Central Banks
BoE ready to act if sharp US downturn-Plenderleith
Britain's central bank will be ready to cut interest rates again if the slowdown in the U.S. economy proves more severe than expected, Bank of England Executive Director Ian Plenderleith said on Mar 14, 2001.
BOI sees worse than expected 2001 global slowdown
World economic growth could slow down in 2001 by more than expected, the Bank of Italy warned in its half-yearly economic bulletin on Mar 14, 2001.
Settlement failures triple in Feb bond trading-BoJ
The Bank of Japan found 296 cases of settlement failure in Japanese government bond trading in February, the central bank said on Mar 14, 2001.
Dutch cbank and Euronext offer real time DvP
The Nederlandsche Bank, the Dutch central bank, and Euronext Amsterdam are to offer real-time DvP from Mar 19, 2001, the central bank has announced.
Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin - Spring 2001
RESEARCH PAPER - The Bank of England has published the spring 2001 issue of the Quarterly Bulletin, the first issue to be published to a new timetable separated from the quarterly Inflation Report. There are four key articles, mainly dealing with the UK…
Effects of measurement error on the output gap-BoJ
RESEARCH PAPER - A new working paper "Effects of Measurement Error on the Output Gap in Japan" by Koichiro Kamada and Kazuto Masuda from the research department of the Bank of Japan discusses theoretically how measurement errors and quality changes in…
Lithuania boosts cbank independence in law
The Lithuanian parliament on Mar 13, 2001 approved amendments to the law on the central bank aimed at cementing its independence and giving the institution more freedom to shape monetary policy.
Basel Accord major challenge for Asia banks-HKMA
Recent proposals aimed at strengthening the global financial system pose a major challenge for banks and regulators in Asia, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority said on Mar 13, 2001.
Thailand, Japan close to currency swap deal-paper
Thailand and Japan are close to concluding a bilateral currency swap agreement in the next few months as part of a regional arrangement to support Asian currencies in crisis, the Nation newspaper said on Mar 13, 2001.
MAS liberalises SGD swap rules for offshore banks
Following its recent decision to liberalise trading in Singapore dollar swaps, the Monetary Authority of Singapore said Mar 13, 2001 that effective March 1 it has allowed offshore banks to enter into currency swaps of any amount with non-banks.
Communist Laos admits failures in managing economy
The secretive communist Laotian government said on Mar 13, 2001 it had mismanaged the economy over the past five years, triggering hyperinflation and a tumbling currency.
Financial Innovation and Monetary Transmission
SEMINAR - The Federal Reserve Bank of New York is hosting a conference titled "Financial Innovation and Monetary Transmission" from Apr 5-6, 2001. This seminar will offer insight into how the enormous changes that are going on in the financial sector…
Recent US data 'quite encouraging' - BoE George
Central bankers from the Group of l0 industrialized nations believe a pick-up in the U.S. economy during the second half of this year "remains the most likely outcome," Eddie George, current chairman and head of the Bank of England, said on Mar 12, 2001.
Indonesian rupiah breaches 11,000 as worries grow
The Indonesian rupiah slid past 11,000 per dollar on Mar 12, 2001, extending early losses after the central bank said it had limited ability to defend the currency.
BoF Fogelholm to head Finnish Bankers' Association
The Finnish Bankers' Association said on Mar 12, 2001 that Markus Fogelholm would replace retiring chief executive Matti Sipila in Sept 2001.
BoF forecast Finnish inflation above euro-zone avg
Finnish inflation would stay above euro-zone levels and buoyant domestic demand could feed price pressures though the overall inflation outlook had improved, the central bank said on Mar 12, 2001.
Korea foreign currency transactions surged in 2000
Foreign exchange transactions by domestic financial institutions, including spot and futures markets, increased sharply in 2000 to $8.9 billion a day, up from $6.9 billion in 1999, the Bank of Korea said on Mar 11, 2001.
Argentine peso peg to include euro,yen-Cavallo
Former Argentine Economy Minister Domingo Cavallo, who reportedly has been offered the job of central bank chief, said in a press interview he favored alterations to foreign exchange policy.
Effect of booming economy on US trade deficit
RESEARCH PAPER - The robust growth of the U.S. economy between 1996 and 1999 spurred U.S. demand for foreign goods and contributed to a surge in the U.S. trade deficit. An analysis by the New York Fed of the effects of the expansion on the trade balance…
Currency crisis in emerging markets - predictable?
RESEARCH PAPER - Brazil and Argentina are among the countries most vulnerable to a currency crisis, according to a new model developed by a Dutch central bank economist which had been flashing warning signals about Turkey back in December 2000.
Norway government petroleum fund 2000 return 2.5%
Norway's government petroleum fund had a return on capital last year of 2.5%, when measured in terms of a currency basket that corresponds with the Fund's benchmark portfolio, the Norwegian central bank reported on Mar 9.
Asian currency swap idea 'acceptable'-Manila c.bnk
The Philippines is basically happy with the concept of an Asian web of currency swaps aimed at fending off future financial crises and is forging ahead with discussions on terms, deputy central bank governor Amando Tetangco said on Mar 9, 2001.
Fed's Ferguson-monetary policy unhurt by mergers
A global wave of financial mergers and acquisitions in the 1990s, totaling 7,500 deals valued at about $1.6 trillion, has not affected central banks' ability to set interest rates, Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Roger Ferguson said Mar 9, 2001.
Vietnam cbank launches electronic payment system
The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has completed the technical side of its US$13.2 million inter-bank payment project funded by the World Bank-funded, SBV Governor Le Duc Thuy announced.