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New Basel Accord reduces power of bank regulators
CENTRAL BANK RESEARCH - Wimboh Santoso from Bank Indonesia has published a paper "Capital adequacy assessment with respect to market risk". He concludes that the adoption of VaR in the banking industry will reduce the power of regulators to control banks…
ECB should avoid market surprises-Chris Huhne
ARTICLE - In a guest column in the Financial Times on Apr 10, euro MP Chris Huhne says that the European Central Bank needs a clearer reporting process for its decisions on monetary policy.
Expanded monetary union in West Africa
ARTICLE - In an article published in the IMF's quarterly magazine, IMF economists R.D. Asante and Paul Robert Masson talk with Jacqueline Irving of the IMF's external relations department about the pros and cons of expanded monetary union in West Africa.
Capital inflows and central bank's policy response
CENTRAL BANK RESEARCH - Melike Altinkemer from the research department at the Central Bank of Turkey has written a paper "Capital inflows and the central bank's response". In this paper, capital inflow episode after the liberalization of capital account…
Inflation targeting improved-CNB Niedermayer
CZECH REPUBLIC - The effectiveness of the inflation targeting of the Czech National Bank CNB should be improved with the shift to targeting of overall inflation and setting a corridor for price movements up to 2005, CNB vice-governor Ludek Niedermayer…
Ex-central bank official to lead Ito-Yokado bank
JAPAN - Ito-Yokado Co Ltd, Japan's biggest retail group, said on Apr 10 it would appoint central bank veteran Takashi Anzai, 59, as president of its new IY Bank.
Oman $50 million boost for Lebanese cbank reserves
LEBANON - Oman deposited $50 million with Lebanon's central bank on Apr 6 to boost foreign currency reserves and to express its support for the government's economic measures, reported the local Daily Star newspaper.
France backs Trichet, but Lemierre in wings-paper
FRANCE - Bank of France Governor Jean-Claude Trichet remains France's choice to succeed Wim Duisenberg as president of the ECB, but another Frenchman Jean Lemierre is an "option," French finance ministry sources told Les Echos.
Overhaul at Bank of Thailand
ARTICLE - In an article published in the Far Eastern Economic Review, ShawnCrispin considers the impact that Chatumongkol Sonakul has had on the Bank of Thailand since his appointment as governor.
Greenspan's hero image 'is a liability'
UNITED STATES - The Financial Times on Apr 10 reports that Alan Greenspan's heroic image poses a liability for markets. The article is based on a report by UK economist Marcus Miller which was presented at the Royal Economic Society's annual conference…
Singdollar policy has not changed - MAS
SINGAPORE - The Monetary Authority of Singapore says it has not changed its policy of allowing a gradual and modest appreciation of the trade-weighted Singapore dollar within a policy band.
Taiwan cbank to adopt relaxed monetary policy
TAIWAN - Taiwan's central bank, the Central Bank of China, will relax its currency policy rather than adopting a zero interest rate like Japan, since domestic prices were stable and demand had yet to fully recover.
US is not in recession, says US Treasury O'Neill
UNITED STATES - The U.S. economy continues to expand moderately, successfully skirting recession, and in fact doing remarkably well in terms of providing job opportunities, Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill said on Apr 9.
Argentina bond can count as bank reserves-cbank
ARGENTINA - Argentina's central bank said on Apr 9 it would allow banks to count investments in a new government bond as part of their minimum reserve requirements.
RBA governor talks up Australian economy
AUSTRALIA - Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Ian Macfarlane said on Apr 10 that he remained optmistic about growth in 2001 and that recent rate cuts are aimed at protecting the economy from a global slowdown.
Clementi-Basel Accord must avoid pro-cyclicality
UNITED KINGDOM - The world's banks and the financial system as a whole should make sure risk-sensitive capital requirements set out in the new Basel Accord don't aggravate cyclical economic downturns, Bank of England deputy governor David Clementi said…
Buba annual report-global risks to growth
GERMANY - In its annual report published on Apr 10, the Deutsche Bundesbank said that German and Eurozone growth would continue but that the downside risks had increased.
PBOC vows to promote e-banking
CHINA - A senior official of China's central bank said on Apr 7, 2001 that the central bank is adopting active measures to support the development electronic banking.
Swazi banking system undergoes modernisation
SWAZILAND - Along with other countries of the Southern Africa Development Community, Swaziland is revamping its banking system up to international standards, Bank of Swaziland Governor Martin Dlamini said on Apr 6, 2001.
New Turkish cbank law submitted to cabinet
TURKEY - A draft law that grants full independence to the Central Bank of Turkey, and brings E.U. standards to the bank, has been submitted to the cabinet, reports the the Turkish daily Milliyet.
Downside risks to Swedish GDP-Riksbank minutes
SWEDEN - The balance of risks for Swedish growth and inflation are both skewed towards the downside over the next two years, according to the minutes of the Riksbank's last interest rate meeting released on Apr 9.
SNB chief economist George Rich retires Nov 01
SWITZERLAND - Georg Rich, chief economist of the Swiss National Bank, has announced that he will take early retirement as of the end of November 2001.
SARB-payment system risk reductions measures
SOUTH AFRICA - The South African Reserve Bank announced on Apr 5, 2001, that it has embarked on a phased implementation of certain risk reduction measures in the national payment system.
CNB appoints new executive director for markets
CZECH REPUBLIC - The Czech National Bank has announced that Tomas Kvapil will be the new executive director for financial markets as of Apr 1, 2001, filling the post which was left vacant when Radek Urban left at the end of February.