Reserves
IMF blocks loan to Argentina
ARGENTINA - The International Monetary Fund has disappointed Argentina by effectively blocking a $1.3bn loan payment.
BOT suing Rerngchai for losses
THAILAND - The Bank of Thailand plans to sue former central-bank governor Rerngchai Marakanond for damages involving the failed defence of the baht that resulted in massive losses, the central-bank's chief said yesterday, Monday.
ECB gold reserves unchanged 30 November
EUROPE - The Eurosystem's net reserves in gold and gold receivables was unchanged at EUR128.23 billion for the week ended 30 November, the European Central Bank said Tuesday.
China's gold mining embraces reshuffle
CHINA - China's gold mining industry plans to form 12 internationally competitive groups by 2005 to meet challenges from the deregulation of the domestic gold market driven by the nation's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Thai central bank eases collateral rules
THAILAND - Central Bank rules had been eased to allow financial institutions to use internal appraisal for collateral of small-sized debtors, rather than external independent appraisal firms, Bank of Thailand assistant governor Thirachai…
Speech by Joseph Yam of the HKMA
SPEECH - Opening remarks by Joseph Yam, JP, Chief Executive, Hong Kong Monetary Authority to the Hong Kong Foreign Exchange and Money Market Practices Committee Conference on Challenges and Opportunities in the New Century, 22 November.
C bank halves reserves required in the Philippines
PHILIPPINES - In a move that could free up funds for lending and ease pressure on banks' earnings, the Philippine Central Bank decided to halve the general reserves it requires banks to set aside to cover possible loan losses.
Russia's c bank assets reach 1.68 trillion rubles
RUSSIA - The Central Bank of Russia had assets of 1.688 trillion rubles as of 1 October, compared with 1.682 trillion rubles a month earlier.
Polish c bank mulls making its debt tradable
POLAND - Poland's central bank may switch its untradable debt into tradable paper, Monetary Policy Council (MPC) member Wieslawa Ziolkowska said on Wednesday.
Japan's bond market gets the jitters over debt
JAPAN - The Japanese government bond market was hit by a new bout of jitters on Monday as concern rose that the country's debt could soon be downgraded again - and signs emerged that Japanese banks were selling more JGBs.
Bank of England HM government gold auction result
NEWS RELEASE - The Bank of England announces that the gold on offer (approximately 20 tonnes or 643,200 ounces) has been allotted in full at a price of $273.50 per ounce. Details of the result are as follows.
IMF considers sovereign debt protection
US - The International Monetary Fund has unveiled a radical plan to make itself the gatekeeper for a system designed to give heavily-indebted countries bankruptcy protection.
China will increase euro reserves
CHINA - The vice president Guo Shuqing with The People's Bank of China discloses that China has purchased a number of Euro as foreign exchange reserve in the past 2 months.
Argentina slowdown spells debt fears
ARGENTINA - The slowdown afflicting the global economy will prompt a worsening in the debt burden shouldered by poor countries, economic gurus have said.
State Bank of Pakistan lifts foreign ex quotas
PAKISTAN - Pakistanis travelling abroad are now free to buy as much foreign exchange as required at the interbank exchange rate.
Speech by Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan
SPEECH - Remarks by Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, Rice University, Houston, Texas, 13 November.
Fed 'model' predicts stock gains
ARTICLE - A valuation model used by the U.S. Federal Reserve Board indicated last week that stocks were some 14% undervalued.
Argentina gives details on refinancing debt
ARGENTINA - Argentina's government yesterday announced plans to refinance the debts of 10 provinces, the first leg of its effort to restructure the country's entire $155bn ( £106bn) stock of federal and provincial debt.
Thai central bank re-financing
The Thai cabinet on Tuesday approved a proposal to re-finance 90 billion baht ($2.02 billion) in debts of a central bank unit set up to bail out and take over troubled financial institutions.
China's c bk chief expects to step up forex reform
CHINA - People's Bank of China Governor Dai Xianglong Monday said the country will begin to step up reform of its foreign exchange system after next month's entry into the World Trade Organization.
Bankers call for strict limits on bailout cash
CANADA - The Bank of England and Bank of Canada have launched a paper arguing for strict limits on International Monetary Fund bailouts for crisis-hit countries.
Brazil currency rally unlikely to get c bank boost
BRAZIL - A reversal of Brazil's economic fortunes appears to be in the cards as a feeling that the worst is over quickly spreads across local markets, triggering a strong rally in the embattled real.
EU candidates should avoid forex fluctuations
UK - Countries seeking to join the European Union will be well-adviced to avoid excessive exchange rate fluctuations against the euro, European Central Bank Vice President Christian Noyer said Monday.
SNB sold 7.7 tons gold in 10-day period to 9 Nov
SWITZERLAND - The Swiss National Bank said Monday its gold reserves fell CHF116 million to CHF33.79 billion in the 10-day reporting period to 9 November.