Central Banks
Signs of progress in Iraq
If the business of central banking may occasionally seem a touch hairy in Iraq, it isn't all bad. Although Faleh Salman, the man who has now been confirmed as governor of the central bank by the American interim administration, was the hapless victim of…
Philadelphia Fed's Santomero on economic education
In a speech entitled 'Knowledge Is Power: The Importance of Economic Education' Anthony Santomero of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia said economic education programs developed and promoted by the Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank help consumers…
Duguay - Is Canada marching to a different beat?
In a speech entitled 'Is the Canadian Economy Marching to a Different Beat?' given on 13 June Pierre Duguay of the Bank of Canada discusses why the Canadian economy stands out, with strong domestic demand, at a time when other national economies are…
Nat Bank of Kyrgyz Republic - Annual Report 2002
The National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic has published its Annual Report for the year ended 2002.
Cleveland Fed's Monetary Theory Workshop
Details of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Central Bank Institute's Monetary Theory Workshop 14-18 July. Discussions include "The Friedman Rule and the Nature of Monetary Transactions in Alternative Models" and "Mechanism Design and the Role of…
Bo J's money market operation guideline unchanged
At the Monetary Policy Meeting held 15 July, the Bank of Japan decided, by unanimous vote, to set the following, unchanged, guideline for money market operations for the intermeeting period.
Bahamas central bank wants modern payments system
The Bahamas central bank has proposed installing a "real time gross settlement system", says the Nassau Guardia. The bank has invited bids from system suppliers and hopes to implement the project by April 2004.
UK inflation shows surprise fall
The UK inflation rate fell to 2.8% on Tuesday, moving closer towards the Bank of England's 2.5% target, according to Reuters. Most analysts had predicted an increase to 3.0%.
Dinkic seen as outside bet for Serb bank chief
The Serbian finance minister, Bozidar Djelic, has said it is very unlikely that national bank governor Mladjan Dinkic would be reappointed to the central bank, according to a report by B92.
Nigeria's Sanusi seeks goal-oriented policies
The governor of the central bank of Nigeria, Dr Joseph Sanusi has urged drastic goal-oriented economic policies in West Africa. According to a Vanguard report, he said "To my mind, the time has come for a new approach and commitment to macroeconomic…
Ruble union plagued by further setbacks
Observers say that the much discussed currency union between Russia and Belarus is likely to fail altogether, reports ITAR-TASS, because it would require the Belarussian strongman to relinquish some of his power. "The delay is an entirely domestic issue,…
Ecuador seeks cen bank, fin min say on oil policy
A committee designed to expand Ecuador's oil output will include the president of the central bank of Eduador, according to a report by Reuters. The committee will work together for a year, a presidential decree made public on Monday 14 July said.
Greenspans testimony to Congress
In testimony on 15 July Alan Greenspan presented the Federal Reserve Board's semiannual monetary policy report to Congress. Greenspan said the Fed was prepared to leave interest rates at low levels "for as long as it takes". He said the Fed remained…
French bank chief nominated to head ECB
Bank of France Governor Jean-Claude Trichet was nominated by EU finance ministers on Tuesday 15 July to replace Wim Duisenberg as president of the European Central Bank, Associated Press reports. The nomination will now be sent to the European Parliament…
UK economy 'in uncharted territory'
Giving evidence before the UK parliament's treasury select committee on Tuesday new Bank of England governor Mervyn King said he had "no idea" if 3.5 per cent was exactly the right level for UK interest rates. Rachel Lomax also appeared before the…
Bank of Canada lowers interest rates 0.25%
Bank of Canada lowers target for the overnight rate by 1/4 percentage point to 3 per cent, 15 July. In its press release the bank referred to "unanticipated developments" that bear on the outlook for inflation and economic activity in Canada.
Monday Special - ECB and the retail payments mire
SPECIAL FEATURE - The European Central Bank (ECB) is preparing to intervene in the market for small bank transfers in the eurozone, unless banks move quickly to make euro transfers quicker, cheaper and less bureaucratic. For this weeks Special Feature…
Broaddus on the Economy and Monetary Policy
In the speech 'Remarks on the Economy and Monetary Policy' J. Alfred Broaddus of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond said he was confident that the Fed could put effective strategies in place if necessary to prevent significant disinflation or deflation…
Duisenberg on monetary and fiscal policy
In the speech 'Monetary and fiscal policy in the euro area' Wim Duisenberg of the ECB said that the macroeconomic policy framework in the euro area is appropriate to ensure sustained and non-inflationary economic growth. Fiscal policy should contribute…
Heikensten on the Riksbank and the euro
In the speech 'The Riksbank and the euro' Lars Heikensten of the Sveriges Riksbank noted that a "no" to the euro would not entail any major changes for the Riksbank's day-to-day business. He expects that the Riksbank would continue to conduct its…
Euro at two-month low ahead of Greenspan's comment
The euro dipped to new two-month low points against the dollar on Monday 14 July in nervous trading before US Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan's imminent statements to Congress on monetary policy, according to a report by Sapa-AFP.
ECOFIN to discuss Italian growth plan and Trichet
EU finance ministers will hold their first Council session under the Italian Presidency on 15 July, EurActiv reports. During the Euro group meeting on Monday, the ministers will launch proceedings to appoint Bank of France Governor Jean-Claude Trichet to…
Ireland's central bank to issue special E10 coin
The central bank of Ireland plans to issue a commemorative 10 euro coin during its presidency of the council of ministers in the first half of next year, BizWorld reports. The coin will mark the enlargement of the European Union.
Venezuelan president agrees to relax controls
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Sunday 13 July that the country's strict exchange controls will be loosened to allow access to U.S. dollars, according to Associated Press. Chavez did not specify how the controls would be eased, however.