Central Banks
NZ holds rates, hawkish RBNZ outlook surprises
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand kept its official interest rates on hold as expected on Wednesday, but surprised many in the markets with a hawkish outlook for 2001.
RBNZ Brash cut transparency to save credibility
Reserve Bank of New Zealand governor Don Brash said Wednesday he decided to reduce the amount of information contained in his bank's quarterly monetary policy statements to help safeguard the credibility of the institution, particularly in the eyes of…
Greenspan talk lifts markets - John Berry
Financial markets rallied strongly yesterday after Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan acknowledged that US economic growth has slowed "appreciably," convincing many investors that the central bank will begin to cut short-term interest rates if…
CBR likely to amend monetary policy framework
The Bank of Russia last week submitted to the Duma "Guidelines for the government's unified monetary and credit policy in 2001".
Fed's Ferguson says US economy risks balanced
The risks to the US economy are evenly balanced between the dangers of an excessive slowdown and an inflationary overheating, Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Roger Ferguson said on Wednesday.
El Salvador makes way for US dollar general use
El Salvador is making final preparations to introduce the US dollar into general use in January, importing the US currency and training bank employees how to avoid money laundering and counterfeit schemes, officials said on Wednesday.
Cyprus prepares to dismantle interest rate regime
Cyprus is preparing a major shake-up of its financial markets in January to remove measures left over from its days as a British colony and to shore up its economy prior to joining the European Union.
Ex-Fed Blinder - Japan needs cheaper yen
Alan Blinder, a former deputy chairman of the Federal Reserve, said Thursday Japan ought to boost demand by making its currency cheaper.
Korea c.bank says holding rates for now
Korea may cut interest rates to ward off a sharp economic downturn but only if prices remain under control, Bank of Korea Governor Chon Chol-hwan said on Thursday.
Hungary publishes 2001 monetary policy guidelines
The National Bank of Hungary (MNB) agrees with the government on the necessity and method of changing the country's current exchange rate system, but so far no agreement has been reached on a timetable for the change, according to the MNB's monetary…
Georgian c.bank head sees stable lari, IMF loans
Georgia's lari currency should be stable next year, enabling the country to meet conditions to unlock loans from its largest creditor, the International Monetary Fund, the central bank governor said in an interview with Reuters.
Fed Parry says economy growing at sustainable pace
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco President Robert Parry said on Tuesday that the US economy had shifted into a more sustainable growth range in recent months and that employment growth had moderated.
Venezuela 'overdrive' plan still not in effect
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez acknowledged Tuesday that a $2.1bn government spending plan he announced two months ago to spur economic growth had still not taken effect.
ECB publishes revision of Eurosystem instruments
The European Central Bank Tuesday said it has published its revision of Eurosystem monetary policy instruments and procedures.
Kenya bill to control bank interest rates passed
Kenya's parliament today passed with amendments the Donde bill that seeks to regulate interest rates charged by commercial banks.
Bangladesh Bank to increase forex reserves
Bangladesh Bank, the country's central bank, has launched a vigorous move to replenish the country's emaciated foreign exchange reserve by relaxing its regulation on remittances, the United News of Bangladesh reported on Tuesday.
Vietnam banks dispute compulsory reserve ratios
Commercial banks have criticised the central bank's increase of the compulsory ratio of deposit reserves from this month from 8% to 12% for call and less than 12-month deposits in the dollar.
Oman cenbank plans Electronic Fund Transfer system
Oman's central bank proposes to introduce Electronic Funds Transfer system to facilitate faster and accurate domestic inter-bank payments.
Irish hoarding of coins poses euro problem
The image of the Irish hoarding their untaxed earnings under the mattress may be apocryphal, but a study published on Monday estimated that as much as I£30m (E38.1m) in coins may be kept in jam jars, glass bottles, biscuit tins even in shoe boxes.
Buba's Stark - US growth slowdown coming true
Bundesbank deputy president Juergen Stark said on Monday he was pleased with the euro's appreciation and said the slowdown in US economic growth appeared to be materialising.
BoE Allsopp - tighter fiscal stance needed
The British government should tighten its tax and spending plans if it wants lower interest rates, Bank of England rate-setter Christopher Allsopp said in a book published Monday.
Bank urges balancing act over payments competition
The Bank of England has warned the UK government that its plans to increase competition in the payments business must be balanced by the need to preserve the stability of the financial system.
Fed helps Bank with rate study
The Bank of England, the UK central bank, has commissioned an investigation by a senior official of the US Federal Reserve to assess the way it sets interest rates, says an article in today's Financial Times.