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EDS, Orga win Austrian gov't smartcard contract
The Austrian government yesterday provisionally awarded a much delayed smart card contract to US-based Electronic Data Systems Corp and German chipcard manufacturer Orga Kartensysteme. The smart cards will be issued to the approximately eight million…
Austrian central bank expects record 2000 profit
Austrian central bank expects to post a record profit in the region of Sch 22bn in 2000. Of this figure, around Sch 18bn will be transferred to the federal government in the form of a dividend. This compares with a profit of Sch 18bn in 1999.
Ukraine c.bank mulls relaunching currency futures
Ukraine may relaunch its currency futures market next year but the central bank will still hold the foreign exchange market in a tight grip, a senior central bank official said on Tuesday.
Polish parliament backs Balcerowicz for c.bank
Poland's Sejm public finance committee on Tuesday voted in favour of the candidacy of Leszek Balcerowicz for head of the Polish central bank.
Bank of France warns banks on telecoms exposure
The Bank of France warned French banks about their exposure to Europe's heavily-indebted telecoms companies on Tuesday, adding its voice to a chorus of concerned regulators and central bankers.
Estonia cbank, govt clash over draft watchdog bill
The Estonian central bank on Tuesday expressed concern over government approval earlier in the day of a draft bill, aimed at merging the securities, banking and insurance watchdogs into one financial inspectorate from January 2002.
Romania PM to return to c.bank, pressure to resign
Romania's outgoing Prime Minister Mugur Isarescu said on Tuesday he would return to his former job as governor of the central bank despite opposition from the new government.
Zambia c.bank sets forex controls to help kwacha
Zambia's central bank introduced limited foreign exchange controls on Tuesday to stem the decline in its currency this year, drawing swift protests from companies in the country.
Ireland vulnerable to inflation, slowdown
Ireland's central bank on Tuesday issued its sternest warning yet about the inflation dangers facing Europe's fastest-growing economy and said the country was increasingly vulnerable to a sharp slowdown.
Jarai named next MNB head - Varga to replace him
Finance minister Zsigmond Jarai was nominated to succeed Gyorgy Suranyi as president of the National Bank of Hungary last week, ending months of speculation. The Budapest Business Journal reports.
S'pore names health min Lim as MAS deputy chairman
The Monetary Authority of Singapore, the city state's central bank, said on Tuesday that Health Minister Lim Hng Kiang has been appointed deputy chairman with effect from January.
Cameroon to go it alone with national bourse
Cameroon has announced the creation of a national stock exchange, just days after Central African leaders chose Libreville in Gabon rather than Cameroon's economic capital of Douala as the seat for a regional bourse.
Speculators eroding Nigerian naira's value-c.bank
The Central Bank of Nigeria said on Tuesday it had provided a total of $6.7 billion in funding for the domestic foreign exchange market this year but that speculators had robbed the economy of the benefits.
Mexico's Ortiz sees Dec CPI affected by US weather
Bank of Mexico Governor guillermo Ortiz warned Tuesday that December inflation will be higher than expected as key vegetable prices soared on the cold spell across the US.
Paraguay cbank sees 1%-1.5% GDP growth in 2000
Paraguay's economy is expected to have grown 1%-1.5% by the end of 2000, according to preliminary data, the country's central bank president Washington Ashwell said Tuesday.
BoJ preparing for RTGS start on January 4
The Bank of Japan has been preparing for the introduction of the new RTGS system to the BOJ-NET, the Bank's on-line system for the settlement of funds and the Japanese government securities.
Threat to bankers over BIS offer
Twelve central bankers have been threatened with legal action by a Paris-based shareholders' group unless they vote against terms offered by the Bank for International Settlements to buy back the 13.73% of its shares in private hands.
Putin's aide has dim view of Russian cbank policy
This year's actual rouble rate exceeded the projected level by some 40%-50%, Andrey Illarionov, Russian President Putin's adviser for economic affairs, said at the joint session of the Duma banking and budget committees, at which the monetary policy of…
ECB publishes updated Target information guide
The European Central Bank said it is publishing Monday an updated version of the information guide for credit institutions using the euro-zone's Target payment system.
Russian banker predicts 'not easy' year
Uncertainty about the restructuring of Russia's debt to the Paris Club of creditors might entail changes in Russia's fiscal and credit policy in 2001, said central bank first deputy chairman Tatyana Paramonova.
Yugoslavia an IMF member, to receive $100m-Dinkic
Yugoslavia will have $100m at its disposal on the basis of gold reserves, which Former Yugoslavia has in the Bank of International Settlements in Basel, Mladjan Dinkic, Yugoslav National Bank governor, announced this evening.
RBI seen cutting India rates next year-JP Morgan
The Reserve Bank of India is likely to cut its benchmark bank rate in the financial year starting April 2001 due to a more stable rupee, comfortable money market liquidity, record foreign exchange reserves, and an easing bias in global interest rates, JP…
Taiwan mulls monetary policy framework change
Taiwan's Central Bank of China (CBC) governor Perng Fai-nan on Monday said the central bank is mulling adjusting its monetary policy-making framework. But Perng said it remains debatable whether an "inflation targeting" framework, which is adopted in New…
Nepal's central bank moves to reform ailing banks
Nepal's central bank said on Monday it had asked the Himalayan kingdom's two state-owned banks to be cautious in granting new loans, a move aimed at protecting the ailing institutions.