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IMF chief calls on US to resolve deficit
The U.S. budget deficit is "truly excessive" and the world's largest economy must resolve the problems linked to the imbalance, the head of the International Monetary Fund said in remarks published on Sunday 9 January .
Report says ECB's losses increased last year
The European Central Bank, which posted a 2003 loss of 477 million euros (US $625 million), saw its net loss increase to at least one billion euros last year as a result of the weak dollar, according to the German Handelsblatt business daily.
Bank of Japan Minutes, 17 &18 Nov 2004
The Bank of Japan's minutes from its 17 and 18 November 2004 Monetary Policy meeting revealed that members concurred that Japan's economy continued to recover as a whole, although the increase in exports and production seemed to be coming to a pause…
Federal Reserve Bank transfers to US Treasury 2004
The Federal Reserve Board on Friday 7 January released figures that indicate the Federal Reserve Banks distributed approximately $18.086 billion of their $23.541 billion total income to the U.S. Treasury during 2004.
ECB's review of the international role of the euro
The European Central Bank published its annual review of the international role of the euro on Friday 7 January. As with previous issues, the review reflects the ongoing efforts of the ECB to monitor and analyse the use of the euro by non-euro area…
Fed's Ferguson on labor market statistics
In a speech on 'Interpreting labor market statistics in the context of monetary policy' given on 7 January, Roger Ferguson of the Federal Reserve said it is possible there is less slack in the U.S. job market than thought, and this could lead to a pickup…
Fed's Kohn on central bank communication
In a speech on 'Central bank communication' given on 9 January, Donald Kohn of the Federal Reserve said the Federal Reserve is moving toward giving the public a better understanding of the central bank's behaviour, but these steps are likely to take…
Europe's central banks start to reduce staff
The number of central bankers in the eurosystem stands at 52,321, a fall of 7% since the launch of the euro in 1999, reveals the 2005 edition of Central Banking Publications' Central Bank Directory. This is 4,129 fewer staff than the peak of 56,450 in…
Profit probably near to zero says Bundesbank
The Bundesbank said its profit was probably close to zero last year following the dollar's fall to a record low against the euro cutting the value of the central banks dollar denominated assets.
HKMA's Yam says dollar may become less popular
The dollar may become ``less popular'' as a reserve currency should record U.S. current-account and budget deficits persist, said Joseph Yam, chief executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority in an article published by the HKMA on Thursday.
More work needed on deflation, says Tanigaki
Japan's Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki told a press conference on Friday 7 January that more effort is needed to stop Japan's falling consumer prices and pledged to continue cooperating with the Bank of Japan to end deflation.
Kansas Fed's Hoenig says US rates accommodative
Kansas City Federal Reserve President Thomas Hoenig said on Thursday 6 January that US interest rates remain "fairly accommodative" and are likely to help stimulate economic growth of between 3.5 and 4 percent.
Bernanke: Transition from academic to policymaker
In the speech 'The transition from academic to policymaker' given on 7 January, Ben Bernanke of the Federal Reserve reflects on his two and a half years as an academic turned policymaker. Since moving to Washington Bernanke said he noticed that people…
Fukui: A tale of two cities for a central banker
In the speech 'A tale of two cities in the eyes of a central banker' given on 6 January, Toshihiko Fukui of the Bank of Japan said the BOJ has a "very firm" commitment to the market and to the general public to maintain the policy of expanding Japan's…
Way cleared for Yushchenko
Ukraine's Supreme Court cleared the way on Thursday 6 January for former central bank governor Viktor Yushchenko to be inaugurated as president next week when it rejected an appeal against Mr Yushchenko's victory in the presidential election.
ECB's framework for the detection of fake euros
The Eurosystem's terms of reference for the detection of counterfeits and fitness sorting of euro banknotes by credit institutions and other professional cash handlers was published on Thursday 6 January by the ECB.
Nepal urged to speed up central bank appointment
A committee of three economists set up to suggest suitable candidates as the new governor of the Nepal Rastra Bank, the central bank, has urged the government to act on its recommendations. Disagreement within the government has meant no decision has yet…
Central Bank of China name-change plan
Taiwan's Premier Yu Shyi-kun has said that the government will continue to push a proposal to change the names of state-owned enterprises, including the Central Bank of China, to include the word "Taiwan."
CBC's Perng denies being top candidate for premier
Central Bank of China (CBC) Governor Perng Fai-nan has denied rumours that he is likely to be named by Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian as the next premier.
PMA chief steps down
The governor of the Palestine Monetary Authority, Amin Haddad, resigned on Wednesday 5 January , according to a Palestinian minister who was quoted in local press reports.
Statement by IMF's Rato at ASEAN Leaders' Meeting
Rodrigo de Rato, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), issued the following statement on Thursday 6 January at the high-level meeting on humanitarian relief for countries affected by the Asia tsunami disaster in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Hong Kong's latest foreign currency reserves
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced on Friday 7 January that the official foreign currency reserve assets of Hong Kong amounted to US$123.6 billion at the end of December 2004, up from US$121.5 billion at end-November 2004.
OECD Secretary-General to step down in 2006
The Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the Honourable Donald J. Johnston, has advised the Member countries that he will step down from office in May 2006, having first been elected to the post in 1996.
Dallas Fed appoints new president
Richard W. Fisher will become President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas effective from 4 April. Mr Fisher will succeed Robert McTeer, Jr., who resigned on 4 November to become chancellor of the Texas A&M University System.