Central Banks
Lehman creates new role to woo SWFs
Lehman Brothers, an investment bank, has appointed Makram Azar, formerly the head of its media, consumer and retail investment banking businesses in Europe and the Middle East, to the new position of global head of sovereign wealth funds.
Norway raises rates to 5.5%
The Bank of Norway raised rates for the first time this year on Thursday on fears that inflation was set to breach its 2.5% target.
SARB - Financial Stability Review March 2008
Despite strong economic growth, Africa still faces a number of downside risks that could impact negatively on financial stability, the South African Reserve Bank states in its latest Financial Stability Review, published on Thursday.
Fed would examine SWF bank takeovers
The Federal Reserve would investigate any sovereign wealth fund taking a controlling interest in a US bank, Scott Alvarez, the general counsel at the central bank, said.
BoE's Jenkinson on liquidity risk
Developments in financial markets have increased the importance and complexity of liquidity risk management over the past decade, said Nigel Jenkinson, the executive director responsible for financial stability at the Bank of England.
Achieving cost effectiveness: Brazil's experience
The Central Bank of Brazil has published a detailed case study on how it implemented a new system of identifying and monitoring costs.
Romanian rates high enough: governor
Mugur Isarescu, the governor of the National Bank of Romania, said on Wednesday that rates were high enough to tackle inflation.
SA inflation surpasses 10% mark
South African inflation surged to its highest level since December 2002 last month, heightening the need for the country's central bank to act against political opposition and raise rates further.
Banque de France posts record profit
The Banque de France's profit surged to a record high of €2.32 billion ($3.69 billion) last year.
Three-way split underlines Bank's dilemma
The Bank of England's April vote saw members of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) backing three separate options for the first time since May 2006, minutes of the meeting published on Wednesday reveal.
Australian inflation hits seven-year high
Australian inflation soared to its highest level since June 2001, raising expectations that the country's Reserve Bank will be forced to hike rates again next month.
Trinidad's Williams: prepare for inflation wave
Trinidadian inflation is set to surpass the 10% mark in the coming months, Ewart Williams, the governor of the central bank, warned.
Canada cuts rates half a point
The Bank of Canada lowered rates to 3% on Tuesday, a move in line with market expectations.
Papua New Guinea issues new notes for anniversary
The Bank of Papua New Guinea has introduced two new polymer banknotes to commemorate 33 years of the Kina and Toea currencies.
Ukraine raises rate 200 basis points on price fear
The National Bank of Ukraine hiked its discount rate from 10% to 12% on Monday in a bid to temper inflation.
Does good governance improve performance?
Research published by the Philadelphia Federal Reserve finds no statistically significant relationship between a central bank's organisational structure and its performance.
BoE must remain focused on inflation
Monetary policy in the UK ought to remain focused on achieving price stability as defined by the inflation target, Tim Besley, a member of the Bank of England's rate-setting committee, has said.
Research uncovers predictors of financial stress
A combination of credit and asset price variables can serve to predict financial stress, research published by the Bank of Canada finds.
ECB comments push euro to fresh high
The euro surpassed the $1.60 mark for the first time in its history after European Central Bank (ECB) officials said they would act to contain rising inflation.
Three signs of financial vulnerability
New research published by the International Monetary Fund has highlighted three factors which can exacerbate emerging and developing economies' vulnerability to financial crises.
BoE brokers MBS swap to ease tensions
The Bank of England will swap mortgage-backed securities for government bonds in a move which the Bank expects to generate £50 billion ($100 billion) worth of borrowing.
RBA oultines changes for payment system
The Reserve Bank of Australia has announced a raft of recommendations for the country's payments systems industry aimed at enhancing competition.
Mexico holds rates at 7.5%
The Bank of Mexico kept its benchmark one-day interbank rate at 7.5% for the sixth-straight month despite expectations that the US slowdown would impact Mexican growth.
Turkish inflation to exceed target this year
Turkish inflation is likely to be above the central bank's 4% target in 2008 unless there is a drastic slowdown in agflation.