Interest rates
Fed ready to cut rates if necessary - McDonough
US - A top United States Federal Reserve official has offered an assurance that the central bank stands ready to lower interest rates if the economy faltered, but said it was unlikely such help would be needed.
Fed's McTeer: Faster economic growth 'essential'
US - Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President Robert McTeer, who pushed unsuccessfully for lower interest rates at a Fed policy meeting last week, said on Monday it was essential for the U.S. economy to grow faster.
Poland's central bank cuts rates
POLAND - Poland's central bank on Wednesday reduced its key interest rates by a half percentage point, making its sixth cut this year against the backdrop of a sluggish economy and falling inflation.
Fed holds rates steady but with rare split vote
US - The Federal Reserve on Tuesday held interest rates steady despite a hesitant economic recovery and worries about a possible war with Iraq. In an unusual move the meeting saw dissent, with two members calling for a rate reduction. This was the first…
Norges Bank Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - Norges Bank keeps interest rates unchanged, 18 September.
Brazil leaves interest rates unchanged
BRAZIL - Brazil's central bank has said it will leave interest rates unchanged at 18% until after the forthcoming presidential election, following fresh concerns over the country's economy.
Canada's Dodge leans toward rate hike
CANADA - David Dodge, the governor of the Bank of Canada, indicated Thursday that external factors would guide the central bank's short-term monetary policy, but the bank's preference would be to raise interest rates to slow down the domestic economy.
Norges Bank keeps interest rates unchanged
NORWAY - Norway's central bank kept interest rates on hold at an executive board meeting on Wednesday but switched to a neutral bias for rates, reflecting dwindling inflationary pressures in the oil-backed economy.
Bank of England unanimous on holding rates
UK - The Monetary Policy Committee voted unanimously to keep UK interest rates unchanged at their September meeting according to the latest minutes published on Wednesday by the Bank of England.
South African inflation hits record high
SOUTH AFRICA - South Africa's targeted CPIX inflation measure vaulted to a record high in August, official data showed on Tuesday, supporting the Reserve Bank's decision last week to raise interest rates for the fourth time this year.
South Africa raises interest rate
SOUTH AFRICA - The South African Reserve Bank on Thursday made a one percentage point increase in the country's prime interest rates in an effort to force inflation below 6 per cent.
ECB Press Conference, 12 Sep
PRESS CONFERENCE - Introductory statement by Willem F. Duisenberg, President of the European Central Bank, Lucas Papademos, Vice-President of the European Central Bank, Frankfurt, 12 September 2002. At today's meeting Duisenberg said the Governing…
Fed's beige book confirms US economy sluggish
US - The Federal Reserve's beige book published Wednesday offered support from the central bank's districts that the economy is in a lacklustre phase of recovery, and may imply no change in interest rates at the Fed's next policy meeting.
Thailand's MPC leave interest rates steady
THAILAND - The Monetary Policy Committee on Tuesday left short-term interest rates unchanged, but said it would lean toward future rate cuts if overseas risks increased.
Duisenberg rules out imminent interest rate cut
EUROPE - The president of the European Central Bank, Mr Wim Duisenberg, has ruled out any imminent cut in interest rates to accelerate economic growth across the euro zone.
OECD backs Norway's central bank policy
NORWAY - The Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) urged Norway on Friday to resist the temptation of spending any more of its vast oil revenues and leave interest rates high to keep inflation in check.
Chile keeps key rates on hold at 3 percent
CHILE - Chile's central bank said on Thursday it had kept key interest rates on hold at an all-time low of 3.00 percent at a meeting of its monetary policy committee.
Bank of England News Release
NEWS RELEASE - Bank of England Maintains Interest Rates at 4.0%, 5 September.
BoE keeps rates on hold
UK - The Bank of England left interest rates unchanged on Thursday, as widely expected, amid concerns over a weak economic recovery and continuing volatility in stock markets.
Interest rates unlikely to fall soon, Mboweni
SOUTH AFRICA - South Africans should not expect a drop in interest rates for the remainder of the year, Reserve Bank governor Tito Mboweni said on Tuesday. He also said he opposed the government's plans for a single banking regulator, and believed that…
San Francisco Fed's Parry: Rate policy appropriate
US - San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank President Robert Parry said on Wednesday the current level of U.S. interest rates is "appropriate" and stimulative for the economy, which is in a modest expansion.
Philadelphia Fed survey shows factory growth slows
US - U.S. factory growth appears to have stalled, stirring speculation the Federal Reserve may cut interest rates in coming months to ward off a second recession if the weakness spreads.
SARB inflation target seen as out of reach
SOUTH AFRICA - Consumer inflation surprised on the upside last month, fuelling expectations that the Reserve Bank's targets for next year are getting out of reach, though Business Day reports economists said they did not expect interest rates to rise…
RBA's Macfarlane signals rates may head higher
AUSTRALIA - Reserve Bank Governor Ian Macfarlane on Wednesday delivered an upbeat view of the Australian economy, warned of a looming shakeout in property and signalled that the bank remains on course to raise interest rates once global uncertainties…