Monetary Policy
Reform of Taiwan cb board may improve independence
TAIWAN - Taiwan's cabinet has submitted a reform plan for the board of directors at the Central Bank of China, which focuses on the bank's independent status. Once the amendment is passed by the legislature, the central bank will maintain its supervisory…
BOK considers redenomination of currency
KOREA - The Bank of Korea is studying ways to reform the present currency unit system by issuing new won notes and coins, in a move to re-denominate the won downward and upgrade its value. This will involve shaving one or two zeros off the won's face…
Buying back long-dated bonds way forward for Japan
LETTER - Letter by Professor Tim Congdon published in the Financial Times on 10 June in response to an editorial by Sir Samuel Brittan, which in turn had commented on Prof Congdon's original article in Central Banking journal, 'What is to be done about…
Central banks should heed asset inflation
LETTER - Anthony H. Rowley, a contributor to Central Banking journal, argues in a letter published in the Financial Times on 10 June that central banks should pay more attention to asset inflation when conducting monetary policy.
Bureaucrats compete to replace RBI dep governor
INDIA - There is stiff competition to take the place of the outgoing deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Dr Y. V. Reddy. According to the finance ministry, two senior bureaucrats are jockeying to control this key post which involves…
Commercial banker made dep chairman of Kazakh cb
KAZAKHSTAN - A new deputy chairman has been appointed to the National Bank of Kazakhstan. Anvar Saydenov, who is 41, was appointed by Kazakhstan's president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, on the recommendation of the central bank.
Iran's cb to issue bonds despite US sanctions
IRAN - The Central Bank of Iran still plans to issue its first international bond, according to its governor, Mohsen Nourbakhsh. This is despite the withdrawal of Iran's debt rating by Moody's.
Shekel gains slightly on dollar despite rate hike
ISRAEL - The shekel strengthened only slightly on the dollar Monday, despite the Bank of Israel's surprise announcement a day earlier of a sharp hike in interest rates.
Increased hope that Turkey soon out of recession
TURKEY - A much sharper than expected rise in industrial output in Turkey has raised hopes that the country could soon recover from a deep recession. Industrial output rose 14.1% in April from a year earlier, well above a growth rate of 7.8% as predicted…
Rouble to fall as cb's overnight deposit rate cut
RUSSIA - Despite the theme of continuity in exchange rate policy which was emphasized when Sergei Ignatyev took over as head of the Central Bank of Russia in place of Viktor Gerashchenko earlier this year, the bank has subsequently made moves which imply…
Speech by Otmar Issing, ECB, 10 June
SPEECH - At the ECB Watchers conference in Milan on 10 June, Professor Otmar Issing, member of the Executive Board of the ECB, gave a speech on 'Monetary policy and the role of the price stability definition' in which he concludes that the ECB's twin…
Speech by Thomas Dawson of the IMF, 13 Jun
SPEECH - The speech 'Stiglitz, the IMF and Globalization' continues the recent argument between the IMF and Joseph Stiglitz who Dawson describes as the IMF's Chief Critic. Dawson says in the speech "my defense for getting into the fight is the classic…
US inflation low says Fed nominee Donald Kohn
USA - Federal Reserve Board nominee Donald Kohn said on Thursday that US inflation was "pretty darn low" and that the economy was looking healthy: "we are getting awfully close to some zone of price stability if we are not probably already in it".
Argentina and IMF talks on loans to begin at last
USA - Argentina and the International Monetary Fund will begin talks next week on new loans to revive the economy. IMF spokesman Thomas Dawson remarked on Argentina's "substantial progress" in meeting conditions for the new talks, saying they "have been…
Blejer considers resignation after IMF agreement
ARGENTINA - Argentina's central bank president Mario Blejer is considering resigning once he designs a new monetary programme, implements a plan to convert deposits into bonds and helps obtain a loan from the International Monetary Fund, according to a…
Japan enjoys strongest growth for two years
TOKYO - Japan's economy has at last emerged from recession, enjoying its strongest growth for two years. The economy has rebounded from three straight quarters of contraction, growing 1.4% in the first quarter, which is an annualised rate of 5.7%.
ECB keeps rate rise on hold as expected
GERMANY - The European Central Bank on Thursday left interest rates unchanged as expected since euro zone recovery remains limp as well as the euro's rally helping to stifle inflation. The ECB's key refinancing rate remains at 3.25 percent, unchanged…
Bundesbank to close 56 branches by 2007
GERMANY - The Deutsche Bundesbank has committed itself to cutting back on its operations which will involve shedding over 10% of its staff. It announced on Thursday that it would close down 56 of its smaller branches within the next five years, partly…
Bank of England leaves rate unchanged at 4%
UK - The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee has left its key lending rate unchanged at four percent for the seventh month running as it awaits concrete signs that the economy has shaken off its downturn.
Law passed on Russian cb to weaken banking system
RUSSIA - The Russian State Duma has approved a revised version of the bill on the Central Bank of Russia (CBR). This decision will weaken the entire banking system according to finance minister Alexei Kudrin, since it does not allow the CBR to implement…
Single currency for Russia and Belarus agreed
RUSSIA - Senior central bankers and politicians of Russia and Belarus have signed an agreement on cooperating towards the introduction of a single currency by 2005.
Duisenberg flag furore
NETHERLANDS - The public furore about Gretta Duisenberg's apparent support for the Palestinian cause continues to escalate. After Mrs Duisenberg, the wife of Wim Duisenberg, the president of the ECB, displayed the Palestinian flag in her home in the…
Bank of Canada raises rates by 1/4%
CANADA - The Bank of Canada today announced that it is raising its target for the overnight rate by one-quarter of one percentage point to 2 1/2 per cent. The operating band for the overnight rate is correspondingly increased, and the Bank Rate is now 2…
Statement by Ian Macfarlane of the RBA, 5 June
PRESS RELEASE - Statement by Ian Macfarlane, Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, on monetary policy: "Following a decision taken by the Board at its meeting yesterday, the Bank will be acting in the money market this morning to increase the cash…