Reserves
Sharp growth in Pakistan surplus
PAKISTAN - Pakistan's current account surplus in the past financial year (July-June) soared to a record $2.74bn (€2.79bn, £1.77bn), up from $326m the year before, officials at the central bank in Karachi said Monday.
Joint publication of statistics on external debt
PUBLICATION - On 30 August 2002 the BIS, the IMF, the OECD and the World Bank jointly published a new quarterly release of statistics on the external debt of 176 developing and transition countries, together with data on international reserves.
Argentina unveils rules to encourage bank deposits
ARGENTINA - Argentina's central bank announced on Monday new rules meant to encourage people holding cash outside banks, for instance at home, to deposit it in the nation's beleaguered banking system.
Higher reserve rule from Mexico's central bank
MEXICO - From 26 September Mexico's commercial banks must keep at least 150bn pesos (US$15.2bn) in deposits at the country's central bank, up from the current 95bn-peso requirement.
Bank of Thailand auctions B1bn in government bonds
THAILAND - The Bank of Thailand on Wednesday auctioned one billion baht worth of government bonds due in June 2009 for an accepted average yield of 3.805%. The coupon rate for the bonds was 4.625% with a bid coverage ratio of 4.99 times.
IMF Working Paper Series
RESEARCH - 'Bankruptcy Procedures for Sovereigns: A History of Ideas, 1976-2001' by Kenneth Rogoff and Jeromin Zettelmeyer, August 2002. This paper describes the evolution of the literature from the late 1970s until 2001, with particular emphasis on the…
Brazil's Fraga sees 2002 GDP growth at 1 per cent
BRAZIL - Brazilian central bank head Arminio Fraga said he expects Brazil's economy, now suffering from the fallout of severe market turmoil, to expand at about 1 percent this year, less than previous forecasts, according to a research report by Goldman…
Russian c bank adopts looser rules for for ex sale
RUSSIA - At its session on Friday, the Russian Central Bank's board of directors agreed to liberalise the obligatory sale of foreign currency revenues by exporters, the bank's PR department reported.
Russian gold, fx reserves increase to new record
RUSSIA - Russia's gold and foreign exchange reserves on 9-16 August were up by 600m dollars to 44.7bn dollars, Prime-TASS said on Thursday with reference to the Central Bank public relations department.
Reports Krueger unhappy with Argentina plan untrue
US - The International Monetary Fund said on Monday a report in a Brazilian newspaper saying a top IMF official is unhappy with economic plans Argentina sent to the fund on Friday is "absolutely" untrue reports Reuters.
Asia central banks could be gold buyers
SINGAPORE - Asia's reserve-rich central banks are potential buyers of gold to diversify their reserve assets, even as European central banks cut their holdings, a senior official of the World Gold Council said on Monday.
Kazakhstan's foreign currency, gold reserves up
KAZAKHSTAN - Kazakhstan's foreign currency and gold reserves, including the National Fund's finances and the National Bank's gross foreign currency and gold reserves, have gone up by 1 per cent since the beginning of August, amounting to 4.58bn dollars.
Russia plans jewellery sale to pay debts
RUSSIA - Some of Russia's most valuable jewellery is to be sold as part of the country's desperate search for funds to repay its debts.
Brazil's central bank to reduce domestic debt
BRAZIL - The focus in Brazil's financial troubles shifted on Thursday to domestic reaction to the government's measures to boost prices of domestic debt and reduce volatility in the price of mutual funds.
Court upholds ruling on Argentine deposit freeze
ARGENTINA - An Argentine federal appeals court has upheld a prior ruling that declared unconstitutional the deposit freeze in place since December last year, along with all subsequent measures based upon it, local press reported.
High gold price hits demand in India
INDIA - India, the world's largest consumer of gold, has cut imports of the precious metal by nearly half because of the sharp rise in global prices in recent months.
BOK unlikely to make up for gov't losses
SOUTH KOREA - The Bank of Korea (BOK) expressed reservation yesterday about taking actions to make up for losses incurred by irretrievable public funds that were used to stabilize the economy in the wake of the 1997 IMF financial crisis.
Uruguay's central bank to begin deposit return
URUGUAY - Uruguay's government will begin returning deposits on Wednesday to clients of suspended banks Banco Montevideo, Caja Obrera, Comercial and de Credito, the central bank said in a statement.
Brazil's central bank to aid troubled companies
BRAZIL - Brazil's central bank chief on Monday pledged to lend money to embattled Brazilian companies as concern grew about the success of the International Monetary Fund's $30bn (£19bn) loan package.
Don't blame Brazil
ARTICLE - In an article in the Financial Times on Tuesday, George Soros suggests that the market's reaction to the IMF's $30bn rescue package in Brazil shows that a new approach is needed.
Accounting for reserves
John Nugée highlights the disparities in alternative accounting treatment of external reserves. Portfolio management decisions increasingly have to take these into account, with unforeseen consequences for markets.
No middle ground on operational risk debate
ARTICLE - While regulators insist they are well on their way down the road to new international capital standards, bankers say they are following the wrong map to destinations unknown. From American Banker, 12 August.
IMF News Brief
NEWS BRIEF - IMF Completes First Review and Approves New Increase on Uruguay Stand-By, 8 August.
Central Bank of Russia to offer $13,000 gold coins
RUSSIA - New Russians, extravagant businessmen famed for their love of gold and deep pockets, might now have to start thinking about getting wide ones too, reports Reuters on Friday.