Interest rates
Fed steps back from a tilt toward higher rates
According to this article from John Berry at Bloomberg, published Thursday 22 March, Federal Reserve officials have taken a small step toward a more balanced view of whether their next interest rate move would be up or down.
Fukui says BOJ to help economy with low rates
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui told lawmakers Thursday 22 March that the central bank will help maintain economic growth under price stability by keeping very low interest rates "for now" and vary them only gradually in line with the economic…
ECB's Trichet on monetary policy
In testimony to the European Parliament given on 21 March Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said eurozone interest rates are now moderate but remain slightly accommodative.
BoE's Barker on interest rate changes
In the speech 'Interest rate changes - Too many or too few?' given on 20 March Kate Barker of the Bank of England warned that the uncertain medium term outlook for inflation may prompt frequent changes in interest rates.
BoE's MPC voted 8-1 to keep rates on hold
The Bank of England's rate-setting body voted 8-1 to keep interest rates unchanged at its 8 March meeting, with David Blanchflower alone voting for a quarter point cut, minutes published Wednesday 21 March showed.
McTeer says FOMC 'frozen in place'
The Federal Reserve will hold interest rates steady amid "unusual" simultaneous signals of both higher inflation and slower growth in coming months, said Robert McTeer, former president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, in an interview published…
ECB's Garganas says rates may not have peaked
A recent change in European Central Bank language on monetary policy does not mean that interest rates are near a peak, Nicholas Garganas said in an interview published Monday 19 March.
Analysts say China rate hike hurt property market
China's residential property market and heavy borrowers will be the main victims of the People's Bank of China's latest interest rate hike, analysts at Credit Suisse said in a report published Monday 19 March.
Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin, Q1 2007
The Bank of England published its First Quarter 2007 Quarterly Bulletin on Monday 19 March. The latest issue says rises in UK interest rates have been a major factor behind gains in the pound over the past year.
Meirelles says Brazil's 2007 inflation benign
Brazil's 2007 inflation scenario is benign, but the central bank remains vigilant, the bank's chief said on Monday 19 March.
FOMC to throw markets a life preserver?
According to this article published by MarketWatch on Monday 19 March, financial markets could be given a boost this week when the Federal Open Market Committee meets.
Fukui denies BOJ leaked information
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui denied in parliament Thursday 16 March that the central bank leaked information to the media before announcing an interest-rate increase last month.
Greenspan says subprime spillover unlikely
Problems facing lenders of risky mortgages are not likely to spill over into the broader economy unless housing prices see another substantial fall, former Fed chairman Alan Greenspan said Thursday 15 March.
Norges Bank Monetary Policy Report, March 2007
Norges Bank published its First Monetary Policy Report (previously called the Inflation Report) for March 2007 on Thursday 15 March. In spite of strong growth in output and employment, inflation has not picked up so far.
Sweden's Ingves on interest rate & monetary policy
In the speech 'The interest rate path and monetary policy' given on 14 March Stefan Ingves of the Sveriges Riksbank said the Swedish central bank rate-setters are only expecting to need to make moderate increases in the interest rate.
SNB hikes interest rates by 25 points
The Swiss National Bank (SNB) raised interest rates by 25 basis points Thursday 15 March, citing the excellent shape of the Swiss economy and a slight upward trend in inflation.
BoJ's Fukui says no stocks impact from rate hike
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui said in parliamentary testimony Thursday 15 March that the BoJ's latest rate hike in February did not directly lead to the recent global stock market slump.
BoC paper on world real interest rates
Over the past 15 years, long-term interest rates have declined to levels not seen since the 1970s. The Bank of Canada Working Paper "World real interest rates: A global savings and investment perspective" explores possible shifts in global savings and…
Taiwan's Perng: rates may be approaching peak
Taiwan's series of interest rate increases may be approaching a peak because of subdued inflation and slowing export growth, said Perng Fai-nan, governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in an interview published Wednesday 14 March.
RBI to act on price stability says Mohan
The Reserve Bank of India will take all possible monetary measures to maintain price stability, deputy governor Rakesh Mohan said on Wednesday 14 March.
Tanaka says next BOJ policy changes to take time
Japan's economy is running smoothly but it is not yet in an inflationary environment and further Bank of Japan monetary policy changes may take some time, Japan's senior vice finance minister said on Tuesday 14 March.
Buba's Weber not saying ECB rates are appropriate
Bundesbank president Axel Weber said Tuesday 13 March he would not describe current euro zone interest rates as "appropriate".
OECD's Cotis says US recession unlikely
OECD chief economist Jean-Philippe Cotis said Tuesday 13 March he does not expect a recession in the US.
ECB's Bini Smaghi says rates depend on growth data
Interest rates "must adjust" to combat inflation if economic growth continues, European Central Bank executive board member Lorenzo Bini Smaghi told Italian daily La Stampa in an interview published Sunday 11 March.