News
Bank of Canada cuts interest rates to 2 per cent
The Bank of Canada announced on Tuesday 13 April that it is lowering its target for the overnight rate by one-quarter of one percentage point to 2 per cent.
Fukui pledges to maintain current monetary policy
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui reaffirmed to parliament on Tuesday 13 April his commitment to maintain the current super-easy monetary policy framework, until the prolonged deflation comes to an end.
Gov't and Bundesbank agree to work together
The German Government has agreed to work together with the Bundesbank over the Ernst Welteke scandal, it was reported on Tuesday 13 April, as both organisations try to prevent their conflict from escalating.
France 'just thinking' about gold sales
The French finance ministry said on Tuesday 13 April that it was just thinking about using some of the country's gold for future investments or to reduce debt, after press reports said talks could begin this week with the Bank of France.
PBOC: China to make yuan fully convertible
China will make the yuan fully convertible, People's Bank of China governor Zhou Xiaochuan said.
Russia to revise exchange rate mechanism
The Russian Central Bank will revise its mechanism for setting exchange rate targets, Central Bank Deputy Chairman Konstantin Korishchenko declared. According to him, the bank is considering the possibility of changing its exchange rate policy.
Buba's Executive Board to abide by ECB Code
The Executive Board of the Deutsche Bundesbank has decided, with immediateEffect (8 April), to expressly adopt and apply to itself the Code of Conduct applicable to the members of the Governing Council of the ECB.
Bank of England leaves rates unchanged
The Bank of England made no statement to explain its thinking after its MPC meeting on Thursday 8 April left interest rates unchanged at 4%. Much speculation preceded the meeting with many analysts predicting a rate increase.
BOJ expected to hold policy unchanged
The Bank of Japan is expected to keep policy unchanged on Friday 9 March following the release of its tankan survey which showed Japan's economic recovery broadening.
Why Monti's IMF candidacy withdrawn - report
Italy withdrew EU competition commissioner Mario Monti's candidacy for the post of International Monetary Fund managing director in order to gain French and German support over its deficit problems, Italian daily La Repubblica reported.
AGCC adopts monetary union criteria
Gulf Arab states agreed on Wednesday 7 April on several key criteria to integrate their economic and fiscal policies for their anticipated monetary union, Kuwait's central bank governor said.
Welteke takes leave from Bundesbank
Reports on Thursday 8 April said that the Bundesbank is resisting pressure from the German government to install Deputy Finance Minister Caio Koch-Weser as president to replace Ernst Welteke who agreed to take leave on Wednesday.
Four more countries face stability pact scrutiny
The European Commission has put Britain and the Netherlands under formal surveillance for letting their budget deficits breach an EU target. It also issued a warning to Italy and said it expected Greece to breach the limit.
African common currency 'will open up economies'
The introduction of the "ECO" as a common currency for Ghana, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Guinea and The Gambia will open up the economies of member states to increase trade and commerce, according to Lanto Harding.
Basel supervisors urge more work on terror funds
Top banking supervisors on Wednesday called for more action to deprive terrorists of funding by sharing information and cracking down on informal money transfer networks.
German government calls for quick Welteke decision
Bundesbank chief Ernst Welteke can be replaced "very quickly" if he resigns or is removed by the central bank over a hotel stay paid for by a commercial bank, the German government said Wednesday.
IMF see 'sweet spot' in financial stability report
The global economy has hit a "sweet spot" according to the International Monetary Fund's April 2004 Global Financial Stability Report, published Tuesday.
ECB accepts planned accounting rules
A report said that the European Central Bank is no longer worried over the introduction of planned accounting rules to help improve transparency in financial reports.
Papademos says 'no' to stability pact changes
Lucas Papademos, vice president of the ECB, has rejected calls for changes to the eurozone's stability and growth pact saying any improvements could be made within the current framework.
ECB appointee against short-term rate changes
European Central Bank appointee Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Paramo has said he opposes "short-term" interest rate moves to stimulate growth.
Welteke asks Bundesbank Board to review conduct
Ernst Welteke said on Tuesday 6 April that he had asked the Bundesbank's executive board to review his conduct in accepting a hotel stay paid by one of the country's major commercial banks. The move follows a decision by Welteke to pay the bill Monday.
Philippines steps up anti-counterfeiting drive
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) launched an intensified campaign against counterfeit money on Tuesday 6 April, with the promise of rewards to whistleblowers with information that would lead to the arrest of counterfeiters.
RBNZ foreign exchange intervention principles
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand on 30 March released a letter from the Bank to the Minister of Finance outlining how it intends to undertake foreign exchange market interventions.
BoJ's Haru: deflation unlikely to end this year
Bank of Japan (BOJ) Policy Board member Hidehiko Haru has suggested that Japan is unlikely to overcome deflation by the end of 2004, saying greater increases in consumption holds the key to a full economic recovery.