Central Banks
Thailand cbank stops offshore investment fund
The Bank of Thailand has halted the launch of a new fund to help Thai investors invest abroad because of fears that it might encourage capital outflows and destabilise the exchange rate
Venezuela Chamber asks court to fix cbank rates
A Venezuelan business chamber has filed an injunction in the supreme court demanding that it nullify a May 1999 agreement allowing banks to set interest rates on a case-by-case basis, local daily El Nacional reported on Mar 22, 2001.
Brazil hikes rates to permit future cuts
The Brazilian central bank has pushed up interest rates to 15.75% protraying this as a defensive more, designed to allow future rate cuts
Propping up the rupiah was 'right move'-deputy gov
Bank Indonesia has made the right move in propping up the rupiah, BI Deputy Governor Miranda S Goeltom said on Mar 22, 2001.
Swiss franc falls following SNB loosening
Following the SNB's rate cut yesterday the swiss franc has dropped on forex markets.
Predictable Uncertainty in Econ Forecasting-US Fed
RESEARCH PAPER - Neil R. Ericsson has written an paper titled "Predictable Uncertainty in Economic Forecasting" for the US Federal Reserve's series of International Finance Discussion Papers. This paper provides an introduction to predictable forecast…
S'pore sets new rules for bank private investments
SPEECH - Singapore's central bank said on Mar 21, 2001 it was proposing new rules for bank investments in private equity and venture capital that will allow flexibility while maintaining prudent standards. Ravi Menon, executive director of the Monetary…
The New Economy: Myths and Realities-Wadhwani
SPEECH - In his Travers Lecture at the London Guildhall University on Mar 20, 2001, Sushil Wadhwani, an external member of the Bank of England monetary policy committee, argues it is possible that measurement issues have led forecasters to overestimate…
Turkish cbank to adopt monetary policy committee
SPEECH - In his first speech as governor of the Central Bank of Turkey on Mar 19, 2001, Sureyya Serdengecti discusses the continuing liquidity problems faced the the country's state bank and how this is hampering the implementation of monetary policy. He…
Financial competition, risk and accountability
BOOK - A new book has just been published by Palgrave "Financial Competition, Risk and Accountability: British and German Experiences" edited by Frowen and McHugh. Recent decades have seen a sharp increase in financial competition and excessive risk…
Economic impact of regulatory reform - ECB paper
RESEARCH REPORT - Over the past couple of years, the European Union has embarked on an ambitious regulatory reform programme covering a number of network industries. Experts from the European Central Bank have prepared a report which analyses the…
Fed disappoints markets with 50 bp rate cut
The US Federal Reserve cut interest rates on Mar 20, 2001 by half a percentage point to 5.0%, continuing its aggressive effort to resuscitate the faltering economy but disappointing investors who had hoped for more.
RBNZ monetary policy review recommendations
Responding to an independent inquiry into monetary policy, New Zealand Treasury Department officials said on Mar 21, 2001 they will issue recommendations by month's end to Finance Minister Michael Cullen.
IMF praises Croatia's economic programme
Croatia's authorities deserve to be praised for their three-year economic programme, the IMF's Stanley Fischer said on Mar 19, 2001 after the IMF approved a 14-month stand-by credit for $255 million for Croatia.
BoE ready to cut UK rates if necessary-minutes
Britain's central bank is ready to lower borrowing costs if the global economic outlook worsens or British consumer spending starts to ease, minutes of the Bank's last policy meeting showed on Mar 21, 2001.
Credit-card reform goes to the RBA
AUSTRALIA - On Mar 20, 2001, the Australian competition regulator handed the job of reforming Australia's credit-card system to Australia's central bank.
BoJ switches to target monetary base
As expected, the Bank of Japan has reinstated its zero interest rate policy, but it has done this by switching its operational target to expand the money supply.
Bank of Finland Board Member under fire
Finnish newspaper reports parliamentarians' unhappiness with Bank of Finland board member, Sinikka Salo.
Belarus cbank cools on unification with Russia
No unification of Russian and Belarusian central banks says Prakapovich.
UKRAINE: Former deputy central bank chief detained
Reserves scandal claims former deputy governor
Chile and NZ advise on Indonesian central bank law
The central bank governors of Chile and New Zealand will arrive on April 4 to join two Indonesian experts in the discussion on how to amend Indonesia's central bank law.
IDB's Inglesias - priorities for Latin America
IDB president, Enrique Iglesias launched the annual meetings of the Inter-American Development Bank in Santiago Chile (March 19)
New Fed paper probes productivity growth
What's Driving the New Economy? The Benefits of Workplace Innovation (Sandra E. Black and Lisa M. Lynch)
Greek monetary policy report stresses convergence
REPORT: Competitiveness and productivity are key to Greece's economic convergence with the rest of the eurozone, according to the latest report on monetary policy from the Bank of Greece, submitted to parliament yesterday.