samchain/econo-pairs-v1 huggingface dataset:
BIS Review 25/1997  -8-  As from the beginning of 1996 a one-week PRIBOR interest rate replaced bank reserves management as the operative target. The quantitative target has been replaced by an interest rate target with the aim to efficiently affect, on a daily basis, the interest rate level at the short end of the yield curve. This major change was facilitated by the gradual development of the money market and its cultivation by the CNB. The one-week PRIBOR rate is affected through sales of securities with a date specified in advance of their repurchase (repos) with one and two week maturities, for which a limited repo rate is announced. New challenge: monetary aggregates in a small open economy The monetary survey of the CNB indicates the structure of the money supply (M2) on the liabilities side (corresponding to the demand side) and its sources on the assets side (corresponding to the supply side). By comparing the assets and liabilities, one can reveal the different sources of the money supply. The main sources of money supply growth are particularly dependent on the specific conditions of each economy, reflecting mainly the proportion of the influence of domestic and foreign sources of growth.

Accordingly, the strategy followed aimed at a simultaneous implementation of the package of interrelated measures in order to secure sufficient impact on the behaviour of economic agents. Given the above general consensus, there were, however, widely differentiated stances as regards the contents of the respective “minimum packages”, their sequencing and the speed of their implementation. In previous discussions two alternative options - “fast” and “slow” movers - used to be identified as a shock therapy approach against a step-by-step, gradualistic or evolutionary type of approach. BIS Review 25/1997  -3-  The Czechoslovak scenario opted for a transition path which was implemented as quickly as feasible, implying some parallel features with the shock therapy approach, in particular with reference to one stroke, simultaneous liberalisation of domestic prices, foreign trade and foreign exchange, and the introduction of limited currency convertibility (on current account for registered domestic businesses) at the very beginning of the transition process. The shock therapy approach was developed for the stabilisation programmes and followed in some countries of Latin America as well as in Poland and former Yugoslavia, where the dominant target of the economic policy was to cope with hyperinflation, to stabilise the economy as much and as fast as possible. The initial conditions in the CSFR differed, however, from those of the countries mentioned. Strategy of systemic and structural reforms The programme of political and economic transformation was formed during 1990, started in January 1991, and continued in the Czech Republic after the split of Czechoslovakia.
Norwegian enterprises and households borrow primarily at variable rates. Loans with no form of fixed rate agreement account for over 80 per cent of the value of loans to the household and enterprise sector. The current interest rate level is very low. Long-term investments cannot be made based on the assumption that this interest rate level will persist. According to money market expectations, the interest rate will eventually stabilise at close to 5½ per cent. This interest rate, plus a premium for banks’ margins, provides a more realistic indication of the interest rate level that will apply over the loan’s life than the variable interest rates prevailing today. 4  BIS Review 66/2004  Growth in the Norwegian economy is now solid. It appears that growth will also be high in 2005. From 2006, growth is expected to slow gradually to, and eventually somewhat below, the level of growth in potential output. In Inflation Report 3/04, the output gap is projected to become clearly positive in the course of 2005 and to remain positive until the end of the projection period. Inflation is projected to show a marked increase over the next year. In the short run, the depreciation of the krone in 2003 will continue to exert upward pressure on imported consumer goods. We also assume that the pronounced fall in prices for some goods and services last autumn will to some extent be reversed. In the somewhat longer term, inflation will show a more gradual rise.

