Opinion/Regulation
A tale of two central banks
ARTICLE - The annals of 2001 will feature many heroes and villains. Among them will be central bankers.
Irish government hold on c bank gov post must end
ARTICLE - It is likely the Government will appoint a new governor for the Central Bank of Ireland within the next few months. Although the incumbent, Mr Maurice O'Connell, was appointed to a second term earlier this year, it is understood that he will…
The brighter lights of regulation
ARTICLE - The grouse farmer was said to have confidently reassured his shooting friend that the authorities did not bother chasing "small" illicit share deals.
CentralBankNet's Monday Morning Comment
SPECIAL FEATURE - The ECB's 0.5% cut still leaves it with a credibility gap.
Japanese politicians lock swords over bank reforms
ARTICLE - The outcome of a tussle within the LDP on changes to the insurance system will be a key test for Tokyo.
Indonesia - The central bank's saga
ARTICLE - This article examines recent events involving Bank Indonesia, the central bank of Indonesia. The article was published before Sjahril Sabirin, governor of the bank, was convicted of fraud on 31 October 2001.
Reducing information pollution at the ECB
ARTICLE - Conventional wisdom has it that the European Central Bank is excessively secretive and insufficiently transparent. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Soros: Global economic report criticised at launch
REPORT - Billionaire investor George Soros Thursday launched the draft of a "Report on Globalization" that he offered as his blueprint for a fairer and more stable global financial system. He was given a rough ride by some big hitters in the world of…
Prime candidate for Bank of England hot seat
ARTICLE - In all the turmoil over a momentous weekend, a valuable contribution to City gossip is in danger of being overlooked. The esteemed City chronicler, Christopher Fildes, reminded us in his Spectator column last week that the next big job vacancy…
Following the money trail
ARTICLE - Financial authorities around the world are stepping up their efforts to trace illegal money flows in the wake of the attacks inflicted on New York and Washington DC on 11 September.
Afghan economy fights for survival
ARTICLE - The threat of US military action against Afghanistan looks set to devastate the livelihood of its people. The economy barely functions, with no recognisable central bank, leaving Afghans to fend for themselves.
Life after Duisenberg
CENTRALBANKNET'S SPECIAL REPORT - Achieving consensus is never easy in the European Union - and choosing a president for the European Central Bank was no exception. So, in typical EU style, a compromise was reached. Or was it? The French maintain that…
BOC governor Dodge wins guarded approval
ARTICLE - After six months on the job, Bank of Canada Governor David Dodge has secured solid, if somewhat tentative, approval ratings from Canada's central bank watchers.
All change at the US Treasury - slowly
CENTRALBANKNET'S SPECIAL REPORT - A brief look at the US Treasury's web-site reveals a significant number of vacancies still to be filled, not least all four positions in the department of economic policy of assistant secretary and the three deputies…
Is Greenspan growing tired of his task?
ARTICLE - Alan Greenspan has always been as good a politician as he is a central banker. The Federal Reserve chairman is the master of the non-answer-answer to a hostile question and he does it with remarkable grace. Last week's appearance on Capitol…
Extra year for the new Basel plans
ARTICLE - The Economist magazine in London published an article in its 30 June edition suggesting that the postponement of the new Basel capital accord was a relief, but not a surprise.
Korea's smaller chaebol could own banks
SOUTH KOREA - South Korea may take the controversial step of turning to smaller conglomerates to sell off nationalised banks, the head of Seoul's top state-run thinktank suggested in a Reuters interview today, 3 June.
Raiding the central bank to pay the deficit, Egypt
ARTICLE - The official figures issued for the budget deficit only tell part of the story about the state of Egypt's finances. A close look at the pattern of government debt over the past three years suggests that the actual fiscal deficit has been in the…
Capital decision
ARTICLE - The Financial Times, London, on 26 June commented on the postponement by the Basle committee of banking supervisors of the introduction of the new rules on the amount of capital banks must hold.
Understanding the new Basel Capital Accord
Centralbanknet.com's guide to the new capital accord.
Euro gives spur for updating
ARTICLE - The Financial Times, London on 21 June published an article on regulation by Vincent Boland. The article is subtitled 'IPO issuers face a range of standards and requirements in Europe. Meeting them is a costly and time-consuming exercise.
Uganda central bank plans commercial bank sale
SWEDEN - Bank of Uganda Governor Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile said in an interview on 20 June he expected to complete within two months a deal to privatise Uganda Commercial Bank Ltd (UCB).
The challenges of universal banking
ARTICLE - Realising benefits of a universal banking system, such as a level playing field and economic development, can only be possible when the challenges and strategies to contain them are identified.
Currency Crises: the Role of Banks
This IMF working paper, by Piti Disyatat examines the aftermath of recent currency crises. Why did the developed countries which devalued during the ERM crisis fare so much better than those developing countries caught up in the Asian crisis of 1997-8?.