Central Banks
Dutch central bank wants better payment system
The Dutch central bank has called for a more efficient payment system and is considering a set of measures to encourage people to pay more by electronic means, MarketWatch reported.
British pound passes yen in central bank reserves
According to this article by Bloomberg News published Monday 10 July, central banks around the world are increasing their holdings of British pounds.
Central bank's focus should be on growth
According to this opinion piece from The Jakarta Post, published Monday 10 July, Bank Indonesia should start concentrating on issues of how it is going to use its monetary policy to spur further economic growth.
Comment: Dutch banks lose on payments
A recent report by McKinsey, a consulting firm, finds that Dutch banks are losing money on processing payments. Moreover, the report suggests that margins will be under even greater pressure as banks have to implement a plethora of new regulations.
Japan ruling party backs ending BoJ rate policy
The Bank of Japan has received clear backing from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party on its plans to end the current zero interest rate policy.
Papademos on price stability & financial stability
In the speech 'Price stability, financial stability and efficiency, and monetary policy' given on 7 July Lucas Papademos of the ECB said transparency in monetary policy is important for financial stability and financial efficiency.
Iwata on monetary policy under the new framework
In the speech 'The conduct of monetary policy under the new framework' given on 8 June (published 7 July) Kazumasa Iwata of the Bank of Japan said against a background of high crude oil prices, major countries around the world are in the process of…
Too much secrecy in appointing the Bank's MPC
Writing in the Financial Times on Friday 7 July, UK shadow chancellor George Osborne says the appointment process to the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee has been brought into sharp focus with the MPC down to seven of its full complement of…
EU Parliament wants information on SWIFT
The European Parliament adopted a resolution on Thursday 6 July asking EU governments, the Commission and the European Central Bank to explain what they know about the SWIFT agreement.
ECB considers new securities settlement service
The European Central Bank said Friday 7 July it is considering setting up a new service for securities settlement in the eurozone. Through the new system, the ECB said it aims for synergies and harmonized settlement of securities transactions in the euro…
Sao Tome central bank has new governor
The Central Bank of Sao Tome and Principe has a new governor, according to the macauhub website. Arlindo Carvalho, was reported to have taken office this week, and was quoted as saying he will give priority to increasing corporate confidence and…
Comment: LCH.Clearnet chief departs
After months of speculation that his days were numbered, David Hardy resigned as chief executive of LCH.Clearnet on 5 July. The announcement was met with an air of inevitability. The episode raises some fundamental questions about the European clearing…
Garganas on regional financial stability
In the speech 'Regional financial stability around the Eurozone' given on 1 June Nicholas Garganas of the Bank of Greece said it is important to recognize that, as the financial systems of South-Eastern European countries are liberalized and their…
Trichet gives strong hint on August rate rise
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet said Thursday 6 July that the ECB governing council will meet in person on 3 August rather than by teleconference, as it normally does for its early August policy meeting.
Morgan Stanley economist linked to BoE post
AFX News reported on Thursday 6 July that David Miles, managing director and chief UK economist at Morgan Stanley, has been approached to join the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee.
BOJ will conduct appropriate policy for economy
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui reiterated on Thursday 6 July that the central bank will implement appropriate monetary policy by fully checking economic and price conditions.
Comment: The ECB's gamble
The president of the ECB, Jean-Claude Trichet, has announced that the central bank will take the highly unusually step of meeting in person on 3 August, rather than conduct the scheduled conference call. In doing so, Trichet has effectively pre-announced…
ECB paper on financial stability challenges
The ECB Occasional Paper 'Macroeconomic and financial stability challenges for acceding and candidate countries' reviews macroeconomic and financial stability challenges for acceding (Bulgaria and Romania) and candidate countries (Croatia and Turkey).
Knight on financial stability and globalisation
In remarks on Frederick Mishkin's paper 'Financial stability and globalisation: getting it right' given on 8 June Malcolm Knight of the BIS said highlights a number of dilemmas that countries face when seeking to embrace globalisation.
RBNZ releases Explaining Currency booklet
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand on Monday 3 July released a third edition of its popular Explaining Currency booklet. The booklet takes readers through the history of New Zealand's currency, describes the banknote and coin designs, and how banknotes and…
Soccer star Kewell could transfer to RBA
A recent poll of business leaders and economists, reported by The Age, shows that Reserve Bank of Australia deputy governor Glenn Stevens is the most preferred candidate to succeed governor Ian Macfarlane.