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Making the single currency a scapegoat
This article published on Sunday 5 June by Hamish McRae looks at the recent criticism of the single currency, and asks if the euro was a terrible mistake? The author says that while the eurozone is not going to collapse in the near future, 'it will…
Greenspan at central bank panel discussion
In the speech 'Central bank panel discussion' given on 6 June Alan Greenspan of the Federal Reserve said that recent efforts to restrict international trade and hinder free markets represent a "truly worrisome" threat to global prosperity.
Sweden's Heikensten: Incoming data important
Sveriges Riksbank Governor Lars Heikensten spoke on 31 May at a meeting in Tylosand organised by regional local authorities about the current economic situation and monetary policy .
Bahrain hosts Islamic banking supervision course
The Bahrain Monetary Agency (BMA) and the Bahrain Institute of Banking & Finance (BIBF) is currently holding a five-day course on Islamic banking supervision.
Russia 'won't react to rumours' over euro
A senior Russian central bank official said on Monday 6 June that reports Italy and Germany could drop the euro were "just rumours," and said Russia has no intention of changing its reserves structure.
IMF's Rato says don't rule out ECB rate cut
The head of the International Monetary Fund has said a rate cut in the Eurozone cannot be ruled out if the EU economy weakens.
ECB's Noyer rejects euro ditching talk
European Central Bank Governing Council Member Christian Noyer has dismissed talk suggesting countries may leave the euro and said the rejection of the European Union's constitution by two of its founding members did not threaten the single currency.
Fed's Olson says loan standards easing
In a speech given on Friday 3 June Mark Olson of the Federal Reserve said some underwriting standards held by U.S. community banks for commercial real estate lending have been "under assault" by competitive pressure to win borrowers.
Norges Bank Financial Stability Report No.1, 2005
The central bank of Norway, Norges Bank, has published its twice yearly Financial Stability Report 1/2005. "The short-term outlook for financial stability is regarded as satisfactory and is approximately unchanged since the previous Financial Stability…
Richmond Fed's Economic Quarterly, Spring 2005
The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond has published its Economic Quarterly for Spring 2005. The latest issue includes the article 'What difference would an inflation target make?'
ECB's Papademos on the reformed stability pact
In the speech 'The political economy of the reformed Stability and Growth Pact: implications for fiscal and monetary policy' given on 3 June, Lucas Papademos of the ECB said the relaxation of the EU stability pact's rules could affect ECB interest rate…
Bergstrom on Sweden's low inflation rate
In the speech 'Is the present low inflation rate a problem?' given on 30 May Villy Bergstrom of the Sveriges Riksbank said underlying factors still indicate a rise in resource utilisation and thereby a rise in inflation.
Canada's Dodge on monetary policy & exchange rates
In the speech 'Monetary policy and the exchange rate in Canada' given on 2 June David Dodge of the Bank of Canada said Canada's success with a floating currency could be a good model for China to consider.
Iraq's small coins going unused
Millions of dinar coins minted by the Central Bank of Iraq are going unused as banks are reluctant to accept them, and high inflation means there is less and less need for small denominations.
SARB says inflation to stay in target
The South African Reserve Bank said Thursday 2 June that inflation will remain inside the 3-6 percent target band and the economy had entered a phase of high growth.
BNB chief says euro breakaway idea 'absurd'
Belgian National Bank governor Guy Quaden dismissed as 'an absurd scenario' talk that some EU countries will break away from the euro zone in the wake of the French and Dutch rejections of Europe's constitution.
Gramlich unsure on what 'inning' Fed is in
Federal Reserve governor Edward Gramlich said on Friday 3 June that he did not know what stage the US central bank was at in its interest-rate rise cycle.
Italian minister suggests return to lira
An Italian government minister has suggested the country should consider bringing back the euro.
Are emerging market countries learning to float?
The IMF Working Paper "Are emerging market countries learning to float?" published 1 June finds that exchange rate flexibility in emerging market countries has increased over the past decade.
Turkmen central bank chief fired for embezzlement
Shekersoltan Muhammedova, the acting governor of Turkmenistan's central bank, was sacked this week for "grave shortcomings and embezzlement of state funds," according to the BBC Monitoring Service which quoted the translation of a report on Turkmen TV…
Issing on the monetary pillar of the ECB
In the speech 'The monetary pillar of the ECB' given on 3 June Otmar Issing of the ECB said the ECB's monetary policy has been an undisputed success since the launch of the euro in 1999.
Bundesbank's Remsperger on macroeconomic risks
In the speech 'Macroeconomic risk and policy responses' given on 27 May Hermann Remsperger of the Deutsche Bundesbank said few central bankers would dispute the need to firmly anchor long-run inflation expectations at a low level. However, there may be…
Sweden's Bergstrom on monetary policy
In the speech given on 26 May Villy Bergstrom of the Sveriges Riksbank said that given the economic situation, employment has shown unusually weak growth and unemployment is at a relatively high level, by Swedish standards.
Canada's Dodge on international economics
In the speech 'Reflections on the international economic and monetary order' given on 30 May David Dodge of the Bank of Canada warned China and other Asian nations that unless they let their currencies rise, they risk retaliation from the United States…