There are still expectations of an increase in international interest rates, but market participants have lowered their growth and interest rate expectations as a result of high oil prices. Growth in the Norwegian economy picked up during the second half of 2003. The low interest rate has contributed to strong growth in private consumption and housing investment. Activity has picked up in service industries and the construction sector. High petroleum investment, the global economic recovery and a weaker krone through 2003 have improved conditions for manufacturing. Profitability is improving for mainland enterprises. There are signs of renewed growth in investment in a number of industries. Imports have expanded markedly. Potential growth in the Norwegian economy is estimated to increase somewhat more than normal this year as a result of increased competition and rationalisation in many sectors. This will contribute to fairly high growth in the Norwegian economy without the emergence of constraints on the supply of labour or productive capital. The high rate of growth in output nevertheless implies that the output gap will approach zero towards the end of 2004. The output gap is a measure of the difference between the actual level of output and potential output. Developments in the output gap provide a basis for assessing cyclical developments and can thus shed light on domestic price and cost pressures in the economy. It is difficult to know how high capacity utilisation is at any given time.
ACT is dedicated to promoting awareness of how bias and complexity impede a central bank's ability to achieve its objectives, and to establishing alternative mindsets and methods to confront these challenges. One of ACT's key initiatives, inspired by the learnings in Superforecasting, is implementing a tournament at the New York Fed with the goal of giving Bank staff the opportunity to assess their use of the practices for which Tetlock advocates. In conclusion, models and quantitative tools, like the ones we are discussing, can take us a long way. But they are designed to answer specific questions that are at best strong building blocks to the broader questions that policymakers grapple with. Being rigorous in our evaluation of these building blocks is critical, as is openness to other forms of information and approaches. The insights from Superforecasting are relevant for both the evaluation of specific tools and asking questions not addressed by these tools. Tetlock ends the book with Ten Commandments for good forecasting. However, in the spirit of being humble around forecasting problems, he adds an eleventh commandment: "Don't treat commandments as commandments." A version of this I would like to leave you with is to not treat any particular model or quantitative tool as the whole truth; no matter how sophisticated the underlying technical details may be, keep questioning assumptions about how the economy works and be always open to contradictory information, not just confirming evidence.

•  More specifically: o  structural policies in the Member States are supposed to seek to create flexible and efficient structures in product and labour markets with a view to fostering the growth potential of euro area economies and improving the adjustment mechanisms in EMU;  o  fiscal policies are supposed to ensure the sustainability of public finances, effectively limiting government deficit and debt ratios, thereby also ensuring that automatic fiscal stabilisers work effectively as an adjustment mechanism in the currency union; and  BIS Review 31/2008  1  o  wage policies should be compatible with trend developments in productivity in order to foster full employment and should take into account the overriding importance of wage flexibility as an equilibrating adjustment mechanism in the EMU. •  Within the Lisbon strategy, as refocused and reaffirmed by the European Council in 2005, Member States aim to gear national policies towards micro-economic flexibility and macro-economic stability. This would strengthen the capability of the euro area economy to swiftly re-allocate economic resources in view of exogenous economic shocks and improve its long-term growth prospects. The Lisbon Strategy and the peer surveillance of its implementation at the national level have raised the awareness among governments in European countries that structural reforms are decisive for remaining competitive in an increasingly global economic environment and to fully realising the economic potential of the EMU.
If we want to preserve the present global expansion, if we want to encourage reforms and hence increase potential growth, we need to maintain an open international environment, a rule-based multilateral order. [slide 16] I stress it here in the United States, as a dedicated European speaking to close historical allies: we have many common challenges, politically and economically. To avoid disaster, we should resolutely build common solutions. Believe me: France is taking its part of the task, today more than ever. 4/4  BIS central bankers' speeches

But credit cards are not common in Zambia as only a few banks issue them while most cards held by residents have been issued offshore. This initiative taken by Access Bank should directly contribute to an increase in the number of people holding such cards and taking advantage of the range of benefits that can be derived from their use. In countries where credit cards are used extensively, their benefits for users are commonly recognized and include: •  Elimination of the risk associated with carrying large amounts of cash as it may be lost or stolen. Credit card companies have over the years developed a variety of anti-theft practices which protect the cardholder in the event of theft of the card. In any case, the cardholder is protected from fraud on the card except in event of negligence on his/her part;  •  Cards make it easier to buy things as one can pay for a range of goods and services from small items to airline tickets, hotels, car-rentals etc.
As at Q4 2018, halal exports amounted to RM40.0 billion or only 4 percent of total Malaysian exports, of which halal exports by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) account for a mere 8.4 percent2. To capture the market, businesses in the halal industry need to be agile and be quick to respond to changing consumer preferences and behaviours. This means business practices and processes need to be re-calibrated to be more aligned with sustainable expectations. Similarly, quality enhancements are given expectations in terms of product offerings, using a more current and efficient distribution channels and payments methods. In conjunction with Japan Olympic 2020, for example, there is a strong demand for halal products with high traffic of tourists, supporters and spectators. Companies which are able to satisfy the high bar placed by Japan on production, quality, safety and health aspects, will be able to open up a series of medium to longer term opportunities to export to other countries. As such, securing a suitable financial solution to upgrade and upscale production to meet the demand and requirements, would be an important prerequisite for businesses. Recognising these key success factors, recent announcement by Government to introduce The Halal Industry Strategic Development Programme, or ‘be-Halal’ — under the National Halal Council Secretariat to drive the growth of the halal industry is timely.

