News
Abu Dhabi to host hawala conference in April
The United Arab Emirates central bank will hold the Second International Conference on hawala in Abu Dhabi on 3rd & 4th April, 2004.
RBNZ Head of Operations appointed
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand announced on Wednesday March 24 the appointment of Dr Don Abel as the Bank's Assistant Governor and Head of Operations.
Central bankers get new home in Mauritius
The Bank of Mauritius has awarded a contract for the construction of a new multi-storey headquarters in Port Louis.
Poland's NBP confirms management changes
Leszek Balcerowicz, president of the National Bank of Poland, confirmed a number of changes to the central bank's management this week.
'Mr Euro' quits EU for Spanish fin min job
Pedro Solbes, a staunch defender of the eurozone's stability and growth pact, is stepping down as European economic and monetary affairs commissioner on 11 April to take up the post of finance minister in Spain's incoming Socialist government.
Central bank communication Philippines style
With elections fast approaching in the Philippines, campaigners are using SMS text messaging to drum up support. But reports say central bank governor Rafael Buenaventura is also a fan of texting.
Japan's funny money
The Bank of Japan's recent high-profile presence in the foreign exchange market has attracted enough popular interest to become the latest topic in Golgo 13, a series in the Big Comic magazine targeted at Japanese salarymen.
Spain's Paramo gets ECB green light
Eurozone finance ministers decided on Thursday March 25 to propose Spain's Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Paramo to the European Central Bank's Executive Board.
Belgium's Praet calls for transparent selection
Belgian National Bank official Peter Praet, Belgium's unsuccessful candidate for the ECB said on Thursday 25 March that the process for selecting members of the ECB's executive board must be made more transparent.
Ghana to be HQ for West African central bank
The headquarters of the West African Central Bank (WACB) has been given to Ghana. The disclosures were made in Abuja Thursday by the Director of West African Monetary Institute (WAMI), the Nigerian-born Dr Michael Ojo, reports said.
RBI starts live operation of RTGS system
After a two-month trial, the Reserve Bank of India on Friday 26 March began live operations of the Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) system but only inter-bank transactions are being put through.
ECB remains vigilent but expects recovery
ECB executive board member Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell said in an interview Friday that the ECB still believes the eurozone economy will recover, but remains vigilant for any issues that could change that assessment.
Riksbank Bergstrom: Scope for easier policy
Deputy Governor of the Sveriges Riksbank Villy Bergstrom said in a speech on Friday 26 March that the latest Swedish economic data show that there is "some scope" to ease monetary policy further.
BOJ's Fukuma says Japan headed for recovery
The Japanese economy appears headed toward a stable recovery, a Bank of Japan policy board member said on Thursday 25 March, as the strong export-led rebound continues.
Monti in as candidate for IMF
EU competition commissioner Mario Monti has been put forward as a possible candidate to head the International Monetary Fund, according to a report.
Greenspan cancels speech with cold
Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan was due to make scheduled introductory remarks at a Fed conference in Washington on Friday (26 March) because of a cold, a spokesman said on Friday.
Viyuygin to take up post at Russian regulator
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov on Wednesday (24 March) appointed Oleg Vyugin, deputy chairman of the Russian central bank, as chairman of the national securities market regulator, the government said.
Bank of Israel staff plan strike action
The governor of the Bank of Israel David Klein met Thursday (25 March) with the secretariat of the Histadrut labour federation's bank workers' unit, Zion Shema, in an effort to avert a strike at the central bank.
Bank of England's finest audition as press
Unusual scenes at the UK parlaiment's Treasury select committee Thursday when more women than men turned out for the Bank of England's team for the first time.
Welteke dashes hopes of ECB rate cut
Bundesbank president and European Central Bank (ECB) governing council member Ernst Welteke sought in a TV interview to dampen hopes for an interest rate cut.
Snow says US making progress on China peg
US Treasury Secretary John Snow told Congress on Thursday 25 March that the Bush administration thinks it's making progress in efforts to get China to stop pegging its currency to the U.S. dollar.
Brazil rules out relaxing inflation target
Brazil's central bank president Henrique Meirelles ruled out changing the 5.5 per cent inflation target set for this year, official news agency Agencia Brasil reported.
Chile central bank chief supports growth forecast
Vittorio Corbo, head of the Central Bank of Chile, told business leaders on Thursday 25 March that investment had begun to recover last year after a prolonged slump and the central bank was working hard to get inflation up to around 3 per cent following…
Bundesbank sees profits fall by €5bn
Germany's central bank has said that profits fell by €5bn last year compared to 2002. The drop was partly due to the lower valuation of its equities portfolio and a fall in the value of its dollar-denominated securities holdings.