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ECB President visits the National Bank of Romania
Jean-Claude Trichet, President of the European Central Bank, visited the National Bank of Romania on Monday 18 October and met with Governor Mugur Isarescu and the Executive Board of the National Bank of Romania.
Interview with ECB's Gonzalez-Paramo
In an interview published this week, ECB Executive Board member Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Paramo speaks out firmly against changing the wording of the Stability and Growth Pact, saying: "The Pact is a cornerstone of the currency union. Nobody had questioned…
Malaysia set to launch plastic money soon
Malaysia's central bank said on Thursday 21 October that it will launch plastic banknotes next week, joining a growing trend for the more durable 'paper' money.
Brazil raises rates for second month in a row
Brazil's central bank raised interest rates on Wednesday 20 October for the second consecutive month amid concerns about high oil prices and growing domestic demand.
IMF pressures China over flexible yuan
The International Monetary Fund has again pressured Beijing to revalue its currency, the Renminbi yuan, China Daily reported on Thursday 21 October.
Chicago Fed National Activity Index, Sep 2004
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index was -0.01 in September, off slightly from a downward-revised +0.03 in August. The small decline in the monthly index was primarily due to a slightly larger negative contribution from the employment-related…
CBN autonomy may be under threat
The wholesale autonomy granted to the Central Bank of Nigeria could soon be under threat after Deputy Chairman of Banking and Currency Committee said in Enugu this week that issues of economic interest to the nation should not be left in the hands of the…
Remsperger on FDI and the Deutsche Bundesbank
In the a on 'FDI and the Deutsche Bundesbank' given on 8 October, Hermann Remsperger of the Bundesbank said the German economy has been one of the driving forces behind the globalisation process. The diverse and ever-changing transmission mechanisms of…
Liikanen on the Fund for Finland
In a speech given on 3 October, Erkki Liikanen of the Bank of Finland said the overall picture for the economic outlook is quite comforting, even though higher oil prices have added to the downside risks. The main challenge now is to establish a firm…
Fed's Poole on social security and demographics
In a speech on 'Social security reform and demographic reality' given on 19 October, William Poole of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis told Delta State University demographic change in the United States and elsewhere in the world presents enormous…
RBNZ Financial Stability Report, October 2004
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand on Thursday 21 October issued the first of a regular series of Financial Stability Reports which will assess the current state of New Zealand's financial system. Topics covered in the October 2004 report include: a review…
ECB says new EU members deficit cutting 'too slow'
In a report published Wednesday the European Central Bank said countries including the Czech Republic and Hungary, which joined the European Union this year, have been "too slow" in reducing budget deficits and meet requirements to join the euro.
Minister says Poland to meet euro criteria in 2007
Poland will be ready in 2007 to join the euro, Polish Finance Minister Miroslaw Gronicki said on Wednesday 20 October, following a report which said that none of the 10 new EU members yet meet the criteria for adopting the single European currency.
Fed's Olson sees no housing 'bubble' in US
Federal Reserve Governor Mark Olson said on Tuesday 19 October thatthe United States does not have a house price "bubble" because the national market is too large.
Yuan reform feasible says PBOC adviser
Making the exchange rate of the Chinese currency more flexible was feasible, although it would result in many problems, a top central bank adviser was quoted as saying on Tuesday 19 October.
Bank of England MPC Minutes, 6&7 October
The minutes from the 6 and 7 October meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England were released on 20 October. All nine MPC members voted to keep interest rates unchanged at 4.75 percent this month, while there seemed to be no…
Greenspan on US mortgage market and consumer debt
In a speech on 'The mortgage market and consumer debt' given on 19 October, Alan Greenspan of the Federal Reserve said conceded there were concerns about "the exceptional run-up in home prices" but said Americans were handling their debts well.
Asian central banks should follow S Korea's lead
The more Asian central banks try to convince the markets that their judgment on interest rates isn't clouded by political interference, the less anyone believes them, this article says. It suggests policy makers from Jakarta and Manila to Bangkok and…
BoE's Central Banking courses 2005
The Bank of England's Centre for Central Banking Studies has published a provisional list of Seminars and Workshops to take place in London in 2005.
SA's Mboweni on forex market developments
In a speech on 'Developments in the foreign exchange markets during the last couple of years' given on 20 September, Tito Mboweni of the South African Reserve Bank said various factors are in one way or the other responsible for the Rand's general…
PBOC's Zhou calls for deposit insurance
China should make the setting up of a bank deposit insurance system a priority to protect savers and help liquidate indebted banks, central bank governor Zhou Xiaochuan was quoted on Monday 18 October as saying.
MEPs set to discuss ECB performance with Trichet
MEPs are to debate the performance of the European Central Bank with Jean-Claude Trichet on 25 October when they consider a draft report from Alain Lipietz (Greens/EFA, FR) for the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee.