Central Banks
White House moving quickly on Fed vacancies
White House Spokesman Scott McClellan has said that the administration is moving "as quickly as we can" to fill the two current vacancies on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.
Germany nominates Stark for ECB Board
The German government has nominated Bundesbank Vice-President Juergen Stark to join the European Central Bank's Executive Board when its chief economist, Otmar Issing, retires next year.
IMF Paper: Debt overhang or debt irrelevance?
The IMF Working Paper 'Debt overhang or debt irrelevance? Revisiting the debt growth link' published December 2005 asks whether Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPCs) suffer from a debt overhang. Is debt relief going to improve their growth rates, it…
Argentina to pay off IMF debts at start of 2006
Argentine President Nestor Kirchner said on Wednesday 21 December that his country will clear its debt with the International Monetary Fund on 2 January next year, instead of the previously announced next Thursday.
Deloitte awarded contract at Irish central bank
Deloitte and Touche has been awarded a contract to carry out an external audit at the Irish central bank.
Thailand to speed up adoption of e-payment
The Bank of Thailand plans to accelerate the adoption of electronic payment in place of cash and cheque settlement to cut financial costs and ensure efficient and quick services.
USAID works to strengthen Central Bank of Iraq
This article published on Monday 19 December reports on technical assistance being provided to assist capacity building and institutional strengthening at the Central Bank of Iraq. Historically the CBI has found it difficult to implement monetary policy,…
Argentina sells bonds to Venezuela
Argentina sold $496 million in bonds to Venezuela to help boost its international reserves as it prepares to pay back the $9.8 billion it owes the International Monetary Fund.
Bank of Portugal offloads 10 tonnes of gold
The Bank of Portugal has said it has sold 10 tonnes of gold from its reserves over the past month.
Comment: Latin America spurns the Fund
Last week Brazil and Argentina surprised the international community by announcing that they both intend paying off all of their outstanding debt to the IMF before the end of the year.
Richmond Fed promotes officer
The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond announced on Friday 9 December that Gregory Sierra would become assistant vice president, Banking Supervision and Regulation effective from 1 Jan 2006.
Juncker says Stark may not take ECB economist role
Jean-Claude Juncker has suggested that Jurgen Stark might not inherit Otmar Issing's role as Chief Economist at the ECB if he is appointed to replace Issing.
Bundesbank official is pick for ECB
This article published Wednesday 14 December looks at the chances of Jurgen Stark replacing Otmar Issing at the European Central Bank. The choice of Stark would bring to the bank someone who was intimately involved with the introduction of the euro in…
Interview with ECB's Trichet
In comments published Thursday 15 December, European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet said there is an essential difference between the ECB's Governing Council and well-respected figures, such as Jean-Claude Juncker and Thierry Breton, who have…
Interview with ECB's Bini Smaghi
Speaking recently, Lorenzo Bini Smaghi, member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank, said that the US Federal Reserve is better than the ECB is "a bit like saying that Alonso is better than Schumacher. It depends on the car. The US economy…
Philadelphia Fed names bank supervision advisor
The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia has named H. Robert Tillman special advisor to the Supervision, Regulation and Credit Department.
Richmond Fed appoints deputy general counsel
The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond announced on Wednesday 14 December that Patricia A. Lacey Nunley would be appointed to the position of deputy general counsel, with responsibility for the Legal department, effective from 1 Jan.
Macfarlane defends RBA appointments
Reserve Bank of Australia governor Ian Macfarlane has defended the process used to appoint the central bank's board members following the resignation of Robert Gerard.
CBG to get two new deputy governors
Churchill Baldeh, the Majority Leader of the National Assembly, told the Daily Observer that two new deputy governors will be appointed for the Central Bank of The Gambia.
Nigeria's Soludo - Central banker of the year
The governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Charles Soludo, has been named the African and Global Central Bank Governor of the Year 2005 by 'The Banker' magazine.
Philadelphia Fed President to leave next year
Anthony Santomero, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, announced on Friday 16 December that he will leave his position as president effective 31 March.
Bank of England Financial Stability Review, Dec 05
The Bank of England published its latest Financial Stability Review for December 2005 on Friday 16 December. Near-term risks to the UK financial sector from default by households, firms and overseas borrowers seem limited, and conditions in international…
Argentina plans full IMF debt repayment
Argentina has said it will pay back its entire $9.8 billion debt to the International Monetary Fund, ending 22-year-old links with the lender.
Comment: Contagion threat still present
An increasing number of emerging market economies (EMEs) are finding that they are able to borrow money in international capital markets, and on historically favourable terms.