In adapting to changing economic environment, businesses must have in place adequate risk management and protection. This is key to ensure business sustainability. Takaful operators offer a wide range of commercial protection schemes to help businesses build its risk management. These include protection against risks associated with natural disaster, weatherrelated events, payment default, professional indemnity and damage in crops, among others. For example, trade credit takaful solution to be launched in 2020 complements the wide range of trade finance solutions for importers and exporters that transact on an open account basis. Islamic finance is a natural fit for halalan-toyyiban Let me now move on to the final component – the underlying strength which ties the halal opportunity with Islamic finance – synergy. At the national level, the government supports and recognises the role of Islamic finance as an important tool to develop and grow businesses and SMEs. In the 2019 Budget, the SME Shariah-Compliant Financing Scheme was established to strengthen the development of SMEs. Under the Scheme, the government has committed to subsidise 2 percent of profit rate or borrowing cost for total financing worth RM1.0 billion. A number of other strategies are also being pursued to better position Islamic finance solutions to meet the needs of halal businesses. The industry players have participated in mega events such as Halal Expo 2019, Halfest 2019, and Festival Islam dan Halal Antarabangsa Johor Darul Ta’zim 2/3  BIS central bankers' speeches  2019 to create awareness on its offerings.
1  BIS Review 62/2000  The difficulty we face is that, while some part of sterling’s rise in the past few years probably reflects underlying strengths in the UK economy - the sustained growth in activity in recent years and the more flexible and competitive structure of the economy - it is very likely that sterling at its present levels is unrealistically high, and that this is principally a reflection of the persistent weakness of the euro over the past year or so rather than factors directly related to sterling. To compound the difficulty, it is in fact very hard to see why the euro has remained relatively weak at a time when growth in the euro-area economies as a whole has recovered strongly. For the moment, in judging the appropriate level of interest rates, we take very carefully into account the weakness of the UK’s external sector, and the impact particularly on manufacturing, as an immediate factor off-setting in part the buoyancy of domestic demand. But we also have to take into account the possibility further ahead that, if the exchange rate moves back to more realistic levels, as we expect, the boost that could bring to external demand could only be accommodated, without strain on the supply capacity of the economy as a whole, if domestic demand has moderated.

Ian Plenderleith: Current issues in UK monetary policy  Speech by Mr Ian Plenderleith, an Executive Director of the Bank of England, to the Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce on 26 July 2000. *  *  *  If you look at the performance of the UK economy as a whole, there is a great deal from which we can draw encouragement. Since the early 1990s, we have enjoyed what by any standards has been an impressive period of continued growth in output, employment and living standards. The sustained growth in output has been achieved despite the downturn in Asia in 1997-98, which, accentuated by the crisis in Russia, spread to the emerging market economies as a whole and produced a sharp weakening in external demand felt by all the industrialised countries. With the help of the rapid steps we took then to cut interest rates, we have seen a strong recovery in activity in the UK economy last year and continuing growth this year. Equally, we can draw encouragement from the steady rise in employment that has accompanied this sustained growth in output. The improvement has been shared right across the UK: rates of employment vary from region to region, but all regions have shared a rise in employment rates. What is particularly encouraging is that this substantial rise in employment rates has been achieved in the face of considerable changes in the business environment - for example, shifts in demand and in consumer taste, advances in technology and intensified competition.
Over the last 10 years, for example there has been a striking swing in employment with rapid growth during the dotcom boom followed by a sharp fall and subsequent recovery (Chart 5). 3  The UK is a net exporter of financial services, running a surplus in 2006 of £ billion (or 2% of GDP) on financial services and insurance. North Sea oil production peaked in 1999, and in 2006 was nearly 40% below this peak. 2  BIS Review 73/2007  That reflects a strong cycle in financial sector profits (Chart 6) which is an international phenomenon – indeed, in the last 10 years major European financial firms and US securities dealers saw an even bigger cycle in their profitability than major UK financial firms (Chart 7). The same is true for earnings (Chart 8). This reflects the importance of bonuses which account for around 20% of remuneration in the financial sector compared with around 5% across the economy as a whole. The figures in the City itself can be considerably higher. A figure of 50% is common in investment banking, in which a rough rule of thumb is that firms distribute about half their pre bonus profits to staff. It is estimated that 4200 workers in the City received bonuses worth more than £ in 2006/07. Of course the growth in those bonuses is contributing to the widening inequality of incomes at the top of the earnings distribution.

