These considerations largely explain the easing of monetary policy in the US and in Europe since last autumn. The fact that we reduced interest rates by different amounts, and that they remain at different levels, is explained by differing assessments of the prospective impact on the pressure of overall demand, taking account of our own particular starting points. But the general nature of the response was driven by essentially similar considerations. Managing this global imbalance will be a considerable challenge for policymakers over the next few years; and helping to finance it – including helping to finance re-emerging markets – will be a considerable challenge for international bond markets. The fact that you are all here – and in evidently good form – after the past remarkable year suggests that you have strong nerves. You may well need them again in the period ahead. But think of it this way. By the time we meet again for this great Congress next year, Y2K will be behind you – and if you have survived that, you can survive anything! I wish you all possible success. *  *  *  BIS Review 17/1999
These changing global dynamics, interacting with market’s reactions to potential US rate hike, may cause volatile ups and downs of financial markets. BIS central bankers’ speeches  1  I will not discuss these at length. Rather, at this juncture, the key question is how to design or adjust policy frameworks to cope better with these financial spillovers while preserving monetary policy independence. Undoubtedly, there is no single recipe that fits all central banks. Thus the aim of my talk is to offer a central bank’s overall perspectives and Thailand’s experiences on policy framework in managing capital flow and exchange rate stability. I will also touch on some beneficial policy cooperation among regional countries. A brief background of Thailand’s monetary policy framework Let’s begin with a broad perspective of Thailand’s monetary policy framework. The Bank of Thailand (BOT) has been conducting monetary policy under “Flexible Inflation Targeting” framework since May 2000. As a pragmatic response to the failure of a pegged exchange rate system, transparency of the policy making process under IT was deemed appropriate for Thailand, particularly after the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. Under this regime, price stability is the overriding and explicit objective, while economic growth and financial stability are also taken into policy deliberation. The policy interest rate is our main tool in achieving the mandate. With managed-float exchange rate regime, the Thai baht is generally allowed to be determined by the market.