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Worldwide cuts are not enough
The coordinated cuts by six of the most powerful central banks could prove a useful step in improving market sentiment. But only if it is coupled with more action at both a national and international level, Avinash Persaud, the chairman of Intelligence…
IMF should monitor stability: Riksbank's Ingves
Stefan Ingves, the governor of the Riksbank, called for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to be given a greater role in promoting financial stability.
Icelanders protest outside central bank
Icelanders have staged a protest outside the country's central bank reportedly calling for the resignation of the governor, David Oddsson.
India slashes reserve ratio by 150 basis points
The Reserve Bank of India on Friday lowered its reserve requirement ratio by 150 basis points in a bid to ease liquidity tensions brought on by the global turmoil.
DSK proposes "action plan" for crunch
Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), on Friday urged governments to guarantee retail, interbank and money-market deposits.
Markets plunge, interbank rates rise despite cut
The unprecedented half-point coordinated rate cut by six of the most powerful central banks on Wednesday has done little to abate the panic in global equity and interbank markets.
FOMC September minutes: balancing risks
Both downside risks to growth and upside risks to inflation were a significant concern to the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), the minutes from the 16 September meeting reported.
On to the euro: Romania's Annual Report
The National Bank of Romania's Annual Report for 2007 marked the end of one era as the country joined the European Union and the start of a new one as the country prepares to join the euro.
Islamic finance - the new Silk Road
As Islamic finance continues to internationalise with expanding scale, there will be greater financial intermediation linkages among the East Asian, West Asian, and the Middle East regions - creating the 'New Silk Road', said Zeti Akhtar Aziz, the…
Bernanke on economic and financial conditions
Ben Bernanke, the chairman for the Federal Reserve, set out the reasoning behind policies towards Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Lehman Brothers, AIG as well as the Treasury bailout in a speech to the National Association for Business Economics.
Fed offers more support to world's biggest insurer
The Federal Reserve has loaned American International Group (AIG), the world's biggest insurer, an additional $37.8 billion, taking the size of beleaguered company's borrowing facility with the central bank up to $122.8 billion.
SNB's Hildebrand and Italy's Saccomanni on crisis
The crisis has shown central bankers and regulators rightly predicted that highly-leveraged institutions presented a threat to stability. But officials' attentions were directed at the wrong type of institution, admitted Philipp Hildebrand, a governor of…
Paulson hints at possible bank recapitalisation
Hank Paulson, the US Treasury secretary, has indicated that America is likely to attempt to recapitalise its ailing banks.
Asia makes rate cut 'truly global'
China cut rates for the second time in as many months on Wednesday, supporting the joint action by six of the most important central banks to loosen policy. A host of other Asian central banks have also replicated the Federal Reserve-led move.
Iceland nationalises biggest bank, halts trading
The Icelandic authorities on Thursday took control of Kaupthing, the country's biggest bank, and halted trading in all shares listed in Reykjavik.
IMF's Lipsky: regulatory change needed
All systemic US financial intermediaries should be put under one single regulator, said John Lipsky, the first deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund.
Schumpeter superior to Smith
Schumpeter's creative destruction is better for understanding the nature of the US economy than Smith's invisible hand and perfect competition, according to new research from the Philadelphia Federal Reserve.
Loan surveys predict well future investment
The Bank of Canada's senior loan officer survey results provide useful information about future investment and the availability of business credit, finds a new research paper from the central bank.
Without proper incentives we are doomed
The financial system cannot survive in anything like its present form if bankers continue to make profits and taxpayers assume the losses. Yet that is the trend, certainly in the United States with its ill-advised Paulson bailout, and increasingly in…
HKMA cuts discount rate by full percentage point
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) on Wednesday cut the rate at which it lends to banks through its discount window by 100 basis points.
Riksbank pumps Skr5 billion into Icelandic bank
The Riksbank on Wednesday agreed to prop up Kaupthing, Iceland's largest lender, with a Skr5 billion ($700m) loan, on fears the bank's liquidity problems threatened the stability of the Swedish financial system.
Spain sets up €50 billion rescue fund
Madrid on Tuesday said it would establish a rescue fund to buy high-quality assets from its banking industry, hampered by a downturn in the country's housing market and the global turmoil.
Britain bails out banks
The British authorities on Wednesday pledged to spend up to £50 billion ($86 billion) in taxpayer funds to recapitalise its beleaguered banking industry, shares in which have plummeted in recent days.
Global central banks cut as system teeters
Six central banks have taken the unprecedented step of cutting rates by half a point in unison in an attempt to avert a global financial-market meltdown.