Central Banks
Stern sees signs business spending picking up
FEATURE - Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis President Gary Stern said on Thursday that business spending was starting to pick up and the U.S. economy is on track for moderate growth this year.
Germany's recession at an end
GERMANY - Economic growth has returned to Europe's biggest economy, Germany after six months of recession.
Fed's Moskow - lower trade barriers boost growth
US - U.S. policies that reduce barriers to trade will expand employment over the long term, boost incomes and add to economic growth, said Michael Moskow, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago on Thursday.
Fed's McTeer - US GDP growth slower in Q2 than Q1
US - Dallas Federal Reserve President Robert McTeer said on Thursday he expects U.S. gross domestic product to grow more slowly in the current quarter than in the first three months of the year.
Bank of England - Annual Report 2002
ANNUAL REPORT - The Bank of England has published its Annual Report for the year ended 2002.
Wellink confident about global economy
NETHERLANDS - Dutch central bank president Nout Wellink believes the global economy is ripe for a recovery after a slowdown last year, although Japan's economy and the US current account deficit pose downside risks.
Rupee hits new low on war fears
INDIA - The rupee hit a new closing low against the dollar as war fears persisted and the Indian and Pakistani armies continued to trade fire across the border. The central bank did not intervene on Thursday.
BoJ may intervene again as yen continues to rise
JAPAN - The yen drifted higher in Asian trading Thursday, one day after the Bank of Japan intervened in the currency markets to stem the yen's surge. The central bank warns that it may step into the markets again to keep the yen from gaining too much…
S Korea economy strong but no rate rise says BoK
SOUTH KOREA - South Korea's economy roared ahead in the first quarter on soaring consumer demand, helping send its currency to 15-month highs, but Bank of Korea governor Park Seung ruled out any immediate policy moves to cool one of Asia's hottest…
Speech by Fed Vice Chairman Roger Ferguson, 21 May
SPEECH - "It does appear that a turnaround is under way and the question obviously is how robust it is going to be for the rest of this year," Ferguson said in answer to a question after giving a speech titled 'Community and Regional Banks: Increasing…
Speech by Fed Reserve Governor Mark Olson, 21 May
SPEECH - Olson said in a speech titled 'A Look at the Banking Industry in 2002' that "We have just concluded more than ten years of economic prosperity, followed by slightly more than one year of recession - a recession that is now behind us," he also…
Press Release from Sweden's central bank
PRESS RELEASE - Governor Urban Backstrom resigns at year-end, 21 May.
Press Release from Sweden's central bank
PRESS RELEASE - Sven Hulterstrom comments on Urban Backstrom's decision, 21 May.
Bank of Japan Monthly Report May 2002
REPORT - Monthly Report of Recent Economic and Financial Developments from the Bank of Japan, May 2002, released 22 May.
Speech by Joseph Yam of the HKMA, 21 May
SPEECH - Opening Remarks by Mr Joseph Yam, Chief Executive, Hong Kong Monetary Authority, 21 May. HKMA Fifth Distinguished Lecture: "The Asian Crisis: Lessons for the Future".
Speech by Dr. Stanley Fischer at the HKMA, 21 May
SPEECH - Speech by Dr. Stanley Fischer, Vice Chairman, Citigroup, former First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, 21 May. HKMA Fifth Distinguished Lecture: The Asian Crisis: Lessons for the Future.
Speech by Dr Stephen Grenville at the HKMA, 21 May
SPEECH - Speech by Dr. Stephen Grenville, Adjunct Professor, National Centre for Development Studies at the Australian National University, Canberra, former Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, 21 May. HKMA Fifth Distinguished Lecture.
ECB Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - ECB Convergence Report 2002, released 22 May.
ECB Convergence Report 2002
REPORT - The European Central Bank (ECB) publishes today its Convergence Report 2002, which examines whether Sweden has achieved a high degree of sustainable convergence, as well as the compatibility of its national legislation with the Treaty…
Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee Minutes
MINUTES - Minutes from the Bank of England's MPC meeting 8 and 9 May, released 22 May.
Dutch bank warns budget controls needed
NETHERLANDS - The next Dutch government will have to impose budget curbs to keep state finances in surplus, the central bank warned on Wednesday.
Latent recovery fails to move Bank of Japan
JAPAN - The Bank of Japan announced a decision to leave monetary policy unchanged after a two-day Policy Board meeting which ended on Tuesday.
Swedish central bank governor resigns
SWEDEN - Sweden's central bank governor said Tuesday he will resign at the end of the year, two years before his term expires, as the Scandinavian country considers adopting Europe's common currency.
Argentina taking steps for IMF accord - President
ARGENTINA - An accord between the Argentine government and its provinces will be signed within the next 10 days paving the way for an agreement with the International Monetary Fund, Argentine President Eduardo Duhalde said in an interview published on…