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IMF calls on top state funds to make the rules
The International Monetary Fund has called on sovereign wealth funds in Singapore, Norway and Abu Dhabi to develop a set of benchmarks for transparency.
Second Polish deputy resigns, slams governor
Jerzy Pruski, a deputy governor at the National Bank of Poland, has resigned, citing differences with Slawomir Skrzypek, the governor of the central bank. Pruski's departure follows that of his fellow deputy, Krzysztof Rybiski, earlier this month.
The role of human error in the yield curve
Investors' systematic forecast errors are an important source of business-cycle variation in measured risk premia, research published by the Atlanta Federal Reserve finds.
Japan's Nakamura unsure on housing recovery
The timing and degree of a recovery in the Japanese housing industry remain uncertain, said Seiji Nakamura, a member of the Bank of Japan's rate-setting board.
European Central Bank - Annual Report 2006
The ECB raised rates by 125 basis points in 2006 in a bid to combat inflationary pressures, caused by oil and commodity price shocks.
New SWF event to be held in London
Whether being portrayed as villains for their opacity and secrecy, or as saviours for shoring up the capital bases of some of the biggest investment banks, sovereign wealth funds have seldom been off the front page of late.
Brazil rates remain at 11.25%
The Central Bank of Brazil's rate-setting board on Wednesday voted unanimously to keep the benchmark Selic rate at 11.25%.
Czech deputy Niedermayer says economy set to slow
The pace of economic expansion in the Czech Republic will decline in 2008, Ludek Niedermayer, a deputy governor at the Czech National Bank, warned on Wednesday.
New Zealand holds rates at 8.25%
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand's rate-setting board voted on Thursday to keep the benchmark official cash rate at 8.25% in spite of high inflation.
ECB sticks to inflation line amid OECD cut calls
Jean-Claude Trichet, the president of the European Central Bank, and fellow members of the rate-setting governing council have defended the central bank's decision to fight inflation, in spite of increasingly vociferous calls for them to cut rates.
France's Noyer backs SocGen despite €5bn fraud
Christian Noyer, the governor of the Banque de France, said on Thursday that he was "not at all worried" about Societe Generale, the second largest French bank, despite it falling victim to the biggest fraud in banking history.
UK MPC voted 8 - 1 in favour of rate hold
David Blanchflower was the only member of the nine-strong Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee to object to the decision earlier this month to hold rates at 5.5%, opting instead for a 25 basis point cut.
Two papers on banking efficiency
The Philadelphia Federal Reserve has published two papers looking at recent evidence on how banks can achieve optimal efficiency.
Sri Lanka's Jayamaha notes IT's impact
The rapid advancement in information and communication technology has had a profound impact on the Sri Lankan banking industry and the wider financial sector over the last two decades, said Ranee Jayamaha, a deputy governor at the central bank.
Banks must be scolded, not helped, by the Fed
Monetary and regulatory policy should be about reinforcing solid conduct in financial markets and punishing bad behaviour. But the recent rate cut from the Fed does little of the sort, says Avinash Persaud, the chairman of Intelligence Capital, a…
Deputy confident Russia will withstand turmoil
The Russian finance industry will escape largely unscathed from the credit crunch, though lending conditions may get tighter, said Gennady Melikyan, a first deputy chairman at the Central Bank of Russia.
Canadian banks match central bank cut
Canada's biggest banks have lowered lending rates by 25 basis points in spite of speculation before Tuesday's rate cut that they would fail to follow a central bank move.
Norway keeps rates at 5.25%, warns on prices
The Bank of Norway's rate-setting board on Wednesday left its key policy rate unchanged at 5.25%, despite concern over inflation.
UK's King unlikely to take Fed tack on rate cuts
Mervyn King, the governor of the Bank of England, signalled he would prefer a gradual decline in rates on Tuesday in a speech that noted the risks to inflation as much as those to growth.
European and US markets fall despite Fed cut
Stocks listed on European and US bourses continued to slide on Wednesday, following the Federal Reserve's emergency 75 basis point cut on Tuesday.
Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan: Ann Rep 06-07
2006 saw the signing of an agreement between India and Bhutan, which facilitates the flow of funds and manpower resources from India for the construction of hydropower projects in the kingdom.
SNB's Jordan on uncertainty
Monetary policy decision-makers must be aware of uncertainty and the limitations of their knowledge, said Thomas Jordan, a member of the governing board of the Swiss National Bank.
ECB must take into account openness of eurozone
Empirical evidence published by the Centre for Economic Policy Research contradicts the assumption that the euro-area works as a closed economy, which is used by the European Central Bank (ECB) to model optimal monetary policy.
No more law talk - Israel's Fischer
No more time should be wasted talking about the new Bank of Israel law, said Stanley Fischer, the governor of the central bank.