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The Netherlands Bank - Annual Report 2003
The Netherlands Bank has published its Annual Report for the year ended 2003. The world economy is growing at a rate not seen for years. The dynamism manifest in the United States and the Asian region is particularly vigorous, it says. Under the…
Central banks' annus horribilis
As policymaking institutions, central banks had a good 2003. The global economy turned up, the financial sector strengthened. As businesses though, 2003 was a disaster. The plunging dollar saw central banks around the world take huge hits on their…
Supervision of banks paying off reports CBRC
The China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) said Thursday its recent efforts to strengthen the supervision of banks and contain their lending risks have shown good results, according to Friday's China Daily.
World Bank wants further Russian economic reforms
World Bank chief James Wolfensohn is urging Russia to continue with economic reforms to promote investment. He also warned that how Russia deals with a tax affair involving the Yukos oil company could have major repercussions.
Belgian national bank sees GDP growth at 2.3 pct
Presenting the June forecasts, Belgian national bank governor Guy Quaden warned that a further rise in oil prices could hamper economic recovery in Europe.
Irish financial regulator to get new powers
Ireland's new financial regulator is to be given powers to fine and name offending institutions under draft legislation going through the Irish parliament, the Dail, this week, according to the Financial Times on Friday4 June.
Fed's Bies on accountancy reform
In a written statement on IASB reform given on 3 June, Susan Schmidt Bies of the Federal Reserve said the Federal Reserve strongly supports efforts to enhance the oversight activities of the IASCF and the standards-setting processes of the IASB. Such…
Bergstrom on risks for the Swedish economy
In a speech on 'Risk of "golden parenthesis" for the Swedish economy' given on 3 June, Villy Bergstrom of the Sveriges Riksbank said if the foundations are not laid for boosting employment and long-term capital formation the currently favourable period…
Independence law for Central Bank of Taiwan
When passed into law, the amended Central Bank Act in Taiwan will define the central bank as "the national bank which exercises its duties independently as prescribed by the law," this article says. Important amendments to the Act include requiring the…
ECB decision on the rules applying to OLAF
Today, 3 June, the Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) adopted a Decision (ECB/2004/11) on the terms and conditions for European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) investigations of the European Central Bank.
Trichet on financial stability & structural change
In a speech to the Second Conference of the Monetary Stability Foundation given on 3 June, Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said faced with new developments in the financial markets, namely, their increasingly large role and their integration across…
RBA's Macfarlane sees growth close to 4 percent
In his opening statement to the House of Representatives Standing Committee given on 4 June, Ian Macfarlane of the RBA said that the Australian economy was set to grow by 3.75 percent in 2004 and signalled the Reserve Bank was "comfortable" with interest…
Israel's Klein in favour of hiring Arab employees
The Bank of Israel is in favour of recruiting Arab employees, but has yet to find suitable candidates for available positions, according to a letter sent by central bank governor David Klein to Hadash party MK Ahmed Tibi, Haaretz reported this week.
RBA's McKibbin barred from providing advice
The Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, Ian Macfarlane, blocked board member Warwick McKibbin from advising a residential home equity fund, the Sydney Morning Herald reported this week.
Feldstein - The Next Greenspan?
As one of George W. Bush's key advisors on economic policy, Harvard professor Martin Feldstein helped design the President's tax cuts. He's working on a plan to overhaul Social Security. Could he be the next Greenspan, this article asks.
President proposed for euro finance ministers
French finance minister Nicolas Sarkozy proposed this week that the finance ministers of the 12 eurozone countries should have a permanent president for two and a half years.
Yepez made Ecuador's new economy minister
Ecuadorian President Lucio Gutierrez said on Tuesday 2 June that he had accepted the resignation of Economy Minister Mauricio Pozo and the new minister will be Central Bank Director Mauricio Yepez.
IMF's new MD Rato to assume office on 7 June
Rodrigo Rato, the new managing director of the International Monetary Fund, will officially start work on June 7, IMF spokesman Thomas Dawson said on Thursday 3 June.
Greenspan nomination hearing will be 10 June
Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan will testify next Thursday, 10 June, before the Senate Banking Committee as it considers his nomination for a fifth term at the central bank's helm, the panel said on Thursday 3 June.
T&T central bank criticised over discrimination
Secretary General of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha, Sat Maharaj, has apparently criticised the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago, citing it as an example of cultural discrimination in Trinidad and Tobago, according to a report by the Trinidad and…
IMF's Krueger: Financial crises need fast response
Countries can suffer financial crises rapidly, requiring an immediate response, the acting head of the International Monetary Fund Anne Krueger said on Wednesday 2 June in San Diego.
Greenspan says past no guide to future on rates
According to a letter released on Wednesday 2 June, Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan told a US lawmaker that looking at the past is no guide to predicting how quickly and aggressively the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates.
Fukui says Japan's prices to continue decline
Toshihiko Fukui said on Thursday 3 June that rises in wholesales prices were being largely absorbed by higher productivity, and that consumer prices would remain negative for some time.
BOJ's Haru cautious on possible rise in JGB yields
Bank of Japan Policy Board member Hidehiko Haru said on Thursday 3 June that it was expected that interest rates on Japanese government bonds to rise in line with an economic recovery but that an excessive jump may be harmful.