Central Banks
Treasury Secretary appointed new governor at RBNZ
NEW ZEALAND - The long wait for a replacement to Donald Brash is over as Treasury Secretary Dr Alan Bollard was appointed New Zealand's new Reserve Bank Governor on Thursday.
South Korean economy grows but pace slows
SOUTH KOREA - South Korea's economy grew 1.4 percent in the second quarter, down from a 1.9 percent rise in the previous three months, as growth in consumer spending and construction slowed, the central bank said on Thursday.
San Francisco Fed's Parry: Rate policy appropriate
US - San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank President Robert Parry said on Wednesday the current level of U.S. interest rates is "appropriate" and stimulative for the economy, which is in a modest expansion.
Philadelphia Fed survey shows factory growth slows
US - U.S. factory growth appears to have stalled, stirring speculation the Federal Reserve may cut interest rates in coming months to ward off a second recession if the weakness spreads.
Thai central bank chief upbeat about progress
THAILAND - The managed float of the baht and inflation-targeting system are appropriate for setting monetary policy in current economic circumstances, according to M.R. Pridiyathorn Devakula, governor of the Bank of Thailand, reports the Bangkok Post.
Brazil c bank holds rates with a downward bias
BRAZIL - Brazil's central bank held its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 18 percent on Wednesday as financial turmoil ahead of October presidential elections continued to batter the currency and fan inflation.
Russian gold, fx reserves increase to new record
RUSSIA - Russia's gold and foreign exchange reserves on 9-16 August were up by 600m dollars to 44.7bn dollars, Prime-TASS said on Thursday with reference to the Central Bank public relations department.
Bank of Finland - Annual Report 2001
ANNUAL REPORT - The Bank of Finland has published its Annual Report for the year ended 2001.
Speech by Ian Macfarlane of the RBA, 21 Aug
SPEECH - In the speech titled 'What Does Good Monetary Policy Look Like?' Macfarlane said the expected development of the domestic economy was still on track, but for the world economy, and particularly the US economy, some serious doubts had arisen. He…
Bank of England News Release, 21 Aug
NEWS RELEASE - New Design £5 Banknotes. As announced on 14 August, the issue of the new Elizabeth Fry £5 banknote restarts on 21 August. This follows suspension of issuance on 27 May after it was discovered that on some notes it was possible to remove…
Federal Reserve Board, Press Release, 20 Aug
PRESS RELEASE - The Federal Reserve Board announced on Tuesday that it will not, over the near term, incorporate two policy options into its longer-term Payments System Risk (PSR) policy plan. The Board will, however, continue to analyze the benefits and…
Speech by Anne Krueger of the IMF, 26 Jul
SPEECH - In the speech 'Preventing and Resolving Financial Crises: The Role of Sovereign Debt Restructuring' Krueger said the various elements she discussed add up to "an ambitious agenda that will help us prevent crises where we can, and manage them as…
Speech by Svein Gjedrem of Norges Bank, 21 Aug
SPEECH - On Wednesday Gjedrem said in a speech titled 'Monetary policy in an oil economy' that lower wage growth would boost earnings and employment. In addition, interest rates could be reduced. He added that activity in the Norwegian economy as a whole…
Monetary Authority of Macau - Annual Report 2001
ANNUAL REPORT - The Monetary Authority of Macau has published its Annual Report for the year ended 2001.
New Bank of England £5 notes reissued
UK - The Bank of England is to restart distribution of the new £5 notes. The notes have already been delivered to banks and post offices, and from Wednesday morning are being made available to the public.
Wage restraint could bring rate cuts for Norway
NORWAY - Norway's central bank governor said on Wednesday that demand and activity in Norway's oil-backed economy was still high but that lower wage growth could provide a basis for lower interest rates.
Philadelphia Fed's Santomero says policy is right
US - Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President Anthony Santomero said on Wednesday that the economic recovery, while more modest than expected, should move forward and that the Fed's current policy stance is appropriate.
SARB inflation target seen as out of reach
SOUTH AFRICA - Consumer inflation surprised on the upside last month, fuelling expectations that the Reserve Bank's targets for next year are getting out of reach, though Business Day reports economists said they did not expect interest rates to rise…
RBA's Macfarlane signals rates may head higher
AUSTRALIA - Reserve Bank Governor Ian Macfarlane on Wednesday delivered an upbeat view of the Australian economy, warned of a looming shakeout in property and signalled that the bank remains on course to raise interest rates once global uncertainties…
Young blood for MAS' senior ranks
SINGAPORE - Nine officers at the Monetary Authority of Singapore, whose average age is 40, will move into key positions as part of organisational revamp, the Singapore Straits Times reported on Tuesday.
Philippines central bank tightens rules on credit
PHILIPPINES - The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is set to issue this week a circular restraining banks and credit card companies from issuing pre-approved "plastic money" and requiring them to adopt a stricter system of screening credit card applications.
Chicago Fed's Moskow sees ongoing U.S. expansion
US - Chicago Federal Reserve President Michael Moskow said Wednesday that he expected the U.S. economy to keep growing, while warning that the path back to its potential growth rate could be rocky.
Dollar falls as Saudi investors withdraw billions
SAUDI ARABIA - The dollar today fell from recent highs against the euro and yen following a report that Saudi investors were pulling billions of dollars out of the US.
Deutsche Bundesbank Monthly Report, July 2002
REPORT - Germany's central bank, on Tuesday published its Monthly Report for July 2002. The Bundesbank report reveals that the German economy grew slightly in the second quarter by 0.25 percent in April to June compared with the previous three months…