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Chicago Fed National Activity Index
REPORT - The Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) rose to +0.04 in February, moving out of negative territory for the first time since June 2000. The three-month moving average index, CFNAI-MA3, also improved in February, increasing to -0.28, its…
Speech by Fed Reserve Governor Ed Gramlich, 8 Apr
SPEECH - 'Lenders and community developers have made great strides in revitalizing economically disadvantaged communities and improving the financial well-being of lower-income households,' Gramlich said in a speech titled 'CRA at Twenty-Five'.
Poland's c bank intends to cut mandatory reserves
POLAND - Poland's central bank NBP intends to decrease the level of mandatory reserves to 2% from the current 4.5% with the aim of adjusting the Polish system in line with EU standards, according to the NBP's task schedule for 2002-2004.
WGC responds to speculation on Buba gold reserves
GERMANY - The World Gold Council has responded to speculation arising out of recent statements made by the President of Germany's Bundesbank and others by giving its reasons why the Deutsche Bundesbank should continue to hold its gold reserves.
Polish PM scales back anti-central bank rhetoric
POLAND - Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller softened hostile rhetoric against the country's central bank on Sunday but kept intact the message that bankers should stop damaging the limp economy with high interest rates.
Deputies to G-7 finance chiefs to meet in London
UK - The deputies to the Group of Seven industrial nations' finance ministers will meet in London Thursday, sources told Jiji Press Saturday.
Taiwan has third largest currency reserve in world
TAIWAN - Taiwan's currency reserves continue to accumulate and at the end of March they reached the historic level of $128.03 billion, the island's Central Bank announced on Friday.
Speech by J Alfred Broaddus, Richmond Fed, 4 Apr
SPEECH - Richmond Federal Reserve President Alfred Broaddus said in a speech titled 'Comments on the Changing Economic Outlook' on Thursday the U.S. economic outlook is "considerably" better than six months ago, but that final demand is crucial for…
Speech by Svein Gjedrem of Norges Bank, 20 Mar
SPEECH - "The effects of the global downturn on the activity level in Norway have been limited," Svein Gjedrem said in a speech prepared for ambassadors stationed in Norway. The speech was titled 'The inflation target and the floating krone: The…
Agency under attack over bad debts in Japan
JAPAN - Japan has been too slow to clear up the bad debt problem plaguing its banking sector, Masajuro Shiokawa, finance minister, has said.
Fed's Broaddus - Fed committed to price stability
US - US Federal Reserve policymakers aren't "resting on our laurels" with regard to their primary goal of price stability, said Alfred Broaddus, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.
New BOJ policy members tread conventional lines
JAPAN - The Bank of Japan's newly appointed board members adopted a conventional line on monetary policy in their debut public appearance on Friday, in stark contrast to a maverick pro-easing member whom they replaced.
Wim's wait
FEATURE - The European Central Bank is extending its "wait and see" policy from interest rates to the equally delicate matter of high-level appointments, reported Friday's FT in London.
Central Bank changes worry forex market
UGANDA - The forex market has been unnerved by Bank of Uganda's decision to intervene discreetly rather than announce its specific actions in the market.
Bangladesh to close 500 bank branches
BANGLADESH - The central bank in Bangladesh has disclosed a plan to close down 500 branches of state owned commercial banks which were incurring losses over the last five years.
Speech by L Heikensten, Sveriges Riksbank, 2 Apr
SPEECH - Heikensten said in a speech titled 'Growth effects of the new stabilisation policy regime' that Sweden's recent policy of pursuing low and stable inflation and steady economic policies has been important for improving the conditions for economic…
Duma approves c bank management structure changes
RUSSIA - The State Duma, in debates on amendments to the Central Bank law in the second reading on Friday, voted to give the National Banking Council the powers of a management body at the Central Bank.
Good news for c bank but weaknesses continue
FEATURE - The Central Bank had quite a good day on 3 April, managing to hold the dollar down to 2.8 pesos but also increasing its reserves by 4m dollars.
Fed's Poole confident of substantial US recovery
US - William Poole, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis., said that his confidence level that there will be a substantial U.S. economic recovery is "very high," barring "the possibility of some external shocks."
Ecofin's Rato sees deal on ECB's Noyer in Oviedo
SPAIN - Spanish Economy Minister Rodrigo Rato said on Friday he expected European finance ministers to agree next week on a replacement for the vice president of the European Central Bank, Christian Noyer.
Estonian c bank end March reserves up 4.6 pct m/m
ESTONIA - The Estonian central bank said on Friday its gold and foreign currency reserves rose 4.6 percent to 13.9 billion kroons ($781.3 million) by the end of March versus 13.3 billion at end-February.
Argentine c bank says banks can release funds Jan
ARGENTINA - The Argentine Central Bank said on Friday it would allow commercial banks next January to release deposits which have been frozen in their vaults since late last year to the fury of depositors.
New Azeri coins commemorate medieval poet
AZERBAIJAN - The National Bank of Azerbaijan has issued two types of gold and silver commemorative coins of a face value of 100 and 50 manats respectively.
Norway c bank governor points to debt risk
NORWAY - Norway's central bank governor Svein Gjedrem reiterated on Friday that high credit growth posed a risk to the Norwegian oil-backed economy.