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Scandals spotlight Italy's regulatory cracks
According to this article published on Wednesday 21 December, Bank of Italy Governor Antonio Fazio's resignation has highlighted the deep problems in Italy's regulatory structure - a system of feeble financial controls which Fazio spent his last months…
Review of the international role of the euro
The European Central Bank published its fifth annual review of the international role of the euro on Wednesday 21 December, focusing on developments between mid-2004 and mid-2005.
Interview with ECB's Lucas Papademos
Lucas Papademos, vice president of the European Central Bank, said in comments published on Monday 19 December that labour market inflexibility meant that Eurozone countries are at risk of inflation accelerating even as unemployment remains …
Interview with ECB's Otmar Issing
In comments published on Monday 19 December, European Central Bank Executive Board member Otmar Issing said even if it is not in line with the spirit of the Treaty, he expects "voices" on the ECB's policy to continue, although not at the level we have…
IFSRA announces new Chief Executive
The Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority announced on Friday 16 December that Patrick Neary has been appointed to the post of Chief Executive.
Dirk Witteveen to chair Joint Forum
The Joint Forum's parent organisations announced on Wednesday 21 December the appointment of Dirk Witteveen as chair of the Joint Forum for a two-year term beginning January 2006.
Lord Woolf chairs Financial Markets Law Committee
The Bank of England announced on Tuesday 20 December the appointment of Lord Woolf as Chairman of the Financial Markets Law Committee (FMLC), beginning 1 February 2006.
Comment: The benefits of Basel II's colleges
How efforts to implement the new Basel accord are yielding unexpected benefits, with supervisors finding that through their meetings in "colleges", they are learning more about each other's business, how they approach their work and what they need from…
Thailand to speed up adoption of e-payment
The Bank of Thailand plans to accelerate the adoption of electronic payment in place of cash and cheque settlement to cut financial costs and ensure efficient and quick services.
Deloitte awarded contract at Irish central bank
Deloitte and Touche has been awarded a contract to carry out an external audit at the Irish central bank.
Argentina to pay off IMF debts at start of 2006
Argentine President Nestor Kirchner said on Wednesday 21 December that his country will clear its debt with the International Monetary Fund on 2 January next year, instead of the previously announced next Thursday.
Trichet defends ECB's rate rise
European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet told Der Spiegel magazine that the ECB's recent decision to increase interest rates would increase confidence and encourage investment in the eurozone.
Fukui sees strong chance of core CPI rising
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui said in a speech on Thursday 22 December that there is a good chance that Japan's core consumer price index will increase steadily as the world's second-largest economy starts beating deflation.
Central Bank of Ireland, Quarterly Bulletin 4/2005
The Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland has published its Fourth Quarterly Bulletin for 2005. In its latest Bulletin the central bank said that the broad picture for the Irish economy is generally good, despite a high degree of…
Richmond's Lacker on the economic outlook for 2006
In the speech 'The economic outlook for 2006' given on 21 December Jeffrey Lacker of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond said the US economy appears set for a soft economic landing in which growth is solid, inflation low, and workers and businesses…
BOJ's monetary policy
This article published on Tuesday 20 December addresses the question of when the Bank of Japan should end its exceptionally easy credit policy which, it says, is stirring a bitter debate among policy-makers.
Canada's Dodge on protecting economic integrity
In a speech given on 25 October, and published 20 December, David Dodge of the Bank of Canada said Canada is at risk of becoming a safe haven for white collar crime.
IMF Paper: Debt overhang or debt irrelevance?
The IMF Working Paper 'Debt overhang or debt irrelevance? Revisiting the debt growth link' published December 2005 asks whether Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPCs) suffer from a debt overhang. Is debt relief going to improve their growth rates, it…
Sweden's Nyberg on house price developments
In the speech 'House price developments and monetary policy' given on 19 December, Lars Nyberg of the Sveriges Riksbank warned of the possibility of falling house prices in the country.
Reserve Bank of New Zealand Bulletin, Dec 2005
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand published the December 2005 issue of its Bulletin on 20 December. The latest issue includes an article which looks at the importance of oil to the New Zealand economy and the various ways in which oil prices may affect…
USAID works to strengthen Central Bank of Iraq
This article published on Monday 19 December reports on technical assistance being provided to assist capacity building and institutional strengthening at the Central Bank of Iraq. Historically the CBI has found it difficult to implement monetary policy,…
HKMA Quarterly Bulletin, December 2005
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority published the December 2005 issue of its Quarterly Bulletin on 14 December. This issue contains the regular Half-Yearly Monetary and Financial Stability Report, which analyses recent external and domestic influences on…
Fed breaks pattern, signals replace promises
According to this recent article, the Federal Reserve's latest FOMC statement marks the end to an extraordinary 18-month period during which they telegraphed exactly what they were going to do at their next policy-making meeting.
Comment: Filling Fazio's shoes
Giulio Tremonti, Italy's finance minister, said in an interview on Wednesday that the person who replaces Antonio Fazio as the governor of the Bank of Italy will "capable, honest and respectable". Here is a brief look at the main candidates that are…