Country Ranking By Central Bank Interest Rates

Central banks conduct their monetary policy by controlling some overnight or short term interest rates. Central banks use these rates to lend money to commercial banks influencing mortgage rates and other types of loans. Central bank interest rates are one of the most effective tools to promote growth and keep inflation under certain limits. For instance, the Governing Council of the European Central Bank aims at keeping annual inflation under 2% while the Board of Governors of the U.S. Federal Reserve has a dual mandate of promoting sustainable growth and maintaining price stability. Stocks and bond markets are also influenced by these benchmark rates because high interest rates reduce the present value of future cash flows, thereby reducing the attractiveness of investment opportunities.

Interest Rate News

New Zealand Keeps Rates Steady
Published: 3/10/2010 6:17:18 PM By: TradingEconomics.com, RBNZ

New Zealand’s central bank left interest rate unchanged and said it will wait until the middle of the year before raising cost of borrowing as falling house prices and weak consumer spending are contributing to a slow economic recovery.

BOE Holds Bond Purchase Program at 200 Billion Pounds
Published: 3/4/2010 9:42:12 AM By: TradingEconomics.com, Bloomberg

The Bank of England kept its bond- purchase program on hold for a second month as policy makers assessed whether the 200 billion pounds ($302 billion) spent so far is enough to prevent a relapse in the economy.

ECB Keeps Key Rate at 1%
Published: 3/4/2010 9:37:58 AM By: TradingEconomics.com, Bloomberg

The European Central Bank left its benchmark interest rate at a record low as policy makers weigh the risks of withdrawing emergency lending measures amid Greece’s fiscal crisis.

Canada Keeps Lending Rate at 0.25%
Published: 3/2/2010 9:55:00 AM By: TradingEconomics.com, Bank of Canada

The Bank of Canada kept its benchmark interest rate at a record low today, and said that inflation and economic output have been higher than policy makers expected, signaling rate increases in coming months.

Australia Raises Key Interest Rate to 4%
Published: 3/1/2010 11:24:49 PM By: TradingEconomics.com, RBA

Australia’s central bank resumed raising interest rates after a one-meeting pause, judging that the economy is strong enough to withstand any impact from global investor concerns on sovereign debt risks.

Fed Raises Discount Rate by Quarter-Point to 0.75%
Published: 2/18/2010 5:44:12 PM By: TradingEconomics.com, Federal Reserve

The Federal Reserve Board raised the discount rate charged to banks for direct loans by a quarter point to 0.75 percent and said the move will encourage financial institutions to rely more on money markets rather than the central bank for short-term liquidity needs.

BOJ Leaves Policy Unchanged
Published: 2/18/2010 9:50:47 AM By: TradingEconomics.com, BoJ

The Bank of Japan refrained from expanding its lending and asset-purchase programs, preserving policy ammunition in case the economic recovery falters or the government increases pressure for more action to beat deflation.

China Raises Bank Reserve Requirement to Cool Economy
Published: 2/12/2010 10:50:10 AM By: TradingEconomics.com, Bloomberg

China ordered banks to set aside more deposits as reserves for the second time in a month to cool the fastest-growing economy after loan growth accelerated and property prices surged.

Bank of England Halts Bond Purchase Program
Published: 2/4/2010 10:30:30 AM By: TradingEconomics.com, Bank of England

The Bank of England paused its 200 billion-pound ($317 billion) bond-purchase plan and left open the option to buy more as officials gauge the health of the U.K.’s recovery.

ECB Holds Rates, Sees Moderate, Uneven Recovery
Published: 2/4/2010 10:25:48 AM By: TradingEconomics.com, Reuters

The European Central Bank kept interest rates at a record low of 1.0 percent on Thursday and reaffirmed its view that the euro zone's economic recovery would be modest and uneven this year.