Central Banks
Brazil leaves interest rates unchanged
BRAZIL - Brazil's central bank has said it will leave interest rates unchanged at 18% until after the forthcoming presidential election, following fresh concerns over the country's economy.
Canada's Dodge leans toward rate hike
CANADA - David Dodge, the governor of the Bank of Canada, indicated Thursday that external factors would guide the central bank's short-term monetary policy, but the bank's preference would be to raise interest rates to slow down the domestic economy.
Mid-Atlantic factory output edges up in Sept
US - Manufacturing activity in the U.S. mid-Atlantic region turned positive in September, providing a ray of hope that the summer slowdown in the factory sector was temporary.
Visa plans legal action against RBA
AUSTRALIA - The largest credit card company operating in Australia, Visa International, has launched an unprecedented legal action against the Reserve Bank of Australia to overturn reforms Visa claims will discourage its 10 million card holders from…
Central Bank of Barbados wins netball game
BARBADOS - Central Bank of Barbados (CBB) defeated Customs 17-12 in a low keyed match-up to open the National Sports Council's (NSC) Inter-Governmental netball competition on Tuesday at the Netball Stadium.
No global recession likely - Fed's McDonough
US - New York Federal Reserve President William McDonough said on Thursday the chances of a world recession were extremely low, despite an expected slowdown in growth on the back of higher oil prices.
RBA Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - Reform of credit card schemes in Australia, 19 September.
Speech by A Fazio, Governor Bank of Italy, 21 July
SPEECH - In the speech titled 'Globalization, law, the person' Fazio said with the increase in wealth, distributive inequalities have been aggravated. Some countries have not shared in the benefits of expanding trade. International crises ultimately…
Speech by Governor, State Bank of Pakistan, 1 Aug
SPEECH - In the speech titled 'Why does Pakistan have to accumulate foreign reserves?' Husain said "the stability in the exchange rate, the reversal of flight capital, the arrest in dollarisation of the economy, low inflation, the reduction in interest…
Speech by W. McDonough, New York Fed Bank, 11 Sep
SPEECH - In the speech McDonough said 'sadly, all too many members of the inner circle of the business elite participated in the over-expansion of executive compensation'. He was speaking to an audience attending a 11 September memorial service at…
Speech by Svein Gjedrem of Norges Bank, 30 Aug
SPEECH - Gjedrem said in the speech titled 'Monetary policy, securities markets and municipalities' that Norway has a well-developed financial system, but it has a small bond market compared with other countries. In the long run, a larger and more liquid…
International Monetary Fund - Annual Report 2002
ANNUAL REPORT - The International Monetary Fund has published its Annual Report for the year ended 2002. In the Annual Report the IMF report that in 2001 the world economy experienced a synchronized, widespread slowdown after the unusually strong…
Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee Minutes
MINUTES - Minutes of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee Meeting, 4 and 5 September 2002. The MPC voted unanimously in favour of maintaining the repo rate at 4%. The Committee agreed that the world economy was on balance a little weaker than…
Bank of Japan Public Statement
STATEMENT - New Initiative Toward Financial System Stability, 18 September.
Bank of Japan Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - On today's decision at the Monetary Policy Meeting, 18 September.
BoJ plans radical share buying idea to aid banks
JAPAN - In an unprecedented move, the Bank of Japan on Wednesday said it planned to buy shares from banks directly in an effort to prop up the faltering stock market.
Russian one currency plan unacceptable to Belarus
BELARUS - Speaking on plans for the introduction of a single union currency, Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka described the introduction of the Russian rouble in Belarus as a necessary step, but slammed Russian suggestions that roubles be…
Norges Bank keeps interest rates unchanged
NORWAY - Norway's central bank kept interest rates on hold at an executive board meeting on Wednesday but switched to a neutral bias for rates, reflecting dwindling inflationary pressures in the oil-backed economy.
Bank of England unanimous on holding rates
UK - The Monetary Policy Committee voted unanimously to keep UK interest rates unchanged at their September meeting according to the latest minutes published on Wednesday by the Bank of England.
Fed's McDonough has advice for SA's bankers
SOUTH AFRICA - Bank capital rules brought up to date for a global marketplace must be flexible and take into account a bank's size and its risk appetite, New York Federal Reserve President William McDonough said on Wednesday.
Fiji issues new banknotes
FIJI - The Reserve Bank of Fiji has issued banknotes with new security features.
Speech by Governor, State Bank of Pakistan, 15 Aug
SPEECH - In the speech titled 'Marketing Pakistan's Image' Husain said "in the end, I would just like to underscore a basic point: the development of a brand called Pakistan and the subsequent marketing of a positive image for Pakistan requires a…
Reserve Bank of New Zealand Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - New Policy Targets Agreement, Joint Press Statement by Finance Minister Michael Cullen and incoming Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard, 17 September 2002.
Speech by Robert Parry, San Francisco Fed, 12 Sep
SPEECH - In the speech titled 'The Economic Outlook for the Nation and the Region: A Monetary Policymakers View' Parry said "my basic view is that we're now in the midst of a modest expansion". While the recession hasn't been officially declared over yet…