Central Banks
Riksbank's general council backs extra dividend
SWEDEN - The General Council of Sweden's Riksbank Friday presented a proposal to the Swedish parliament recommending that an additional SEK20 billion of the central bank's net income for 2001 be transferred to the Treasury.
Niedermayer to CNB board with effect from 27 Feb
CZECH REPUBLIC - President Vaclav Havel today re-appointed central bank CNB vice-governor Ludek Niedermayer to the Bank Board for another six-year term, with effect from 27 February.
Polish bank cautious about economic plan
POLAND - Two weeks after Poland's government issued an ambitious five-year strategy to kick-start slumping economic growth, the National Bank of Poland has maintained a stony silence.
Fed ready to raise rates this year - Guynn
US - The Federal Reserve may start reversing its series of 11 interest rate cuts if a stronger-than-expected recovery this year rekindles inflation concerns, says Jack Guynn, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.
Australian Reserve Bank's credit-card plan slated
AUSTRALIA - MasterCard said it will consider scaling back its Australian operations if the central bank proceeds with its plan to cut credit-card fees and open the credit-card system to new participants.
Gold bugs should not get too excited
AUSTRALIA - Predictions of a sustained increase in gold prices are not expected to be realised. The reason for the lack of a sustained revival is the poor business foundations of the gold industry.
Czech central banker opposes ERM
CZECH REPUBLIC - The Czech Republic should spend as little time as possible in an exchange-rate mechanism prior to adoption of the euro, said the central bank's governor, Zdenek Tuma.
St Louis Fed's Poole - Markets must understand Fed
US - St. Louis Federal Reserve President William Poole said on Wednesday that it was important financial markets understand the goals and plans of monetary policymakers.
Speech by Christian Noyer of the ECB
SPEECH - Noyer called the speech 'Success factors of the euro and the ECB' and said the euro is undervalued against the dollar, but added it was "very difficult" to tell when the euro would rebound, 13 February.
ECB Monthly Bulletin, February 2002
REPORT - The European Central Bank has published its latest Monthly Report for February 2002.
Venezuela's currency in freefall
VENEZUELA - Venezuela's currency has plummeted 25% against the US dollar after the government scrapped five-year-old exchange rate controls.
ECB Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - Annual hard copy publication of the: List of Monetary Financial Institutions and institutions subject to minimum reserves as at the end of December 2001, 14 February.
Gay online bank shuts down
US - The first online bank aimed at the gay and lesbian community in the US is to close after admitting it could not make a profit in the current economic climate.
Argentine peso strengthens
ARGENTINA - It is now three days since Argentina allowed its currency, the peso, to float freely for the first time in more than a decade and so far the peso has held its own, contrary to many experts' predictions.
Russian gov't to suggest amendments to c bank bill
RUSSIA - The Russian government intends to suggest its amendments to the Bill on the Central Bank of Russia before the second reading, Deputy Prime Minister, Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin told reporters.
ECB Feb bulletin - Reiterates Duisenberg remarks
GERMANY - The European Central Bank Thursday repeated that interest rates in the euro zone remain at an appropriate level and that it expects a gradual economic recovery this year.
Speech by Villy Bergstrom of the Sveriges Riksbank
SPEECH - In the speech given 11 February Bergstrom said capital market regulation and the idea of a levy on speculative foreign exchange transactions, a "Tobin tax", may gain favour among politicians after a decade of currency crises.
Speech by Eddie George, Bank of England Governor
SPEECH - In the speech made Tuesday evening George said an unexpected jump in the UK's January inflation rate was probably "erratic" and forecast it would be around the Bank's 2.5 percent target in two year's time.
Bank of England Inflation Report - February 2002
REPORT - The Bank of England has published its latest quarterly inflation report for February 2002, 13 February.
CGFS release report on IT innovation and financing
PRESS RELEASE - Under the auspices of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), the Committee on the Global Financial System (CGFS) is today releasing a report entitled IT innovations and financing patterns: implications for the financial system, 13…
Committee on the Global Financial System (CGFS)
REPORT - IT innovations and financing patterns: implications for the financial system, February 2002.
Bank of Japan Monthly Report - English text
REPORT - Monthly Report of Recent Economic and Financial Developments from the Bank of Japan, February 2002. Full English text available 13 February.
Venezuela's currency slides after floating
VENEZUELA - Venezuela's currency has fallen 3.9% to about 824 bolivars to the dollar after the government scrapped five-year old exchange rate controls.
Banks review systems for managing risk
UK - Risk managers at banks in Britain and Ireland are re-examining defences against rogue traders following the loss of $750m (£532m) by Allied Irish Banks last week.