Central Banks
Banks fail on internet targets
UK - Banks have failed to meet targets for cost savings from internet banking and almost half believe the business case for setting up web services may not be viable.
Hayami: Financial systems more stable than 1998
JAPAN - Bank of Japan Governor Masaru Hayami said Thursday 4 October that Japan's financial system is much more stable than it was in 1998, when the nation came to the brink of a full-blown financial crisis.
Shiokawa: Want BOJ to keep at least Y8T reserves
JAPAN - Japanese Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa said Wednesday that he won't propose the Group of Seven monetary authorities take joint action against the weak dollar at their meeting in Washington Saturday.
Japanese snap up foreign bonds despite attacks
JAPAN - Japanese investors have been buying a massive amount of foreign bonds in recent weeks, making a mockery of the view they were busily repatriating funds ahead of half-year bookclosings, data showed on Thursday 4 October.
Banks need no RBI nod for online debit cards
INDIA - Banks will not be required to seek the approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for introducing online debit cards, where straight-through-processing is done.
Pakistan buying dollars to bolster reserves
PAKISTAN - Taking advantage of the sharp drop in the U.S. dollar against the rupee, Pakistan's central bank has been buying the U.S. unit from the interbank market to bolster its foreign exchange reserves, a source said on Wednesday.
Russia c bank to sell $50M to non-residents today
RUSSIA - Today, 4 October, the Russian Central Bank will conduct an auction for non-residents with S-accounts in Russia.
Speech by Romano Prodi EC President on the euro
SPEECH - Speech by Romano Prodi President of the European Commission "Ninety-nine days to go" Conference on Payments in Euro in the Internal Market, Brussels, 24 September.
2.5% - US Interest rates at lowest since 1962
US - The US central bank, the Federal Reserve, has cut interest rate for the ninth time this year, by half a percentage point to 2.5%.
Federal Reserve - Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - Federal Open Market Committee decision on interest rates, 2 October.
Speech by Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa of the ECB
SPEECH - Keynote address of Mr. Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa, Member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank, at the EU Commission conference, Payments in euro in the Internal Market, Brussels, 24 September.
Speech by Prof. Eugenio Domingo Solans of the ECB
SPEECH - Speech by Prof. Eugenio Domingo Solans, Member of the Governing Council and the Executive Board of the European Central Bank. Delivered at the Euro 2002 Information Campaign conference, hosted by Banca d'Italia. Rome, 18 September.
Reserve Bank of Australia - Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - Monetary policy decision, 3 October.
Australia slashes rates to a 29-year low of 4.5%
AUSTRALIA - Australia's central bank cut official interest rates on Wednesday 3 October by a quarter of a percentage point to a 29-year low of 4.5 percent in a bid to bolster the economy in an international downturn.
More to economic forecasts than meets the eye
ARTICLE - A letter published in the London edition of the Financial Times Wednesday 2 October argues against an editorial - The value of IMF forecasts - the FT published the previous week.
PM Blair gives strong endorsement of euro entry
UK - British Prime Minister Tony Blair Tuesday gave his strongest endorsement yet of British membership in the European single currency.
Analysis: The Fed's next move
US - The latest round of cuts by the Federal Reserve leaves many wondering what else the nation's central bank can do to revive the listless US economy.
Bahrain c.bank says no trace of suspects' assets
BAHRAIN - Bahrain's central bank said on Wednesday 3 October no assets of 27 groups and individuals suspected of having financial links to the 11 September attacks on the United States have so far been found in the island state.
Bank of France printing staff continue strike
FRANCE - Employees belonging to the CGT union at the Bank of France's printing division have extended until today, 3 October, a strike that has been observed since 12 September.
India RBI to release credit policy on 22 October
INDIA - The Reserve Bank of India said Wednesday 3 October that it will publish its bi-annual monetary and credit policy for the current financial year 22 October.
Speech by Ms Sirkka Hamalainen ECB Board Member
SPEECH - Speech delivered by Ms Sirkka Hamalainen, Member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank, Old Age, New Economy and Central Banking Conference, organised by CEPR/ESI and Suomen Pankki, 14 September, Helsinki.
Federal Reserve - Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - The Federal Reserve Board on Thursday launched a new interactive web site developed by the economic educators of the Federal Reserve System. This site offers students, educators and the general public an introduction to the workings of…
Speech by Dr Reddy Dep Gov, Reserve Bank of India
SPEECH - First Dr.S.Radhakrishnan Memorial Lecture sponsored by University Grants Commission and organized by the University of Hyderabad, delivered by Dr.Y.V.Reddy, Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India, at Hyderabad on 5 September.
Federal Reserve - Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - The Federal Reserve Board on Friday announced the appointment of chairmen and deputy chairmen of the twelve Federal Reserve Banks for 2002.