestic…
EC endorses amended IAS 39
The European Commission (EC) has endorsed the amended version of the International Accounting Standard 39 (IAS 39).
ECB's Target 2 delayed
The ECB has announced that the launch of Target 2 has been further delayed. The first group of countries will move to the EU's new large-value payment system on 19 November 2007, 11 months later than originally planned.
ECB Monthly Bulletin for November
The ECB's Monthly Bulletin for November was released yesterday, 9 November. In addition to its regular discussion of economic development in the eurozone, the report contains articles on price-setting behaviour, developments in corporate finance and…
Comment: Activism the ECB way
Yesterday, 9 November, Jean-Claude Trichet explained how the ECB's decision to leave interest rates unchanged for more than two years should not be equated to non-activist monetary policy.
EC report on lack of financial sector integration
The European Commission has presented a preliminary analysis of why there has been little cross-border consolidation in the EU financial sector.
Markets well prepared for rate hike says Stark
Bundesbank Vice-President Juergen Stark said in an interview on Friday 4 November financial markets are well prepared to digest an interest rate hike by the European Central Bank.
Trichet says ECB ready to raise rates when needed
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet said Thursday 3 November that the ECB stands ready to raise interest rates whenever this becomes necessary.
Wellink sees increased inflation concern for ECB
European Central Bank council member Nout Wellink said in an interview that the bank is ``increasingly concerned about inflation,'' echoing comments by other ECB officials.
Liikanen says ECB on alert over inflation risk
European Central Bank Governing Council member Erkki Liikanen said on Thursday 27 October that rising energy costs create significant risks to long-term inflationary expectations in the euro zone.
Will ECB match hawkish rhetoric with rate hike?
This article published on Friday 21 October reports that the ECB's more hawkish tone has got futures markets speculating that eurozone interest rates could be about to change.
Interview with ECB's Trichet
ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet said in an interview with Russian newspaper Izvestia this week that the ECB was committed to maintaining steady prices. "As regards our present position, I said in Athens on 6 October that the present interest rate of 2…
Comment: Slipping behind on the euro
When ten new countries joined the EU in May last year, they did so promising that one day they would adopt the euro as their currency. At the time it seemed they hardly needed any coercing - joining the euro was something policymakers in these countries…
EU banking sector stability report
The European Central Bank published a report on EU banking sector stability, prepared by the Banking Supervision Committee of the European System of Central Banks on 17 October.
ECB to act decisively if needed says Trichet
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet said in a letter to a member of the European Parliament that the ECB would 'act decisively' if the rise in oil prices pushed domestic prices higher.
Issing: ECB will act if inflation 'out of control'
European Central Bank chief economist Otmar Issing said in an interview that the ECB will not hesitate to raise interest rates if medium-term inflation pressures increase.
Euro losing allure for EU newcomers
According to this article published on Tuesday 11 October, the EU's single currency seems to have lost its allure for several of the 10 countries that joined the bloc in May last year.
ECB report on EU banking structures
The European Central Bank on Friday 7 October published a report on EU banking structures, prepared by the Banking Supervision Committee of the European System of Central Banks (ESCB).
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…
Almunia sees better eurozone growth by year end
European Union Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Joaquin Almunia spoke on Thursday 6 October of his confidence that the eurozone will return better growth figures by the end of the year, than had been recorded recently.
ECB's Weber says globalisation lowers inflation
European Central Bank Governing Council member and Bundesbank President Axel Weber said on Tuesday 4 October that globalization tends to lead to lower inflation.
Wellink warns against protectionism over China
Dutch central bank President and ECB Governing Council member Nout Wellink said Monday 3 September that European countries shouldn't resort to protectionism as a response to increased competition from China.