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EU to devise SWF code
The European Commission is to propose a voluntary code of conduct for sovereign wealth funds in a bid to ease fears that their investments could compromise national security interests.
Caribbean budgets need disaster insurance
The natural-disaster-prone economies of the Caribbean need insurance to reduce the vulnerability of their public finances and improve debt sustainability, a new IMF working paper says.
Assessing Australian asset-backed commercial paper
The reason for the superior performance of the Australian asset-backed commercial paper market compared with the United States lies in the specification of conduits, a Reserve Bank of Australia paper finds.
New Canadian governor on globalisation
In this speech - his first as governor of the Bank of Canada - Mark Carney links the dramatic increase in highly structured credit products with emerging-market economies' role as exporters of capital.
Sentance warns of slowdown
Andrew Sentance, a member of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee, has warned of the possibility of a "more significant and sustained" slowdown than those of the recent past.
Number of euro counterfeits rise
The number of counterfeited euro banknotes in the second half of 2007 shows an increase when compared to the two preceding half-year periods.
Muto: a governor-in-waiting?
Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party is expected to nominate Toshiro Muto as the next governor of the Bank of Japan. But opposition leaders continue to resist his nomination.
New role for SARB in monitoring capital flows
A further relaxation in South Africa's exchange controls, announced this week, will change the South African Reserve Bank's role in overseeing capital flows.
New Czech vice governor appointed
Mojmir Hampl, a board member of the Czech National Bank, has been named as vice-governor of the central bank.
SWF round-up
The march of sovereign wealth funds on Western financial institutions continued this week with the announcement the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) will buy a stake in Credit Suisse, a Swiss bank.
Budget deficits matter more in emerging markets
The effects of budget deficits on interest rates are larger and more robust in emerging markets, a new IMF working paper finds.
Barker concerned with risks to growth
Kate Barker, a member of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee, has outlined why she is increasingly concerned over downside risks to growth.
Fiji's Narube criticises high remittances charges
Savenaca Narube, the governor of the Reserve Bank of Fiji, has argued that remittance charges, which in some cases amount to 50% of the amount sent, do not appear to reflect the actual costs involved.
Basel Committee report on liquidity risks
A new paper from the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision market developments that affect liquidity risk management and discusses national supervisory regimes.
Zimbabwe officially enters hyperinflation
The latest inflation numbers in Zimbabwe confirm that the country has entered into hyperinflation.
Philippines looks to end special vehicles
The central bank in the Philippines is seeking to draw a line under special purpose investment vehicles that are a legacy of the Asian financial crisis that erupted more than a decade ago.
Colombian central bank enters market again
In efforts to reduce fluctuations in the value of the peso, Colombia's central bank has sold dollar put options for the second time this year.
Singapore minister slams SWF "backlash"
Goh Chok Tong, a senior Singapore minister and chairman of the country's central bank, said that arguments against sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) are driven a by "nationalistic backlash".
Stagflation problem for the Fed?
The Federal Reserve faces a problem that the United States has not seen for many years: stagflation.
Jelasi on anniversary of central bank law
Radovan Jelasi, the governor of the National Bank of Serbia, hailed efforts of the founding fathers of the central bank who, he said, "understood the need for the young Serbian state to pursue the most advanced European standards."
Trichet on structural reforms
Jean-Claude Trichet, the president of the European Central Bank, stressed the importance of labour markets reforms in the European Union.
Optimal transparency of monetary policy committees
Revealing the diversity of views in monetary policy committees makes future monetary policy more predictable, a new paper from Germany's central bank finds.
Bank of England's February minutes
The minutes from the 6 and 7 February meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee show that eight out of the nine members voted to cut the Bank Rate by 25 basis points to 5.25%.
Jordan's government "needs to rein in spending"
Faris Sharaf, the deputy governor of Jordan's central bank, has called on the country's government to rein in spending to reduce inflationary pressure and narrow the current-account deficit.