Central Banks
Kazakhstan appoints new deputy
According to a decree from President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Askar Yelemesov was appointed deputy president of the National Bank of Khasakhstan on Wednesday 3 March.
ECB board member confirmation hearing in April
The European Parliament said on Wednesday 3 March that it will hold a confirmation hearing with the nominee for the ECB's soon to be vacant seat. It spoke of a broadening of backgrounds which "would come from board members with an academic or…
Paul Sweezy dies at 93
Paul M Sweezy, a Harvard University economist who did much work on the theory of oligopoly, and left academia to become America's leading Marxist intellectual and publisher during the cold war era, died on Saturday 28 February at his New York home.
Court upholds immunity of former BSP chief Laya
The Third Division of the Philippines Sandiganbayan Court has upheld the immunity granted to former Central Bank governor Jaime Laya by the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) and dismissed the $65 million graft case against him.
Three BI insiders proposed for senior dep governor
President Megawati has proposed three names from within Bank Indonesia as candidates for the post of senior deputy governor, reflecting the government's intention to pick someone who is already familiar with the central bank's working environment.
Trichet on the EU accession process
Speaking at the 'Paris seminar on the EU accession process' on 4 March, Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said that as European central bankers, our destiny is intertwined with the destiny of our continent. As Europe is being rebuilt and reunited, so we are…
Guynn on growth in a time of low interest rates
In a speech on 'Growth in a Time of Low Interest Rates' given on 4 March, Jack Guynn of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta said the steep interest-rate cuts of 2001 and 2002 were not neutral monetary policy. Rates were reduced in response to a…
Bank of Canada Research Fellowship Award for 2004
The Bank of Canada announced on Thursday 4 March that Professor Rene Garcia, of the Universite de Montreal, is the recipient of the bank's Fellowship award for research for 2004.
St Louis Fed's Central Banker, Spring 2004
The Spring 2004 edition of the St. Louis Fed's Central Banker magazine has been published. The latest issue carries a report on the new plans for the Little Rock and Louisville branches after the restructurings are complete, and the senior vice president…
Fed says foreign central banks buying record debt
Holdings of U.S. debt by foreign central banks have hit a new record, the Federal Reserve said on Thursday 4 March, the 19th straight week that purchases of Treasury and agency paper have risen.
Schroeder calls for better dollar/euro balance
Speaking on Friday 5 March, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said he would be happy if the dollar and euro "come into a reasonable balance".
Jarai: Hungary further and further away from 2008
President Zsigmond Jarai of the National Bank of Hungary said in a TV interview that Hungary is slipping "further and further away" from the introduction of the euro in 2008.
PBOC repeats plan to perfect exchange rate regime
China plans to give the market a greater role in setting the exchange rate for the yuan, but will keep the fixed currency basically stable for now, the country's foreign exchange chief said on Friday 5 March.
OECD upbeat on prospects for world economy
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development said on Friday 5 March that US economic prospects continue to improve, along with those of all major industrialised economies of the world except Italy.
IMF contenders line up after Kohler's shock exit
Horst Kohler's decision on Thursday 4 March to step down a year early from the IMF to accept a nomination to become German president has seen various names enter the fray as possible successors, including UK chancellor Gordon Brown.
IMF pats BOE on back
The IMF, in a report following annual consultations with London, said on Friday the British economy "has weathered the global slowdown well" and that following a slowdown in the wake of the Iraq war, "economic activity has staged a strong recovery."
Greenspan 'Maestro of Chutzpah'
In his New York Times column "Maestro of Chutzpah", Paul Krugman says Alan Greenspan "betrayed his institution, and the nation" by using his office to promote a political agenda.
Bank of Canada announces anti-counterfeiting award
The Bank of Canada announced on Wednesday 3 March the creation of a Law Enforcement Award of Excellence that will be presented annually to an official who demonstrates outstanding commitment and initiative in the fight against banknote counterfeiting.
Federal Reserve Board - Beige Book, March 2003
The Federal Reserve released its March 2004 survey of Current Economic Conditions, known as the Beige Book, on 3 March. The report said economic activity continued to expand in January and February but on the jobs front the report found employment …