Interest rates
UK MPC member says further rate cuts not ruled out
UK - UK interest rates may still fall again if the world economy takes a turn for the worse, while the first increase in borrowing costs could be some way off, a member of Britain's monetary policy team told the Times.
Norges Bank keeps interest rates unchanged
PRESS RELEASE - Interest rates were left unchanged at Norges Bank's Executive Board meeting on 10 April. Norges Bank's key interest rate, the sight deposit rate, therefore remains at 6.50 per cent. The overnight lending rate also remains unchanged.
Bank of England News Release
NEWS RELEASE - Bank of England Maintains Interest Rates at 4.0%, 4 April.
ECB holds key interest rate unchanged at 3.25 pct
GERMANY - The European Central Bank left interest rates unchanged on Thursday, reinforcing expectations its easing cycle had ended with the euro zone economy now on track to recovery.
Aus PM welcomes RBA decision not to raise rates
AUSTRALIA - Prime Minister John Howard has welcomed the Reserve Bank of Australia's decision not to increase interest rates at its meeting today.
Australia's RBA leaves rates unchanged at 4.25 pct
AUSTRALIA - The Reserve Bank of Australia Wednesday left interest rates unchanged following its April board meeting, despite expectations in some circles that it would begin the tightening cycle.
IMF stresses Polish c bank must remain independent
POLAND - The International Monetary Fund expects a limited reduction in official Polish interest rates in 2002, as 900 basis points of cuts over the past 12 months take effect, but it harshly criticized government coalition members' attacks on the…
Monetary policy in a virtual economy, 27 March
FEATURE - The Reserve Bank launches a web-based monetary policy computer simulation game today whereby the player fights inflation by controlling interest rates in a virtual economy. You play the Governor of the central bank and failure to keep inflation…
Polish MPC leaves rates steady despite pressure
POLAND - The National Bank of Poland (NBP) defied political pressure on Wednesday by leaving interest rates unchanged, matching market expectations but risking a run-in with the government over how to revive the economy, report Reuters.
Poll gives full marks to swift action of Fed
US - The US economy is highly unlikely to slip back into recession, but its recovery had far more to do with lower interest rates than tax cuts, according to a survey of leading economists issued yesterday.
Wadhwani - Current high interest rate policy risky
UK - Rising household debt and the possibility of a depreciation in sterling's exchange rate aren't sufficient grounds to keep interest rates higher than necessary, said one of the Bank of England's nine interest-rate setters Monday.
Interest rates may not rise says Bank governor
UK - Sir Edward George, governor of the Bank of England, yesterday hinted that interest rates may not need to rise this year.
Israeli cabinet OKs diluting cen bank chief power
ISRAEL - Israel's cabinet on Sunday approved sweeping changes to the way interest rates are set but analysts said the plans, which include setting up a monetary council, would weaken the central bank and harm the economy.
South Africa raises interest rates
SOUTH AFRICA - South Africa's Reserve Bank has raised interest rates by one percentage point to 11.5% to counter the inflationary impact of the rand's steep slide last year.
BIS-Central bankers see world economy improving
SWITZERLAND - Top central bankers see the world economy's prospects more positive than they did two months ago and expect key interest rates to rise only once a more broad-based recovery has been firmly established, Bank of England Governor Sir Edward…
Bank of England News Release
NEWS RELEASE - Bank of England Maintains Interest Rates at 4.0%, 7 March.
Ethiopia slashes interest rates
ETHIOPIA - The Ethiopian central bank has halved interest rates to 3%, due to plunging deflation, weakening trade and investment and the global economic slowdown.
Nigeria's c bank urged to review monetary policy
NIGERIA - Central Bank of Nigeria and other regulatory authorities have been asked to reconsider their control strategies with the aim of striking a balance between exchange and interest rates policies in the overall interest of the productive sectors of…
Fraga sees room for more interest rate cuts
BRAZIL - Brazilian central bank governor Arminio Fraga said there's room for more cuts in interest rates following the 20 February decision to slash the key Selic lending rate target to 18.75% from 19%.
Swedish c.bankers signal tighter monetary policy
SWEDEN - Two senior Swedish central bankers on Monday reinforced expectations that interest rates will be raised, possibly already next month, sending the crown and short-term yields sharply higher.
Rate cut by Brazil's central bank chief
BRAZIL - Central bank governor Arminio Fraga's surprise move to cut interest rates marks a shift in strategy, and a gamble, as he weighs the need to contain inflation yet entice investors in a presidential election year.
Beijing set to cut rates as deflation fears return
CHINA - China is set to cut interest rates today for the first time in more than two-and-a-half years to combat a return of the deflationary pressures Beijing fought so hard to banish during the Asian financial crisis.
BoE's George plays down talk of jump in UK rates
UK - Bank of England Governor Sir Edward George warned financial markets on Tuesday they should not get too carried away with the idea that British interest rates are set to rise sharply this year.
ECB Feb bulletin - Reiterates Duisenberg remarks
GERMANY - The European Central Bank Thursday repeated that interest rates in the euro zone remain at an appropriate level and that it expects a gradual economic recovery this year.