News
MOF's Asakawa says Japan won't diversify reserves
According to Japanese Ministry of Finance official Masatsugu Asakawa, Japan doesn't plan to change the percentage of US dollars in its $838 billion official reserve assets, the world's largest.
Ferguson says Fed right to watch prices
Speaking on Wednesday 20 April, Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Roger Ferguson said the US central bank was correct to keep its eye on inflation pressures, but noted some volatile components contributed to a surprisingly big rise in core consumer prices in…
IMF's Rato sees S American inflation decline in 05
The head of the International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday 20 April that Latin America is likely to see a further decline in inflation in 2005, despite higher oil prices.
Iran: New call for central bank independence
Iran's deputy minister of economic affairs and finance said the proposed scheme to transform the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) into an independent entity would help improve the management system of the key Foreign Exchange Reserve Fund.
Bank of England MPC Minutes, 6 & 7 April
The minutes from the 6 & 7 April meeting of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee published on Wednesday 20 April showed policy makers voted 7- 2 to keep interest rates unchanged this month, the same split as in March, with the majority saying…
Fed's Yellen positive on inflation outlook
Janet Yellen, the president of the San Francisco Federal Reserve bank, said she is upbeat about the outlook for inflation and watching closely to see whether the economy hit a soft-spot in March.
Poole warns not to expect predictable rate rises
A top Federal Reserve policy-maker said on Tuesday 19 April that US inflation prospects are good but markets should not expect a re-run of last year's predictable pattern of interest rate rises.
Buba and German govt in united front after tension
The German government and the Bundesbank presented a unified image on economic matters following a meeting in Berlin called after reports of rising tensions over fiscal policy reforms.
Fed redesigns financial education website
The Federal Reserve announced on Monday 18 April that it has redesigned its financial education website to increase the use of Federal Reserve educational materials and promote financial education in the classroom.
ECB nominee says growth hit by confidence
The eurozone economy "is not growing sufficiently" because of a lack of consumer and business confidence, Italy's designated appointee to the European Central Bank (ECB)'s executive board said on Tuesday 19 April.
FATF launches Arab anti-money laundering group
The Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has set up a regional grouping to combat money laundering in the Middle East and North Africa, the head of the Arab banking association said on Monday 18 April.
South Korea plans banknote redesign
The Bank of Korea said Monday that it will begin issuing currency bills with new security features next year, to combat an explosion of counterfeit banknotes.
EU's Almunia says China move on rates uncertain
It is impossible to gauge how or when China will decide to adjust its fixed currency peg, the European Union's top monetary official said on Monday.
IMF gold deal unlikely says Germany
German Deputy Finance Minister Caio Koch-Weser has said he sees almost no chance a plan to sell International Monetary Fund gold to fund debt relief for the world's poorest nations would be adopted.
UK's Brown rejects IMF recommendations
The Statement by the IMFC, the Fund's governing body, released on SaturdayApril 16 calls for surveillance by the Fund over all countries to remaincentral to its work.
G7 communique from Washington meeting
The financial ministers and central bankers of the Group of Seven nations met in Washington on Saturday 16 April. Their statement repeated a call for "more flexibility in exchange rates" where it was lacking.
ECB: Many years before euro can challenge dollar
A top European Central Bank policy-maker said on Friday 15 April that the process of acquiring an international role for a currency is extremely slow.
Trichet sees no cut in eurozone interest rates
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet has ruled out a cut in eurozone interest rates but suggested that the cost of borrowing was unlikely to rise either, saying inflation was under control.
G7 losing patience on China's exchange rate
The G7 retained the same official language following its meeting in Washington at the weekend, but the rich nations' frustration over China's fixed currency regime was evident in comments from various policymakers.
Interview with PBOC's Zhou
In an interview published on Wednesday 13 April PBOC governor Zhou Xiaochuan said the task in future is mainly centered on improving the mechanism in the shaping of the people's currency exchange rate rather than simply adjusting the rate of it.
Interview with outgoing World Bank president
James Wolfensohn, who steps down at the end of May after 10 years at the World Bank, said in an interview this week that the institution's controversial selection process had contributed to a "dangerous trend of regionalisation of opinion" on the bank's…
Interview with Philadelphia Fed's Santomero
Speaking this week in an interview Anthony Santomero, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, said we are looking at an economy that, if it continues to move in the direction and at the speed we think, we can continue to move on…
Norman Chan to retire from HKMA
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority announced on Tuesday 12 April that Norman Chan, the Deputy Chief Executive responsible for reserves management and international affairs, will be departing from the HKMA some time in May.
The art of central banking
The Turkish central bank has released a two-volume book introducing Turkish artists and their works that comprise the central bank's art collection.