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Sarkozy tones down ECB rhetoric
French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, appears to have relented to pressure from other European leaders over his repeated criticism of the European Central Bank (ECB). The newly-elected leader said on 16 July that he supported the central bank's independence.
Tanzanian governor "will not resign"
The governor of the Bank of Tanzania, Daudi Ballali, called a special press conference at the end of last week in which he denounced mounting allegations against him as "malicious lies and fabrications" and said he had no intention of resigning.
Choose Fund head on merit - Colombia's Uribe
Jose Dario Uribe, the governor of the central bank of Colombia, says it is still too early to select a candidate to head the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to succeed Rodrigo de Rato, who will leave the Fund in October.
Inflation surprise lifts New Zealand dollar
New Zealand's benchmark interest rate is widely expected to be raised by a quarter of a percentage point to a record level of 8.25% next week, after a report published today revealed that inflation has risen faster than the Reserve Bank anticipated. The…
Canada's monetary policy update
Two days after raising rates, the Bank of Canada published its update on monetary policy. "Some modest further increase in the policy rate may be required," it says.
ECB - annual report 2006
Presented by Jean-Claude Trichet to Parliament on Friday, the ECB's 250-page report surveys economic developments in the eurozone and looks at changes in central bank operations over 2006.
Financial-stability stress testing at BoE
Nigel Jenkinson, an executive director at the Bank of England, set out plans for a suite of models to map the effects of financial system stress.
Chile announces first rate rise in a year
The Central Bank of Chile raised interest rates for the first time in a year and hinted that there was more to come. In a widely anticipated move, the central bank's five-strong board raised rates 25 basis points to 5.25%.
Croatian governor turns away German bank
eljko Rohatinski, the governor of the Croatian National Bank, refused to allow a German bank to return to the country after its role in a crisis five years ago.
New foreign exchange strategy in New Zealand
Allan Bollard, the governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, announced on 13 July that the central bank will move away from its current practice of matching its foreign assets to its foreign liabilities.
Zimbabwe to jettison release of inflation data
Recent media reports have highlighted the state of chaos in the management of the Zimbabwean economy, with central bank governor, Gideon Gono, seen as fighting a losing battle again the country's president, Robert Mugabe.
Sants named as new FSA chief executive
Hector Sants has been appointed chief executive of Britain's Financial Services Authority (FSA). He will take up the post on 20 July 2007, succeeding John Tiner who steps down at the Annual Public Meeting on 19 July.
Mohohlo slams Fund and Bank governance deficit
In a speech to the executive directors of the IMF, Linah Mohohlo, the governor of the Bank of Botswana blasts America and Europe for what she describes as a sense of entitlement in the appointment of the heads of the World Bank and the Fund.
ECB paper on Fed and ECB response to shocks
This ECB working paper employs a medium-scale dynamic general equilibrium model with financial frictions to contrast the policy responses of the ECB and the Federal Reserve to economic shocks since 2001.
MAS chief on financial risk and innovation
Ten years on from the Asian financial crisis, Heng Swee Keat, managing director, of Monetary Authority of Singapore, opened the first annual Risk Management Institute Research Conference.
US plays catch up on Basel II
The Federal Reserve's Randall Kroszner noted that while many countries are implementing Basel II, US regulators are still finalising the rules.
Twin move leaves Philippine policy "neutral"
The Philippine central bank announced a sharp reduction of rates from 7.5 to 6% on 12 July. The move was, however, accompanied by the abolition of a policy of paying lower interest on large deposits with the central bank.
Korea raises rates to tame money growth
The Bank of Korea lifted raised interest rates by a quarter percentage point to 4.75% on 12 July. It was the first increase in Korean rates since August 2006.
Bank of Japan stays put
The Bank of Japan left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 0.5% on Thursday. Only one board member, Atsushi Mizuno, opposed the decision and voted for a rate rise.
Papademos on euro adoption in Malta and Cyprus
In this speech, Lucas Papademos, the vice-president of the European Central Bank, discusses the adoption of the euro in Malta and Cyprus. The two island economies will adopt the euro on 1 January 2008.
ECB's July Monthly Bulletin
The July edition of the "Monthly Bulletin" of the European Central Bank, realeased on 12 July, contains articles on interpreting monetary developments over the last three years, and the recycling of oil revenues.
IMF paper on managing director appointments
A new paper from the Independent Evaluation Office of the IMF looks back at the history of appointing managing directors at the Fund.
Lack of experience costs the Bank
Alex Brummer, a veteran economic commentator, criticised the Bank of England's monetary policy makers, their appointment process and their performance.
Latvia leaves rates on hold
The Bank of Latvia's Council voted to leave its refinancing rate unchanged at 6% noting that its anti-inflation plan was starting to take effect and there were the first signs of a stabilisation in the real estate market.