But estimating how they divide up is not easy. Money and credit The third area in which the development of financial markets is complicating the interpretation of statistics is money and credit. And again that is an area of keen attention at the moment. The question is whether the recent growth of the money supply is telling us something about the prospects for inflation and the economy that we are not getting from other variables – like consumption, interest rates, prices, or inflation expectations. Chart 11 shows monetary growth over 130 years in the UK against consumer inflation. The association is obvious. But even in the days of the gold standard when the Bank had a more direct control of the money supply, money growth and inflation diverged for periods (eg in the late 19th century and in the late 1920s). More recently, the growth of money in the 1970s did act as a leading indication for inflation. But in the early 1980s the relationship appeared to break down despite,  6  “Improving the measurement of banking services in the UK National Accounts", Leonidas Akriditis, ONS Economic and Labour Market Review, May 2007  7  I have used the AWE in this speech, even though it is the more recent and less well established of the two, because it is designed to handle outliers at the top and bottom of the ranges better and the City has a disproportionate number of outliers.
26 At a minimum, when taken together with survey indicators that continue to point to solid pay growth for new recruits, recent data give welcome reassurance that the risks associated with a deflationary mindset in the labour market have likely fallen significantly. Further positive wage developments should be supported by a continued tightening in the labour market. Job-to-job flows remain around post-crisis highs and the ratio of vacancies to unemployment is now back to its pre-crisis average. However, what matters for inflation is not wage growth in isolation but wage growth relative to productivity. Put simply, firms are less likely to raise their prices if higher wages reflect more output per hour worked. Along with faster wage growth, there have been signs of faster productivity growth since the turn of the year. This may well mean firms’ unit labour costs have not picked up quite to the degree we had expected in our May Inflation Report. It’s too early to be definitive. Weighing past disappointments and recent indications of a pick-up, it is prudent to recognise that two-sided risks to productivity growth remain. What is clear is that to return inflation to target, growth in labour costs must pick up further from their current rate of less than one per cent. The extent needed depends on what is happening to other costs.

11 Latimer notes that “…between the middle of the twelfth century and the middle of the thirteenth century there was an enormous increase in the quantity of silver coins in England.” As well as the possibility of a general increase in the European silver supply (especially with the opening up of the Harz silver mines in eastern Germany), it is likely that silver inflows to England in particular were boosted as the counterpart to a sizeable private trade surplus – probably resulting, especially, from the success of the wool trade with Flanders. Over several decades, these silver inflows were likely to have much more than offset the “public sector deficit” as silver leaked out to pay for the protection of Normandy as well as the occasional trip to the Holy Land. As a result, the balance of payments was probably in surplus for years, with the consequent increase in the silver money supply going unsterilised. Even to a thirteenth century Englishman, global monetary conditions mattered. Would Britain’s constitutional history have been different had King John lamented: A Central Bank! A Central Bank! My Kingdom for a Central Bank!? He needed one because other factors reinforced monetary developments, including the usual suspect – financial innovation. Specifically, developments in the common law made land an increasingly liquid asset, and therefore one capable for the first time of being used as a store of wealth.