Central Banks
Ex-Thai central bank chief ordered to repay $4.6bn
The former governor of Thailand's central bank, Rerngchai Marakanond, was ordered on Tuesday 2 June to pay back the Bt186bn (US$4.57bn) spent in the futile defence of the currency on the eve of the 1997 Asian financial crisis.
Canada's Dodge on international economics
In the speech 'Reflections on the international economic and monetary order' given on 30 May David Dodge of the Bank of Canada warned China and other Asian nations that unless they let their currencies rise, they risk retaliation from the United States…
Sweden's Bergstrom on monetary policy
In the speech given on 26 May Villy Bergstrom of the Sveriges Riksbank said that given the economic situation, employment has shown unusually weak growth and unemployment is at a relatively high level, by Swedish standards.
Bundesbank's Remsperger on macroeconomic risks
In the speech 'Macroeconomic risk and policy responses' given on 27 May Hermann Remsperger of the Deutsche Bundesbank said few central bankers would dispute the need to firmly anchor long-run inflation expectations at a low level. However, there may be…
Issing on the monetary pillar of the ECB
In the speech 'The monetary pillar of the ECB' given on 3 June Otmar Issing of the ECB said the ECB's monetary policy has been an undisputed success since the launch of the euro in 1999.
Turkmen central bank chief fired for embezzlement
Shekersoltan Muhammedova, the acting governor of Turkmenistan's central bank, was sacked this week for "grave shortcomings and embezzlement of state funds," according to the BBC Monitoring Service which quoted the translation of a report on Turkmen TV…
Italian minister suggests return to lira
An Italian government minister has suggested the country should consider bringing back the euro.
Gramlich unsure on what 'inning' Fed is in
Federal Reserve governor Edward Gramlich said on Friday 3 June that he did not know what stage the US central bank was at in its interest-rate rise cycle.
BNB chief says euro breakaway idea 'absurd'
Belgian National Bank governor Guy Quaden dismissed as 'an absurd scenario' talk that some EU countries will break away from the euro zone in the wake of the French and Dutch rejections of Europe's constitution.
SARB says inflation to stay in target
The South African Reserve Bank said Thursday 2 June that inflation will remain inside the 3-6 percent target band and the economy had entered a phase of high growth.
Iraq's small coins going unused
Millions of dinar coins minted by the Central Bank of Iraq are going unused as banks are reluctant to accept them, and high inflation means there is less and less need for small denominations.
Canada's Jenkin's on adapting to global change
In the speech 'Adapting to global change: A Canadian perspective' given on 1 June, Paul Jenkins of the Bank of Canada said the central bank will have to raise interest rates as the economy accelerates this year and next to thwart inflation.
New York Fed's Foreign Exchange Operations Report
The U.S. monetary authorities did not intervene in the foreign exchange markets during the January - March quarter, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said in its Treasury and Federal Reserve Foreign Exchange Operations quarterly report to the U.S…
ECB's Financial Stability Review, June 2005
The European Central Bank published its June 2005 Financial Stability Review on 31 May. In the report the ECB said the outlook for financial stability is more mixed than six months ago.
BIS completes redistribution of shares
The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) announced on Wednesday 1 June the sale to its member central banks of 35,933 BIS shares valued at SDR 468.2 million.
ECB book on 3rd Central Banking Conference
The European Central Bank on Monday 30 May published a book entitled "The New EU Member States: Convergence and Stability", containing the proceedings of the Third ECB Central Banking Conference, held in Frankfurt am Main on 21 and 22 October 2004.
Trichet says ECB unanimous that rates appropriate
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet said the ECB governing council was 'unanimous' at its meeting Thursday that interest rates remain appropriate.
Taya says BOJ may delay bond purchase cut
Japan's central bank may hold off reducing its monthly bond purchases after it cuts the target for reserves available to lenders, according to Teizo Taya, a former policy maker.
Dallas Fed chief says tightening cycle may be over
The FOMC may soon end its trend of interest rate increases but inflation remains a risk due to strong U.S. growth, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President Richard Fisher said on Wednesday 1 June.
Nigeria plans payment system reforms
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said its major priority following the consolidation of the banking industry is to reform the payments system which currently remains largely cash-based.
RBA paper warns on inflation targets
A research paper published by the Reserve Bank of Australia on Thursday 2 June has warned that central banks should not set their inflation targets too low.
Chicago Fed's Moskow on job losses
In the speech 'Job loss: Causes, consequences, and policy responses' given on 26 May Michael Moskow of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago said U.S. monetary policy remains accommodative and, with the economy on a solid growth path, interest rates can…
Trichet on financial markets integration in Europe
In the speech 'Financial markets integration in Europe: the ECB's view' given on 26 May, Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said we are at a particularly crucial stage in terms of the regulation of EU securities markets and more in general financial…