Euro area inflation is lower, but the ECB should not change its view

Aug 17, 2015 15:12 pm UTC| Commentary Central Banks

Following the latest decline in the oil prices, the euro area inflation forecast has been down to 0.1% from 0.2% in 2015 and to 1.2% from 1.4% in 2016. Updated projection does not include a new period of deflation, but it...

PBoC’s buying provides confidence to gold bugs

Aug 17, 2015 14:21 pm UTC| Insights & Views Central Banks

Gold bugs have started the week on happier note today, as report released by Peoples Bank of China (PBoC) showed that it has been active buyer in the gold market. Why China reporting gold reserve: In a bid to win...

PBoC purchases 19 tons of gold in July

Aug 17, 2015 12:15 pm UTC| Commentary Central Banks

The Chinese central bank announced on Friday that it purchased 19 tons of gold in July. It would appear that the PBoC has gone over to reporting its (real) gold purchases monthly, rather than only every six years as it did...

ECB monetary policy is weakening the Euro

Aug 17, 2015 07:11 am UTC| Commentary Central Banks

If Greek membership in the euro area is indeed to be irreversible, the Eurozone will need to implement for far-reaching reforms, or be willing to enter into further bail-out negotiations. With the Greek crisis over, the...

Westpac Sees RBA on hold despite dovish market pricing

Aug 17, 2015 04:10 am UTC| Commentary Central Banks

Westpac chief economist Bill Evans sees the Reserve Bank of Australia keeping interest rates on hold well into next year, even as the market prices in a high chance of a cut by November. Westpac chief economist Bill Evans...

Fed's September rate hike still on the cards

Aug 16, 2015 23:11 pm UTC| Commentary Central Banks

The impact of China and of the weaker oil price complicates monetary policy decisions in both the UK and the US. After its August meeting the Bank of England intimated that a hike in policy rates is now unlikely this year,...

RBA watching China closely

Aug 16, 2015 20:29 pm UTC| Commentary Central Banks

The RBA board minutes (Tuesday) is not expected to have much market impact given the RBA outlined its updated outlook in the Statement on Monetary Policy. The RBA minutes have also been overtaken by events in that they...