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US Fed needs to improve communication-Fed's Poole
The Federal Reserve needs to improve its communication skills so that financial markets can better understand what US central bankers are thinking, St Louis Fed President William Poole said on Thursday.
Fed helps Bank with rate study
The Bank of England, the UK central bank, has commissioned an investigation by a senior official of the US Federal Reserve to assess the way it sets interest rates, says an article in today's Financial Times.
Indonesia to issue fresh bonds to help banks
Indonesia will issue new bank bail out bonds with higher interest rates next week in the hope of kick-starting a secondary bond market and resurrecting their $68.8 billion banking rescue effort.
Lawyers dispute over PM's decision on new CNB head
The possibility that the appointment of the new Cezch central bank governor must be blessed by the prime minister has given rise to disputes among experts, who are not able to reach agreement on whether the counter-signature of a cabinet member is…
Bank urges balancing act over payments competition
The Bank of England has warned the UK government that its plans to increase competition in the payments business must be balanced by the need to preserve the stability of the financial system.
RBNZ wants words to talk louder than numbers
New Zealand's Reserve Bank Wednesday announced changes to the format of its quarterly monetary policy statements, underscoring its desire to shift public focus of its monetary policy away from the short to the medium term.
Gold as part of diversified investment plan
Including gold in a diversified portfolio can improve investment performance and make the investment better able to cope with shocks to the system. World Gold Council institutional investment head Dr Robert Weinberg said gold can improve investment…
Russia needs unified supervisory rules -Motorin
According to Russia' deputy finance minister Mikhail Motorin, it is necessary to establish a supervisory system that would operate according to unified rules and control activities of the Federal Securities Commission, insurance companies, and private…
Belarus c.bank to cut key rate to 80% 1 December
Belarus's central bank said on Wednesday it would lower its key refinancing rate to 80% annually from 85 percent, effective December 1.
Romanian c.bank to cut min. reserve rates-bankers
Romanian commercial bankers said on Wednesday the central bank was expected to gradually cut the rate on minimum reserve requirements starting this year.
Kenyan parliament passes bank bill on 2nd reading
Kenya's parliament passed a controversial bill seeking to regulate commercial bank loan rates on its second reading on Wednesday, but politicians said amendments would be tabled to the bill on Thursday.
Sarkissian: Price stability will be maintained
The head of Armenia's central bank said that stability in the financial markets will be maintained when the government spends 8 bln drams from the privatisation fund in order to cover social expenses and other financial inflows in December 2000.
IMF concerns over Indonesia's slow pace of reform
The Indonesian rupiah ended lower in Asian trade Wednesday on news that the International Monetary Fund has set a December deadline for Jakarta to show it's serious about economic reform.
Bbk Zeitler: Continue reforms to reverse weak euro
The euro's current weakness is "completely surmountable" if national governments in the 11-nation euro area continue to press ahead with structural reforms, Bundesbank council member Franz-Christoph Zeitler said Wednesday.
Thai c.bank says dlr/baht market back to normal
The Bank of Thailand said on Wednesday the dollar/baht market had returned to normal after gridlock over the past week as onshore banks scrambled to pare credits to offshore counterparties and funding costs soared.
Malaysia can keep lid on interest rates - Zeti
Malaysia can keep a lid on interest rates because of its low inflation and monetary policy is likely to remain accomodative to growth, Bank Negara governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz said on Wednesday.
Czech pres officially appoints Tuma bank governor
Czech President Vaclav Havel Wednesday officially appointed Zdenek Tuma as the new governor of the Czech National Bank at a ceremony at the presidential summer palace.
Vietnam clarifies rules on loan loss provisions
Vietnam's central bank has issued a regulation clarifying how commercial banks must calculate and put aside their loan loss provisions, a central bank official said Wednesday.
Vietnam's bad and overdue debts 11.7% of loans
Vietnam's "bad, overdue and uncollectible debts," now total 11.7% of the country's total outstanding loans, central bank governor Le Duc Thuy said Wednesday.
Belgium growth at 3.1% in 3Q down on 2Q
The Belgian economy grew 3.1% on the year in the third quarter, down from 4.6% in the second quarter and from 3.5% in the third quarter of 1999, the Belgian National Bank said Wednesday.
Rules for credit cards loosened by Thai regulator
Applying for a credit card has become easier after the Bank of Thailand eased minimum age and salary requirements for new cardholders.
Japan regulator suggests bank limit stock sales
In an attempt to stop Japanese banks from dragging the stock market down, Hideyuki Aizawa, head of Japan's Financial Reconstruction Commission, will call on banks to restrict the sale of their stock portfolios.
Central bank deputy must be Montenegrin-Kostunica
Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica's party told the new central bank governor on Wednesday to accept a candidate from Montenegro as his deputy since it was part of a deal between the country's two republics.
Manila paves way for capital adequacy changes
The Philippines central bank said on Wednesday it would put in place a new credit rating mechanism for banks opting to increase capital through promissory notes instead of direct cash infusions from shareholders.