Central Banks
Solomon Islands cb chief won't stand for 3rd term
Ric Hou, the governor of the Solomon Islands central bank has said he will not stand for a third term. He called on his successor to ensure the central bank remains independent of government interference.
Working group meets on Russia, Belarus currency
Russia's president Putin met his finance minister on Monday 9 June to discuss the introduction from 2005 of the Russian rouble to Belarus as a single payment unit, according to a report by Pravda.
Cash crisis forces U.S. to print Saddam banknotes
The acting central bank governor of Iraq, Faleh Salman, says the Bank has been forced to print millions of 250 dinar bank notes with Saddam Hussain's face on them. Presses started up last week, Reuters reported, after Iraqi workers refused to accept the…
U.K. Euro Decision: Assessment and Analysis Guide
A report published on Monday 9 June by Bloomberg News provides a concise guide to the UK decision on the euro. It lists the five tests and the 18 separate studies used in the decision process as to whether to call a referendum on adopting the euro in the…
BOJ's Fukui may detail plan to buy corporate debt
Governor of the Bank of Japan Toshihiko Fukui is likely to spell out this week details of a plan to buy corporate debt to make it easier for companies to borrow, according to Bloomberg News.
RBA chief Macfarlane denies conflict with gov't
Reserve Bank of Australia governor Ian Macfarlane said on Sunday 8 June that although there may be differences of opinion between the Treasury and the Bank's board there was no conflict between the RBA and the government, according to The Australian.
UK 'should join euro' when economics are right
The UK chancellor Gordon Brown confirmed on Monday 9 June that only one of the five economic tests had been passed for Britain's entry to the euro. He also set out measures that would increase economic convergence between the UK and eurozone saying he…
More dynamic BOJ sees off media critics
Senior BOJ staff professes themselves pleased with the public relations impact of the more active communications strategy followed since Toshihiko Fukui took over from Hayami-san as governor in March. "Even Yomiuri Shimbun has stopped criticizing us,"…
Danish central bank cuts rates to 2.15%
The Danish central bank has again mirrored the ECB's half point rate cut yesterday by also cutting rates half a percent to 2.15%, according to a Bloomberg report. This is its lowest level in almost two centuries.
Real strengthens as Brazilian cb intervenes
The Brazilian currency, the real, continues to gain as the central bank sells securities, Bloomberg reports. It has outperfomed all major trading currencies this year and gained 22%.
Greenspan found learning a 'troublesome activity'
Alan Greenspan has been providing encouragement to school children, but when they asked whether rates are going up or down he replied smilingly, "Yes", according to a report from This is London.
Afghanistan cb exerts influence over provinces
Leaders in the north of Afghanistan have promised to give full assistance in implementing the central bank's orders, according to a report by the BBC Monitoring Service.
Sound economics help - Dodge speech
David Dodge identifed the Bank of Canada's inflation-targeting regime as a key stablising force for the Canadian economy. He was speaking in Berlin at the to the German-Canadian Business Club.
Forex reserves to record highs in India, Pakistan
Forex reserves in India and Pakistan have reached record highs this week, Business Line, India, reports.
Euro rises as ECB cuts rates by 0.5%
Slowing inflation has prompted the ECB to at last cut rates by half a percentage point to 2%, after persistent pressure from the markets, Bloomberg reports. The immediate consequence was a rise in the euro.
Smits on Consitutional Position of the ECB
In his inaugural address as Amsterdam University's new professor of law of economic and monetary union, Dr Rene Smits considers the strange legal status of the European Central Bank.
Transformation of the European Financial System
Based on an ECB conference held in October, "Transformation of the European Financial System" examines how the switch to the euro has affected European financial markets.
Sterling also rises as BOE leaves rates on hold
The Bank of England left rates unchanged on Thursday, causing the pound to rise against both the dollar and the euro according to a report by Bloomberg. It was governor Sir Eddie George's last appearance on the MPC.
RBNZ lowers rates to 5.25%
Weak consumer confidence caused the Reserve Bank of New Zealand to cut the official cash rate by a quarter of a percentage point to 5.25%, Reuters reports. Although the cut was expected, some economists had predicted it would be greater.
New standards for Australia's clearers
The Reserve Bank of Australia has released two new standards to govern the Australian stock settlement systems. One is addressed towards central counterparties, the other to securities settlement facilities.
Venezuelan cb urges easing of forex controls
A director of Venezuela's central bank, Armando Leon, has pressed for the government to ease - although not to end - the country's currency control system set up four months ago, in the face of a deepening recession, according to Reuters.
International Research Forum on Monetary Policy
The Fed and ECB have announced the dates for their second international monetary research conference to be held in Washington, November 14-15 2003.
Slovakia's cb favours fast euro entry
The National Bank of Slovakia governor Marian Jusko believes joining the euro will create a "stable economic environment" and consequently favours a fast entry to the euro zone.