News
Banking foundation considers Bank of Italy stake
Italy's leading banking foundation could consider taking a stake in the Bank of Italy, according to Giuseppe Guzzetti, chairman of the Cariplo foundation.
Tanigaki says Japan could increase gold holdings
Japan's Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki said in response to a parliamentary question that Japan may consider increasing its gold reserves to bring them more into line with levels elsewhere.
Spain has 'very good' candidates to replace Solans
Spain can offer "very good candidates" to replace European Central Bank executive board member Eugenio Domingo Solans when his mandate ends on May 31, said Economy Minister Rodrigo Rato this week.
Trichet nose his skiing
Attending a summit in London this week ECB boss Jean-Claude Trichet stood out from the crowd with what was described as a large plaster on his nose.
Fazio could faces job loss in shake-up
The Italian Government is apparently seeking to vary the appointment terms of the Governor of the Bank of Italy, currently Antonio Fazio, in a move that would force him to step down.
Brash speech criticised by Maori MP
Former Reserve Bank of New Zealand governor Don Brash, now leader of the National Party, has been criticised by Georgina te Heuheu, the party's only Maori MP, for a speech she described as "Maori bashing".
Howard Dean calls Greenspan a political burden
US Democratic presidential contender Howard Dean said on Friday 23 January that Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan had become too political and should be replaced.
Kazakhstan appoints new central bank chief
Kazakhstan's parliament on Monday 26 January approved Anvar Saidenov, 43, as the new head of the former Soviet Republic's central bank.
RBA's Macfarlane awarded top Australia Day honour
Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia Ian Macfarlane was awarded Australia's highest honour this week in a list published each year on Australia Day.
Bank of Israel ranks No.1 on pay increases
For the fourth year in a row the Bank of Israel topped a list of government bodies with overpaid employees, according to the Finance Ministry's Wage Report for 2002.
IMF deputy Sugisaki returns to Japan
IMF deputy managing director Shigemitsu Sugisaki, 62, is leaving his post. He was joined at a farewell dinner in Washington by some former colleagues, including Stanley Fischer.
Minutes from the Federal Open Market Committee
The Federal Reserve on 29 January released the minutes of its FOMC meeting of 9 December. The minutes showed "a number" of members of the Committee felt that deleting a pledge to keep rates low "for a considerable period" would enhance the FOMC's…
BOJ's Muto says weak dollar behind easing
Deputy Governor of the Bank of Japan Toshiro Muto said on Friday 30 January that the BOJ needed to pay attention to the effects of a weak dollar and that those effects were in mind when it decided to further ease monetary policy recently.
Japan's deflation improving, not ending: Fukui
Japan's deflationary trend is easing but there no sign exists yet of it ending entirely, Bank of Japan Governor Toshihiko Fukui said on Friday 30 January.
Israel's Klein may take Treasury to court
The Bank of Israel is expected to file a petition with the High Court on Friday against Finance Ministry Wages Director Yuval Rachlevksy, claiming he has no authority to meddle in wage decisions at the central bank.
Solbes warns on rising euro danger
European Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Pedro Solbes said on Friday 30 January that the continued appreciation of the euro could affect business confidence in the eurozone.
Brazil's Copom held rates over inflation fears
Brazil's monetary policy committee (Copom) minutes said that a majority of members decided to leave rates unchanged last week fearing that the inflation hike could go beyond January.
FOMC holds rates, says 'it can be patient'
The Federal Open Market Committee decided on Wednesday 28 January to keep its target for the federal funds rate at 1 percent. The FOMC stated that it believed "it can be patient in removing its policy accommodation".
Russia sees gold and forex reserves increase
Russia's gold and foreign exchange reserves have reached a record-high of 82.7 billion dollars, official figures from the central bank of Russia showed on Thursday 29 January..
Brazil may shelve central bank autonomy idea
Brazil's government, headed by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, is likely to shelve plans for increased central bank independence this year, after renewed investor confidence following last year's programme of economic austerity.
Irish gov't considering ECB vacancy nomination
The Irish Government has confirmed that it is considering putting forward a nomination for a vacancy on the board of the European Central Bank.
Iraq to talk debt with G-7 and IMF
Top finance officials from Iraq and Afghanistan will meet next month with their counterparts from the G7 industrial countries and Russia to report on progress in reconstruction.
RBNZ raises rates citing 'impressive' growth
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand increased interest rates on Thursday 29 January, citing the pressure on resources including the labour market after two years of "impressive" growth. The bank raised the official cash rate 25 basis points to 5.25 per cent.
Norges Bank reveals January gold sale
Norges Bank said Wednesday it has sold 16 tonnes of gold bars in January and is planning to sell the remainder of the Central Bank's holdings of gold bars at a later time.