News
South Africa eases exchange controls
South African Finance Minister Trevor Manuel announced Tuesday that apartheid-era foreign exchange controls would be eased by scrapping the limits on how much companies can invest abroad.
ECB deplores attack on Hungarian cb independence
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet said late on Monday 25 October that the ECB considers the Hungarian government's proposal to increase its influence over the country's central bank as unacceptable.
BOJ's Fukui says prices just one hurdle
Core consumer prices at zero percent is only one hurdle the Bank of Japan will need to clear when deciding whether to stop its policy of keeping interest rates at almost zero, Governor Toshihiko Fukui said.
Malaysia issues new polymer notes
Bank Negara Malaysia has issued 80 million pieces of the more durable RM5 polymer banknotes for circulation nationwide, Bank Negara assistant governor Datuk Mohamad Daud Dol Moin said.
BNB gets observer status at ECB meetings
The Bulgarian central bank will receive an observer status in the European System of Central Banks and in the European Central Bank General Council, after the country signs its accession treaty with EU in 2005, the Central Bank's governor, Ivan Iskrov…
High oil prices to hit 2005 growth says EC report
High oil prices will dampen economic growth next year, according to a European Commission report published Tuesday 26 October.
UAE to host AGCC central bank
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will be home to the central bank of the six states in the Gulf Cooperation Council (AGCC) which are working to set up a monetary union next year, the Kuwaiti finance minister said on Sunday 24 October, according to AFP.
Iran to discuss central bank independence
"Iranian MPs are to discuss with bank experts the independence of Iran's Central Bank from the government and the Iranian government will comment on the plan in due time," said Heydar Mostakhdemin Husseini, Iran's Deputy Minister of Economics in legal…
China's PM warns of continued inflation risk
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao was cited as saying on Monday 25 October that high inflation and over-investment continue to pose significant risks to the economy and the government must ensure its cooling policies continue to take effect.
Prodi labels EU bid to catch US economy a failure
Europe's efforts to catch up to and then outpace the US economy have been "a big failure," the outgoing head of the European Union executive commission, Romano Prodi, told the Financial Times in an interview.
Bundesbank comments annoy German officials
The German government expressed annoyance at the Bundesbank on Thursday 21 October following a press report which suggested the German central bank was sceptical about Berlin's growth forecast for next year.
BoE's Lambert sees `low and stable' inflation
UK inflation probably will remain ``low and stable'' amid slowing economic expansion and subdued wage growth, Bank of England policy maker Richard Lambert said, indicating he sees little immediate need for higher interest rates.
Senate approves Azevedo as Brazil's mp director
Rodrigo Azevedo, the nominee for central bank of Brazil monetary policy director, told the senate this week he would seek to keep the currency stable and fight inflation.
BOT investigates computer hacking
The governor of the Bank of Thailand, Pridiyathorn Devakula, ordered a probe on Monday 18 October into computer hacking, TNA news said, after a senior employee, who was arrested last week for theft, told police that he had gained access to the bank data…
Bank of Israel staff to join new protest
Workers at the Bank of Israel, who are currently embroiled in a dispute with the management of the central bank, are set to join staff at the Israel Discount Bank, who are also involved in a dispute, Haaretz reported this week.
Ex-KTB chief to sue Bank of Thailand
The former president of Krung Thai Bank (KTB), Viroj Nualkhair, plans to sue KTB's board of directors and the Bank of Thailand (BOT) for more than 100 million baht in compensation for damage to his job and reputation, TNA reported this week.
Interview with former RBA board member Bob Gregory
In an interview published on Thursday 21 October, former board member of the Reserve Bank of Australia Bob Gregory said that if there is faster growth at the same inflation rate the RBA will not tighten.
Bank of Canada looks for new deputy governor
The Canadian Prime Minister announced on Thursday 21 October that Mark Carney, Deputy Governor of the Bank of Canada, has been appointed Senior Associate Deputy Minister of Finance, effective from 15 November.
Survey shows Japanese mystified by central bank
A survey published on the Bank of Japan's website this week showed that most Japanese people find the workings of the central bank a mystery.
FATF targets cross-border cash movements
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), meeting in Paris from 20-22 October, has added a key element to the world's counter-terrorist financing defences.
Downside risks from oil increasing, IMF's Rato
Head of the International Monetary Fund Rodrigo Rato said Friday rising oil prices pose a growing risk to the world economy and will have a visible impact on global economic growth next year.
Hungary central bank sees tensions with govt
Hungary may be able to cut interest rates further if inflation comes down as expected, but tensions between the central bank and the government will limit the scope for rate reductions, central bank president Zsigmond Jarai said.
EU newcomers should not rush to join euro
European Central Bank chief economist Otmar Issing said Friday the 10 countries that joined European Union in May should not rush to join the euro or the European Exchange Rate Mechanism II until they were really ready.
Interview with ECB's Gonzalez-Paramo
In an interview published this week, ECB Executive Board member Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Paramo speaks out firmly against changing the wording of the Stability and Growth Pact, saying: "The Pact is a cornerstone of the currency union. Nobody had questioned…