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Trichet signals September hike
The European Central Bank (ECB) today left interest rates unchanged at 4%. In a surprise press conference after the announcement, Jean-Claude Trichet, the president of the central bank, dropped a strong hint that rates will rise at the next meeting in…
Kroszner on Fed's supervision initiatives
In this speech, Randall Kroszner, a governor of the Federal Reserve Board, discusses the American central bank's current work to strengthen our support of minority-owned depository institutions and several ongoing supervisory and regulatory initiatives…
Happy birthday Buba!
Germany's central bank celebrates its 50th birthday today, with a commemorative €10 coin to be issued next week and a series of events is planned.
Central Bank of Aruba - annual report 2006
Aruba's economy grew at the same rate as 2005 last year, the governor notes in his foreword to the annual report, and inflation accelerated.
China's first payment system development report
The People's Bank of China issued the first report on developments in the country's payment systems on Tuesday. The report reveals the progress, relevant data and the future policy orientation of the payment systems in the country.
Russian fund rakes in $3.4 billion
The Russian Stabilisation Fund, which manages part of the foreign-currency proceeds from the country's oil exports, earned more than R85 billion ($3.4 billion) in the year to 1 July.
China plans deposit insurance
The People's Bank of China is looking into the establishment of a deposit insurance scheme to protect depositors should a bank collapse.
Thailand mulls external reserves managers
Tarisa Watanagase, the governor of the Bank of Thailand, says the central bank may outsource the management of part of its $73 billion reserve holdings to maximise investment returns.
Bank of Japan plans gradual share sale
The Bank of Japan is considering ways to limit the market impact of its move to start selling shares in the country's commercial banks, bought between November 2002 and September 2004, by October this year.
Italian government eyes reserves for debt payment
The Italian government is proposing to use part of the central bank's gold and currency reserves to pay down national debt, which is currently at 107% of the country's gross national product. The country's parliament has approved a resolution calls for…
ECB on downward wage rigidity
A study published by the European Central Bank (ECB) on 31 July, has found that the number of industries affected by downward nominal wage rigidity in OECD countries increased between the 1970s and 1990s.
Philippines: e-rediscouting system
In a speech made on the launch of an electronic rediscounting system, Amando Tetangco Jr, governor of the central bank of the Philippines, said that the system would expand access to credit of countryside areas in the Mindanao region.
IMF on euro area policies
A report by the International Monetary Fund on euro area policies, released on 31 July, said that the outlook for the region was the best in years, but stabilising inflation below 2% may imply further gradual tightening of monetary policy.
Slovakian rates on hold
The board of Narodna Banka Slovenska, the central bank of Slovakia, decided keep current interest rates on hold after a meeting of the monetary policy committee.
Zimbabwe issues new $200,000 note
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has introduced the latest in a series of temporary banknotes which are intended to relieve a critical shortage of notes in the inflation-ravaged country.
Indian cash reserve ratio increase
The Reserve Bank of India, the country's central bank, today left its key interest rates - the repurchase rate and the reverse repurchase rate - unchanged at 7.75% and 6% respectively, but increased the cash reserve ratio.
De Rato warns against private equity buy-outs
Rodrigo de Rato, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund, has warned against the dangers posed to global investment and growth prospects from the sharp rise in private equity buy-outs.
Unexpected tightening in Pakistan
Pakistan's central bank has unexpectedly raised its benchmark interest rate to its highest level in more than five years after inflation exceeded its target.
Interview with governor of Iraqi central bank
Asharq Al-Awsat, a leading Arab English-language newspaper, has published a far-reaching interview with Dr Sinan Al-Shabibi, the governor of Iraq's central bank. Some of the main points are summarised below.
New president of Chicago Fed
The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago today announced that Charles L. Evans will become the bank's ninth president and CEO as of September.
Turkish central bank urges spending reduction
The governor of Turkey's central bank, Durmus Yilmaz, said that the bank had found "gaps" in the country's budget forecasts during the recent election campaign, and urged the government to cut its spending.
Colombia raises rates
Colombia's central bank raised the overnight interbank rate by a quarter of a percentage point to 9.25%, the highest level since 2001.
Kuwait lets dinar fall again
Kuwait allowed the dinar to depreciate against the dollar for the second straight working day on Sunday July 29, this time by 0.05%.
China lifts reserve requirement ratio
The People's Bank of China, the country's central bank, raised the amount that lenders are required to hold in reserve for the ninth time in 13 months.