Central Banks
Interview with Central Bank of Malta's Bonello
In a recent interview the governor of the Central Bank of Malta, Michael Bonello, said Malta is well suited to participate in the euro area. Delaying euro adoption would not only postpone the benefits of the single currency but could also place Malta…
Interview with International Monetary Fund's Rato
In an interview published on Monday 4 April Rodrigo Rato, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, said we are not advising any type of revaluation in China, but are instead advising flexibility. And we believe that it is in the interests of…
Interview with RBA's Broadbent
Following the Reserve Bank of Australia's meeting this week RBA board member Jillian Broadbent said in an interview on Wednesday 6 April that the central bank remains confident it can achieve its inflation target and maintain sustainable economic growth.
Paraguay appoints interim central bank president
Economist Benicio Sanchez has been chosen as interim president of the Paraguayan central bank by fellow directors following the resignation of Gabriel Gonzalez, local press reported.
NY's Geithner: Perspectives on US monetary policy
In the speech 'Perspectives on U.S. monetary policy' given on 1 April Timothy Geithner of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said the actions of individual chairmen have been very important in the history of the Fed.
Fullani on central banking in time of integration
In the speech 'Central banking in the time of integration' given on 25 March Ardian Fullani of the Bank of Albania summarises the numerous papers presented during the two days of the Fifth Conference of the Bank of Albania.
History explains Indian comfort with reserve surge
This article says the trauma of the 1991 crisis, triggered by the drying up of capital flows and withdrawals by non-resident Indians, goes along way to explain why India is comfortable increasing its stockpile of reserves. "There's no faith in the…
ECB's Trichet says euro zone growth continuing
European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet told a press conference Thursday that economic growth in the euro area is continuing at a moderate pace but there are no clear signs of a strengthening in underlying dynamism.
IMF's Rato on sustaining global growth & stability
In the speech 'Sustaining global growth and stability-The role of the IMF' given on 6 April Rodrigo Rato of the IMF warned that the poor state of US finances combined with rising interest rates and high oil prices are a threat to global growth.
World Bank warns poor countries on dollar reserves
The World Bank warned the central banks of developing nations on Wednesday 6 April that a sudden decline in the dollar could prove costly for them if global interest rates rise.
Fukui: Reserve target adjustment isn't tightening
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui told lawmakers Thursday 7 April a ``numerical adjustment'' in the amount of funds the Bank of Japan makes available to lenders wouldn't mean the central bank is tightening monetary policy.
Asean securities market interlinked by 2010
Asean's finance ministers said at the end of their 9th meeting they have agreed to further enhance the regional capital market by developing an interlinked Asean securities market by 2010.
Russian lawmakers call for central bank probe
Russian lawmakers called on prosecutors Wednesday 6 April to investigate the theft of confidential information from the central bank's computer system.
Switzerland's growth deficit: A real problem
A recent paper by Ulrich Kohli of the Swiss National Bank "Switzerland's growth deficit: A real problem - but only half as bad as it looks" says the anaemic growth performance of Switzerland over the past quarter of a century is a cause for concern.
Fukuma on recent economic developments in Japan
In the speech 'Recent economic and financial developments in Japan' given on 24 February (published 29 March) Toshikatsu Fukuma of the Bank of Japan said the central bank should maintain the current target of 30-35 trln yen at least until April, when the…
NY Fed's Baxter on Islamic financial services
Speaking at the Seminar on legal issues in the Islamic financial services industry in Kuwait City in March, Thomas Baxter of the New York Fed said U.S. financial institutions are beginning to recognise the importance of the Islamic financial market.
Sweden's Heikensten on the economic outlook
In a speech on current monetary policy Sveriges Riksbank governor Lars Heikensten said on 4 April growth is expected to be around three per cent a year, higher than what the economy is deemed capable of sustaining in the long run.
Can Bank of England's Mervyn King take on Blair?
With a general election set for 5 May in the UK, this article asks whether the Bank of England will take on Tony Blair and raise rates on Thursday risking a political backlash from the party that looks set to win the election. Or keep them on hold, and…
Fed's Greenspan on energy
In the speech 'Energy' given on 5 April Alan Greenspan of the Federal Reserve said market forces could lead to a big enough increase in crude oil inventories to cool the recent "frenzy" that has sent prices to record highs.
Greenspan warns of risks from mortgage giants
In testimony on Wednesday 6 April Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan called on Congress to curb the rapid growth of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, telling Senators this was vital to cut the risks the mortgage finance giants pose to the U.S. financial…
World Bank report says US deficit to fall slowly
The US current account deficit is expected to decline gradually over the next three years, according to the World Bank's annual Global Development Finance report.