Eurozone
ECB Monthly Bulletin, December 2005
The European Central Bank published its December 2005 Monthly Bulletin on Thursday 8 December. In the report the ECB defended its decision to raise its key interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point earlier this month, saying that the move was…
IMF's Rajan urges caution on further ECB rate hike
IMF chief economist Raghuram Rajan has called on the European Central Bank to wait for evidence that an economic recovery is taking hold in the euro zone before raising interest rates again.
ECB's Issing on fiscal and monetary policies
In the speech 'The role of fiscal and monetary policies in the stabilisation of the economic cycle' given on 14 November Otmar Issing of the ECB said the ECB always aims to take timely action to address inflation risks but it also has to avoid reacting…
Score so far is ECB, 1; Unsolicited advisers, 0
This article published on Thursday 1 December looks at the ECB's decision to raise interest rates at its most recent meeting, saying Europe's finance ministers would be better served by putting their own houses in order rather than telling Monsieur…
ECB's Mersch says eurozone tax harmony not needed
Eurozone members aren't obliged to harmonize taxation practices as this isn't part and parcel of European Monetary Union, Luxembourg Central Bank Governor Yves Mersch said on Friday 2 December.
Trichet tight-lipped on future of ECB rates
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet declined to comment on Friday 2 December on the possibility of further rises in euro zone interest rates.
ECB Council Members back rate decision
European Central Bank council members Christian Noyer, Axel Weber, and Klaus Liebscher came out in defense of Thursday's decision to raise eurozone interest rates, saying it won't hurt economic growth.
Comment: IMF criticises ECB's move
The decision by the ECB to increase interest rates by 25 basis points has come in for a fair amount of criticism in the press and from market analysts. On Thursday 1 December the eurozone's central bank received another stinging blow.
Trichet on growth potential & structural reforms
In the speech 'Growth potential, labour productivity and structural reforms in Europe' given on 10 November Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said we need structural reforms to make sure that the soil is fertile enough for the seeds of technological…
ECB raises rates, but says no series planned
The European Central Bank raised its main interest rate, for the first time in five years, by 0.25% to 2.25% on Thursday 1 December in a move that had been widely expected.
Comment: None the wiser
The ECB has raised interest rates as expected, but its explanations for the much-criticised decision reveal little on its motivations or the future path of rates.
ECB's Bini Smaghi says rates could rise
The European Central Bank could raise its official interest rate to 2.25 pct from 2.00, when the bank's governing council meets tomorrow, said ECB executive Lorenzo Bini Smaghi on Wednesday 30 November
ECB's Tumpel-Gugerell on SEPA
In the speech 'SEPA: making the dream become a reality' given on 15 November Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell of the ECB said the ECB acts as a helping hand to create, out of the many different national payment schemes, one pan-European scheme for each of the…
ECB's Trichet on European financial integration
In the speech 'The state of European financial integration' given on 28 November Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said further EU financial integration would be positive for economic growth.
Comment: Fierce criticism of the ECB
The European Central Bank's recent indication of its intent to raise interest rates has prompted a wave of fierce press criticism, and not only from within the eurozone.
Interview with ECB's Quaden
In an interview published on Tuesday 22 November, European Central Bank Governing Council member Guy Quaden said the ECB needs to tackle the problem of negative real interest rates in Europe, but this does not mean slamming the brakes on growth.
Interview with ECB's Trichet
In an interview published on Thursday 24 November, European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet said he doesn't foresee "repeated" rises in eurozone interest rates.
EU's Almunia sees gradual rise in euro area demand
European Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said on Thursday 24 November he expects a gradual rise in domestic demand to boost recovery in the European Union economy next year.
ECB's Issing on mortgage markets & monetary policy
In the speech 'Mortgage markets and monetary policy: a central banker's view' given on 23 November Otmar Issing of the ECB said the ECB will be able to avoid sharp rises in interest rates if markets have faith in its ability to keep inflation under…
ECB's Trichet on Eurasia: Bull meets tiger
In the speech 'Eurasia: Bull meets tiger - Panel III - Financial markets: Shared responsibility' given on 18 November Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said the experiences of Europe and the Asia-Pacific region with regard to regional surveillance present…
Comment: ECB's strategy risks confusion
Jean-Claude Trichet's recent comments have effectively shifted the debate from whether or not the ECB will raise interest rates, to how aggressive and how persistent future rate hikes will be. The ECB's strategy raises a number of questions.
Gonzalez Paramo calms mood after Trichet comments
European Central Bank board member Jose Manuel Gonzalez Paramo has sought to play down Jean-Claude Trichet's recent comments that an increase in Eurozone interest rates could come at its next meeting on 1 December.
Trichet says ECB set to 'moderately augment' rates
In testimony given on 21 November Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said the bank isn't planning a string of interest- rate increases, vowing to lawmakers not to stifle economic growth.
Britain probably better off in euro says Trichet
Speaking at a conference in Berlin on Saturday 19 November, European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet said Britain would probably be even better off if it joined the euro.