Monetary Policy
Music fit for a King
We hear that Mervyn King prepared himself for the cut and thrust of the Bank of England's recent MPC meeting with an evening in London's Royal Festival Hall, listening to Shostakovich's fifth symphony.
A plot to discredit Zimbabwe's Gono?
A plot to discredit Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr Gideon Gono has been unearthed and there are behind-the-scenes plans to cause his downfall, according to reports.
Serbia's Udovicki 'ready to resign'
The governor of the National Bank of Serbia, Kori Udovicki, has repeated that she is ready to quit if it will help facilitate a change of management at the bank.
US and China plan currency talks
Officials from the US Treasury will visit China in the next couple of weeks to discuss the renminbi and how China could increase flexibility in its exchange rate system.
RBI's Reddy sees better than expected growth
Reserve Bank of India Governor YV Reddy said on Thursday 12 February that he expects Asia's third-largest economy to grow strongly this year and next.
Russia, Belarus interbank currency board meets
The Interbank currency board of Russia and Belarus was due to meet in Vladimir on Friday 13 February to discuss relations between the two countries regarding the introduction of the single currency and common monetary policy.
Riksbank reports loss in 2003 Annual Report
Sweden's central bank published its 2003 annual report on 12 February. This reported a loss of SEK 9.3 billion for the year with the krona appreciation in 2003 leading to a loss of SEK 12.5 billion.
Auditors Report on ECB's operational efficiency
The European Central Bank on 12 February published the report by the European Court of Auditors on the operational efficiency of the management of the ECB for 2002, together with the ECB's reply to it.
Dodge on challenges to Canadian economy
In a speech on 'Adjusting to a Changing Economic World' given on 11 February, David Dodge of the Bank of Canada talked about the longer-term trends and the challenges facing the Canadian economy in the years ahead, and the adjustments that will be…
ECB sees faster eurozone growth
The European Central Bank published its February 2004 Monthly Bulletin on 12 February. In the February Bulletin, the ECB said that in its new regular quarterly 'Survey of Professional Forecasters', the experts had revised their forecasts upwards.
Philadelphia Fed Business Review, 1st Quarter 2004
The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia has published its regular Business Review for the First Quarter 2004. In the latest issue President Anthony Santomero discusses how some extraordinary events, including the bursting of the tech bubble, the…
CBI, IDB to hold monetary conference in Tehran
The Central Bank of Iran (CBI) and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) will hold their first international monetary conference next week between 16-18 February.
Argentina won't pay IMF without accord revisions
President Nestor Kirchner said on wednesday 11 February that the Argentine government would not use its reserves to make its next instalment of payments due to the IMF unless it first approves revisions to the accord.
BOK chief calls for more authority
Governor of the Bank of Korea Park Seung on Wednesday 11 February called for more authority to conduct independent on-site inspections of financial institutions.
Interview: Otmar Issing
As the board member responsible for economics and research, Otmar Issing has been a principal architect of the ECB's monetary policy. Here he discusses many of the key issues facing the ECB today and explains the rationale for some of its more…
Interview with Zdenek Tuma
With accession on the horizon, the governor of the Czech National Bank evaluates the progress of economic transition and discusses his concerns over joining the euro.
Interview: Michael Bonello
Having successfully defended its peg for 30 years, Malta appears well placed to join ERM II. The governor of the Central Bank of Malta outlines the path to the eurozone and the pitfalls along the way.
Why has Brown ditched his prudence?
Howard Flight analyses the transformation of Gordon Brown's Treasury from fiscal forbearance to public sector profligacy.
Iraq's botched currency reform
Prescriptions by the official sector institutions for Iraq ignore political realities and their own findings argue Steve Hanke and Matt Sekerke.
The SDR: an international reserve liability
The SDR is central to the work of the International Monetary Fund, but it remains a deeply ambiguous unit.
Challenges for central banks in the new member states
Max Watson assesses the task facing accession countries in safeguarding financial stability. He starts by recognising the big strides already taken, and then considers the risks that lie ahead.
Sweden's Heikensten on current monetary policy
In a speech on 'Monetary policy - some current issues' given on 10 February, Lars Heikensten of the Sveriges Riksbank said there are signs of an upturn in the euro area now, although the picture is not as clear-cut as in the United States.
What monetary regime for Iraq?
This article, co-authored by Professor Steve Hanke and Matt Sekerke, says that the choice of monetary regime for Iraq remains wide open despite measures to establish an independent central bank, framework for bank regulation, and Saddam-free bank notes.