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China to unify mark on banking cards
CHINA - China's central bank issued a circular Monday demanding that all commercial banks adopt a unified "Yinlian" mark on their banking cards for the purpose of settling in the local currency, Renminbi.
Promoting financial stability in New Zealand
SPEECH - Recently published transcript of an Address by Dr Don Brash, Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand to the Conference for Commonwealth Central Banks on Corporate Governance for the Banking Sector, London, 6 June.
Liberal rules for S-type accounts in force, Russia
RUSSIA - The Central Bank of Russia has drafted a number of instructions aimed at liberalising rules for S-type accounts, in which foreign investors must keep rubles received from redemption of government bonds that were frozen after the 1998 financial…
Regulator to study Brazil comparative rate system
CHILE - Chilean banking authorities will study the implementation of the Brazilian Central Bank's comparative interest rate system with a view to boosting transparency and competition in the loan market, Chile's chief banking regulator Enrique Marshall…
Consumer protection and the banking industry
SPEECH - Joseph Yam, JP, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, at the Hong Kong Association of Banks' Half-Yearly Dinner, Hong Kong, 19 June.
Stanley Fischer - Argentine Bankers Association
SPEECH - Stanley Fischer, First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund has spoken at the Argentine Bankers Association Meeting Buenos Aires, 25 June.
European interest rates held steady
EUROPE - The European Central Bank (ECB) has left eurozone interest rates unchanged for the second month in a row. Their main refinancing rate remains at 4.5%.
Bank of England leaves interest rates unchanged
UK - The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has left UK interest rates unchanged for the second month in a row. The committee concluded their two day meeting on 5 July. The Bank's base rate remains at 5.25%.
Former Czech bank head accused of dubious actions
CZECH REPUBLIC - A special parliamentary committee on 3 July savagely attacked the Czech minority government for the way it handled the country's biggest banking crisis last June.
Indonesia expects smooth talks with IMF mission
INDONESIA - Indonesia's chief economics minister said on 4 July he expected smooth talks with an IMF team due to arrive this week on a mission aimed at paving the way for resumption of a $5 billion loan programme.
Russian gold and currency reserves grow by $500m
RUSSIA - The PR department of the Central Bank has reported that between 15 June and 22 Russia's gold and currency reserves grew from $33.7 billion to $34.2 billion.
RBNZ introduces E-mail statement service to public
NEW ZEALAND - The Reserve Bank of New Zealand on 4 July started to deliver its press statements to the general public via e-mail for the first time.
Taiwan sets up blue-ribbon economic committee
TAIWAN - Taiwan paved the way on 4 July for a multi-party task force to advise how to boost the island's faltering economy, a presidential aide said.
Interest rate decisions due
EUROPE - The European Central Bank and the Bank of England will both, separately, make their latest interest rate decisions tomorrow, 5 July. Neither is expected to cut rates further.
National Bank of NZ names chief economist
NEW ZEALAND - The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has appointed John McDermott as its new chief economist. He will start his new assignment on 20 August.
Ernst Welteke: Trends in international banking
SPEECH - Address by Ernst Welteke, President of the Deutsche Bundesbank, at the International Arab Banking Summit held in Frankfurt, 19 June.
Reflections on Globalization, Spain, and the IMF
SPEECH - Eduardo Aninat, Deputy Managing Director, International Monetary Fund spoke at the General Meeting of ELKARGI, San Sebastian, Spain, 29 June.
China - Gold exchange may be coming
CHINA - China plans to establish a National Gold Exchange (NGE) this year, another step towards reforming its gold trading market.
Fed approves Citigroup's purchase of EAB
US - Federal banking regulators approved Citigroup Inc.'s $1.6 billion purchase of European American Bank, a deal designed to expand Citibank's presence in the New York metropolitan area.
National Bank of Hungary appoints deputy governors
HUNGARY - The National Bank of Hungary, the central bank of Hungary, has appointed Peter Adamecz and Henrik Auth as deputy governors.
Fed settles with ex-Bankers Trust exec
US - The U.S. Federal Reserve said yesterday, 2 July, it had settled charges brought against a former Bankers Trust executive in connection with accounting violations at the bank during the mid-1990s.
Deputy head named at Bank of Kuwait
KUWAIT - Mustafa Al-Shimali has been appointed as head of the board of the Bank of Kuwait and the Middle East.
Three regulators criticise new SEC rules
US - Three major U.S. banking regulators issued a scathing criticism on 2 July of the Securities and Exchange Commission's interim final rules on when banks can be exempt from standard dealer and broker requirements.
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.