Interest rates
Fed raises rates, says economic outlook unchanged
The Federal Open Market Committee decided on Tuesday 14 December to raise its target for the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to 2-1/4 percent. In its press release the FOMC signalled there had been no change in its assessment of current economic…
Norges Bank keeps interest rate unchanged at 1.75%
Norges Bank's Executive Board decided on Wednesday 15 December to leave interest rates unchanged at 1.75 per cent. The Executive Board said in a press release it did not see any clear alternatives to leaving the interest rate unchanged.
Hungary to publish Monetary Council minutes
On Monday 6 December the Monetary Council of the National Bank of Hungary decided, after a six month trial, to publish abridged minutes of its regular rate-setting meetings in future. This summary presents the arguments and experiences supporting the…
Sweden leaves repo rate unchanged at 2 per cent
At its meeting on Wednesday, 8 December, the Executive Board of the Sveriges Riksbank decided to leave the repo rate unchanged at 2 per cent.
Bank of Canada leaves interest rates unchanged
The Bank of Canada announced on Tuesday 7 December that it is maintaining its target for the overnight rate at 2 1/2 per cent. The operating band for the overnight rate is unchanged, and the Bank Rate remains at 2 3/4 per cent.
Korea's deputy PM calls for rate cut
Korea's Deputy Prime Minister for Finance and Economy Lee Hun-jai is reported to have urged the Bank of Korea to cut interest rates two days before the central bank is due to meet.
Philadelphia Fed's Santomero on global economy
In a speech on 'Challenges and opportunities in a global economy: Perspectives on outsourcing, exchange rates, and free trade' given on 3 December. Anthony Santomero of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia said the US economy should grow about 4 per…
RBA paper: News and interest rate expectations
The RBA Discussion Paper "News and interest rate expectations: A study of six central banks" analyses the effect of news relating to the expected path of monetary policy on interest rate futures. Results suggest that the impact of the RBA's communication…
Mizuno says zero-rate policy beating deflation
New Bank of Japan policy maker Atsushi Mizuno said on Friday 3 December that the BOJ's zero-rate policy is overcoming deflation and the bank must look at potential side effects of maintaining its stance.
ECB report on bond markets & interest rates
The European Central Bank published the third and extended edition of a report entitled "Bond markets and long-term interest rates in non-euro area Member States of the European Union and in accession countries" on 24 November.
Polish central bank leaves rates unchanged
The National Bank of Poland said on Wednesday 24 November that it had left key interest rates unchanged at its monetary policy meeting.
Fed's Olson on state of the US economy
Federal Reserve Governor Mark Olson spoke on Monday 15 November about the state of the US economy, and issued a warning to expect more rate rises as the economy recovers.
The leak in China's banking system
The People's Bank of China's surprise decision to raise interest rates for the first time in nine years on 28 October prompted much speculation on the reason for the move. Some commentators said it marks the beginning of a liberalized interest-rate…
Korea cuts interest rates to record low
The Bank of Korea unexpectedly cut interest rates to a record low of 3.25 per cent on Thursday 11 November, moving its policy focus to growth from inflation.
Romanian central bank lowers rates
Romania's central bank has announced that it has lowered its key interest rate by 0.5 percentage points to 18.25%.
Interview with Philadelphia Fed's Santomero
In an interview published last Friday, 22 October, Philadelphia Fed President Anthony Santomero said that the Federal Reserve will be able to slow down the pace of interest rate rises if the economy grows less rapidly than it expects.
China's central bank raises interest rates
The People's Bank of China on Thursday 28 October raised interest rates for the first time in nearly a decade to guide its heated economy to a path of slower growth.
How Reserve Bank of Fiji conducts monetary policy
This article outlines how the conduct of monetary policy in Fiji is transmitted from the Reserve Bank of Fiji's (RBF) policy indicator rate (PIR) through to interest rates in the economy and finally to economic activity and its impact on inflation and…
BOJ's Fukui says prices just one hurdle
Core consumer prices at zero percent is only one hurdle the Bank of Japan will need to clear when deciding whether to stop its policy of keeping interest rates at almost zero, Governor Toshihiko Fukui said.
Brazil raises rates for second month in a row
Brazil's central bank raised interest rates on Wednesday 20 October for the second consecutive month amid concerns about high oil prices and growing domestic demand.
Bank of England MPC Minutes, 6&7 October
The minutes from the 6 and 7 October meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England were released on 20 October. All nine MPC members voted to keep interest rates unchanged at 4.75 percent this month, while there seemed to be no…
Asian central banks should follow S Korea's lead
The more Asian central banks try to convince the markets that their judgment on interest rates isn't clouded by political interference, the less anyone believes them, this article says. It suggests policy makers from Jakarta and Manila to Bangkok and…
US rates 'still simulative' says Fed's Santomero
Philadelphia Federal Reserve President Anthony Santomero said on Saturday 16 October that US interest rates remain simulative but as the expansion continues they should return to "more normal levels".
Fed's Stern says data won't change Fed tack
Minneapolis Federal Reserve President Gary Stern said on Friday 8 October in an interview that the weaker than expected gains in the labour market are not enough to change the Fed's plan to gradually raise interest rates.