Interest rates
Ex BOJ official says may need policy shift
A former deputy governor of the Bank of Japan has said the bank should consider changing its policy of pumping cash into the economy and holding rates at almost zero because deflation is easing.
RBNZ reinforces last week's statement
Reserve Bank of New Zealand governor Alan Bollard on Tuesday 3 May reinforced his statement of 28 April that economic data suggests that underlying demand and inflation pressures remain strong and that, in this environment, further policy tightening…
Fed expected to raise rates again
Faced with conflicting forces, the Federal Reserve was expected to increase interest rates by a moderate quarter-point at the conclusion of its FOMC meeting on Tuesday, the eighth such increase since last June.
Rato says 'premature' to rule out ECB rate cut
International Monetary Fund managing director Rodrigo Rato said it would be "premature" to exclude interest rate cuts by the European Central Bank while the eurozone economy remains in "a soft patch".
Report says Fed likely to hike rates again
The U.S. Federal Reserve is likely to raise the target for its key short-term interest rate to 3 percent from 2.75 percent when its rate-setting committee meets on Tuesday, The Wall Street Journal said on Friday 29 April.
Sweden's Srejber on market rate developments
In a speech on 14 April, Sveriges Riksbank deputy governor Eva Srejber said that despite a gradual rise in growth since 2001 in Sweden and abroad, long-term interest rates have fallen to low levels in many OECD countries.
Fed's Bies on the economy and personal finances
In a speech on 'The economy and managing personal finances' given on 18 April, Susan Bies of the Federal Reserve said the US central bank must step up its vigilance against inflation but indicated that she believed "measured" interest-rate rises could…
Fed's Fisher 'comfortable' with rate increase pace
Richard Fisher, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, said strong US growth has put inflation pressures in the spotlight but they still appear to be under control.
Bank of Canada keeps interest rates unchanged
The Bank of Canada announced on Tuesday 12 April that it was holding interest rates unchanged. The bank said data received since the last interest rate announcement indicate that the Canadian and global economies have been evolving largely as expected.
Luxembourg sees limited manoeuvre on ECB rate
The central bank of Luxembourg said in its latest financial stability report that it sees a "limited margin of manoeuvre" on European Central Bank interest rates.
Bank of England MPC Minutes, 9 &10 March
The minutes from the 9 &10 March meeting of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee published on Wednesday 23 March showed Paul Tucker voted for the second month in a row to raise interest rates, and was joined by deputy governor Andrew Large,…
Fed expected to raise rates Tuesday 22 March
It was widely expected that the Federal Reserve would boost its target for the federal funds rate by another quarter-point at the conclusion of its two-day meeting on Tuesday 22 March.
Sweden's central bank holds interest rate steady
Sweden's central bank held steady its key interest rate at 2 per cent on Tuesday 15 March, with continued expectations of a global economic recovery and steady economic activity inside Sweden.
It's open season on the Reserve
This article published on Monday 7 March looks at the Reserve Bank of Australia's decision to raise interest rates last week for the first time since December 2003. It is perhaps the most significant breakdown in trust and harmony between Canberra and…
Tanigaki says BOJ and gov't want deflation end
The Japanese government and the Bank of Japan share the same view on interest rates and both want to end deflation, Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki told a press conference in Tokyo on Tuesday 8 March.
The Bank should act soon
The Bank of England should act soon to raise interest rates, according to this article published on Friday 4 March by the Financial Times. With a general election expected in May, the Bank risks being accused of political motivations if it doesn't hike…
Bank of Canada keeps interest rate unchanged
The Bank of Canada announced on Tuesday 1 Marchthat it is maintaining its target for the overnight rate at 2 1/2 per cent. The Bank said the outlook for the Canadian economy and inflation remained essentially unchanged since January.
NBP's Rybinski denies rates will be slashed
A senior official from the National Bank of Poland warned markets on Monday 28 February that expectations of a sharp falls in interest rates this year were misguided.
Costello warns RBA on rate increase
Australia's Treasurer Peter Costello has put pressure on the Reserve Bank of Australia not to raise interest rates when it meets on Tuesday 1 March, saying an increase would go against the RBA's remit.
BOJ to maintain policy until CPI shows gains
The Bank of Japan will maintain its policy of keeping interest rates at almost zero and pumping cash into the economy until core consumer prices show stable gains, central bank Governor Toshihiko Fukui said on Tuesday 15 February.
ECB official says interest rates may have to rise
Christian Noyer suggested the European Central Bank is moving closer to raising interest rates, the International Herald Tribune reported on Tuesday 15 February.
Federal Reserve boosts key interest rate to 2.5%
The Federal Open Market Committee decided on Wednesday 2 February to raise its target for the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to 2-1/2 per cent. In a press release the FOMC said the economy is growing "at a moderate pace despite the rise in energy…
Norges Bank keeps interest rate unchanged at 1.75%
At its monetary policy meeting on 2 February, Norges Bank's Executive Board decided to leave the sight deposit rate unchanged at 1.75 per cent. The Executive Board said it did not see any clear alternatives to leaving the interest rate unchanged.
POBC sees gradual move to market interest rates
The People's Bank of China said on Tuesday 1 February thatit will proceed with establishing a market-oriented interest rate regime in a series of gradual moves timed to ensure the viability of the commercial banks.