Central Banks
Azerbaijan selects TietoEnator card system
The National Bank of Azerbaijan has contracted with TietoEnator for the supply of a payment card system, which will be deployed at a new national processing centre.
ECB holds rates, sees improving eurozone economy
European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet said on Thursday 6 may that after a "mixed" set of economic indicators for the 12-country eurozone so far this year, the most recent data appeared to be more "encouraging".
Moskow on personal financial management
In the speech 'The Importance of Personal Financial Management' given on 27 April Michael Moskow of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago said new technologies and regulatory changes have allowed banks and other financial institutions to create many new,…
Fed's Bies on innovation in financial markets
In the speech 'Innovation in financial markets and banking relationships' given on 27 April Susan Bies of the Federal Reserve said the credit swap market must prevent inside information on lending customers leaking to trading desks. A credit swap…
Hoenig on macro aspects of financial supervision
In the speech 'Exploring the Macro-Prudential Aspects of Financial Sector Supervision' given on 27 April Thomas Hoenig of the Kansas Fed said he agreed with those who stress the need to take a systemwide or macro prudential view of financial market…
Deutsche Bundesbank - Annual Report 2003
The Deutsche Bundesbank has published its Annual Report for the year ended 2003. For the German economy 2003 was a year of major change, the report says. At the start of the year, Germany was in a severe crisis of growth and confidence. However, in the…
Fed holds rates, drops patient pledge
The Federal Open Market Committee decided Tuesday to keep its target for the federal funds rate at 1 percent. In its statement it dropped the "can be patient" phrase used previously, saying interest rates can rise "at a pace that is likely to be measured…
BIS warns over fake website
The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) on Tuesday warned that its name and logo were being used in scams to defraud the public with offers of consumer banking services.
New law to streamline central bank of Iraq
The civil authorities of the US occupation forces in Iraq have issued a new law to streamline the working of the country's central bank, reports Xinhua.
Dallas Fed conference on euro successes/challenges
The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and University of Texas at Austin will host an assembly of key economists and European central bankers on 14 May to discuss the euro's successes and assess challenges it now faces.
Trichet calls for banking consolidation in Europe
European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet on Wednesday called for further consolidation in the European banking sector and said that cross-border tie-ups were likely to accelerate in future.
Fed study says US deflation risk was overstated
A new study from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta says risks of U.S. deflation may have been overstated, blaming the scare last year on rent and used car prices rather than widespread disinflation.
ECB signs agreement with Interpol
The President of the ECB, Jean-Claude Trichet, and the Secretary General of Interpol, Ronald K. Noble, have signed an agreement aimed at ensuring effective co-operation between both parties in the protection of the euro and the fight against…
New Member State NCBs included in ERMII agreement
As of 1 May 2004, the National Central Banks of the ten new Member States of the European Union have become parties to the ERM II Central Bank Agreement.
Euro banknotes with Jean-Claude Trichet signature
Euro banknotes bearing the signature of Jean-Claude Trichet, President of the European Central Bank (ECB), are starting to come into circulation, the ECB said in a statement. Production of these banknotes began shortly after Trichet became President on 1…
Four new EU members hope to join euro
Four of the 10 new European Union members could take the first step towards joining the euro by the end of the year, with the aim of adopting the single currency in 2007, according to the European Commission.
BOJ's Fukui sees hope for prices
The governor of the Bank of Japan, Toshihiko Fukui, said on Sunday 2 May that he saw hope for ending six years of falling prices as early as the end of the current fiscal year, which began April 1.
Sarkozy pledges to cut in deficit, sell reserves
French Finance Minister Nicolas Sarkozy has promised to bring the country's deficit under control and also proposed to sell some of the gold held at the Bank of France.
Fed set to hold rates, but signal change in stance
Federal Reserve policy-makers were due to meet on Tuesday 4 May to plot the beginning of the end for the lowest U.S. official interest rates in 46 years. Some analysts believe there's a chance that the Fed might drop the word ''patient'' in its statement…
SADC: Central bank independence reduces inflation
Finance and development planning minister, Baledzi Gaolathe, told the SADC meeting of central bank governors in Botswana that countries where central banks enjoy independence had greater success in reducing inflation and improved micro economic…
Ethics for central bankers
The ejection of Ernst Welteke from the presidency of the Bundesbank has focused many central bankers on the issue of professional ethics. CentralBankNet examines how leading central banks navigate the issue.
Weber officially takes over at Bundesbank
Economics professor Axel Weber was formally appointed on Friday 30 April to head the Bundesbank, following Ernst Welteke's recent resignation. He can therefore attend the next meeting of the European Central Bank in Helsinki next week.
IMF to name new Managing Director Tuesday
The International Monetary Fund will announce its next managing director on Tuesday 4 May, board sources said on Thursday, Reuters reported. The job is widely expected to go to Spain's former economy minister, Rodrigo Rato.