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Korea to be 'major financial player' - government
The Korean government believes it is emerging as a major financial player, reports the Korea Herald, with its plans to embark on more aggressive and large-scale fund management starting next year.
Canada's Dodge sees strong end to year
Strong global demand for Canadian goods and the holiday shopping season should allow the nation's economy to finish a rough year on a high note, Bank of Canada Governor David Dodge said in a speech on Monday 8 December, reported by the Ottawa Business…
IMF says euro rise won't stall economic recovery
Anne Krueger told reporters on Tuesday 9 December thatthe euro's recent rise against the dollar was not "a negative" but was prompted by economic growth, according to a Reuters report.
RBA chief Macfarlane regrets rate rise
Ian Macfarlane, governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, said on Monday 8 December that he was sorry interest rates had to go up as it would hurt mortgage holders, according to the Herald Sun. "I suspect it's in this group of people, who are most…
Japan's economy set to grow 1.5 percent
Japan's Cabinet Office said on Tuesday 9 December that the economy is expected to grow by 1.5 per cent in 2004, according to the Mainichi Daily News. It also predicted that moderate deflation will continue through 2004, forecasting the consumer price…
Dodge on Future Trends in the Canadian Economy
In a speech on 'Past Adjustments and Future Trends in the Canadian Economy' given on 8 December, David Dodge of the Bank of Canada said the economic adjustments that Canadians made through the 1990s and talked about the adjustments that will be necessary…
Bergstrom on the importance of capital formation
In a speech on 'Can we be best again? The importance of capital formation for long-term growth' given on 12 August, Villy Bergstrom of the Sveriges Riksbank said that growth is now in the focus of the public debate in Sweden. It is important that we re…
Poole: Perspective on U.S. International Trade
In a speech on 'A Perspective on U.S. International Trade' given on 19 November, William Poole of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis said free trade is a policy that increases economic well being for a country as a whole. Specialization and exchange…
The future of Europe's payments: Target 2
The Eurosystem's payment system - Target - is set for a restructuring which will place emphasis on consolidation and cost effectiveness of the existing linked national payment systems. In this brochure the ECB outlines what Target 2 will require of…
BIS Quarterly Review - Dec 2003
The latest quarterly offering from the BIS includes updates on the world economy, international banking, debt and derivative markets as well as special features on the credit spread puzzle; common factors in emerging market spreads; sovereign credit…
CNB's Racocha on joining EU
In a speech delivered in Australia in November, Pavel Racocho, a member of the board of the Czech National Bank looks at the impact joining the EU will have on the financial sectors in the accession countries.
Ortiz gets the nod for second term
Vicente Fox, Mexico's president, nominated Guillermo Ortiz for a second six-year term as governor of the central bank on Friday 5 December. Santiago Creel, the interior secretary, said at a news conference Friday that Ortiz's nomination had been formally…
Official gold sales may rise - ex BIS FX head
A renewal of the Central Bank Gold agreement - which runs out in September 2004 - could raise the amount sold by 20%, according to the former head of foreign exchange and gold at the Bank for International Settlements.
Former Boston Fed boss to head Freddie Mac
Richard Syron, president of the Boston Fed from 1989-94 and in charge during the bailout of New England's largest bank, was appointed chief executive and chairman of Freddie Mac on Sunday 7 December.
US congress raises doubts over Basel II
The prospect that the US Congress would block ratification of the new accord seems to have increased following a letter from the house committee on financial services which has been scrutinising the accord.
Offshore centres complain to WTO re FATF
A group of offshore centres have lodged a complaint with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) about the imposition of international money laundering rules by the FATF, Basel committee and OECD.
IMF takes aim at small offshore centres
After three years examining offshore centres, the International Monetary Fund has decided to focus on smaller offshore centres which don't meet international standards. CentralBankNet here gives a sneak preview of the report in the latest edition of The…
US backs expulsion of 'pariah' Zimbabwe from IMF
US deputy State Department spokesman Adam Ereli has backed moves to expel Zimbabwe from the IMF, termed a "compulsory withdrawal", saying "We believe that Zimbabwe's actions have made it a pariah in the international community", according to an AFP…
Public to grill RBA chief Macfarlane
The governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia Ian Macfarlane will appear before a federal parliamentary economics committee on Monday 8 December, according to a report by The Age.. It's the first time he has faced the six-monthly public hearings in…
Budget boost for BNB
Bulgaria's budget for 2004 will provide an extra 8.5 million leva for the National Bank of Bulgaria, reports the Sofia Echo. The largest part of the additional 8.5 million leva will be used for support of money flow, for which 5.2 million leva has been…
Venezuela announces more flexible currency control
President of the central bank of Venezuela, Domingo Maza Zavala, has said that currency controls would be made "substantially" more flexible for the new year, reports VenezuelAnalysis.
Korean cb, government differ on reserve management
A Korean presidential committee has said it will grant a soon-to-be-established corporation management control over about $20 billion in foreign reserves despite objections from the Bank of Korea, according to the Korea Herald. The BOK argued that the…
Jurgen Stark on ECOFIN Council decision
In a statement following the ECOFIN Council's decision on the stability and growth pact, Bundesbank Vice President Jurgen Stark said the "decision of the ECOFIN Council threatens to break the political consensus of the Maastricht Treaty, which is also…
Report by Task Force on Major Financial Disruption
Bank of England's Task Force publishes report on whether new statutory powers are needed to deal with major operational disruption, 3 December 2003. In the report Sir Andrew Large, deputy governor, said financial institutions should reassess large…