News
Bank of England MPC Minutes 3/4 March
Minutes of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee Meeting were released on 17 March for the meeting of 3 and 4 March 2004. All nine members of the MPC voted to keep interest rates steady earlier this month, but their arguments may suggest…
Federal Reserve maintains its patience
The Federal Open Market Committee decided on Tuesday 16 March to keep its target for the federal funds rate at 1 per cent, repeating that it can be "patient in removing its policy accommodation".
ECB set to maintain neutral rates stance
The European Central Bank will maintain its "wait and see" stance on interest rates amid mixed signals on growth and consumer confidence, ECB governing council member Yves Mersch says.
Japan denies plan to change forex policy
Japanese officials on Tuesday 16 March sought to deflect growing speculation that they could soon scale back their foreign exchange intervention, aimed at preventing a higher yen from stifling an economic recovery.
Fukui says BOJ wants 'favourable money supply'
Bank of Japan Governor Toshihiko Fukui told Parliament on Wednesday 17 March that the central bank wants to achieve "favourable money supply" growth and that the economy hasn't recovered enough to allow the BOJ to adopt an explicit inflation target.
Germany sets G20 meeting for Nov 19-21
Germany said on Tuesday 16 March that it will host a meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors from the G20 group of developed and emerging market economies on 19-21 November in Berlin.
New Spanish PM backs Rato for IMF
Spain's future Socialist prime minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, on Wednesday 17 March came out in support of Rodrigo Rato for IMF Managing Director, saying that his appointment would be good news.
Namibian Bill could remove SA money
A Parliamentary Bill in Namibia which will give the Finance Minister the option of deciding when Namibia will stop using South African notes and coins was the first legislation to be passed in the National Assembly this year.
Argentina and Brazil join forces over Fund rules
Brazil and Argentina joined forces on Tuesday 16 March, asking the International Monetary Fund to remain flexible regarding their budget surpluses.
Bank of Canada issues new $100 bank notes
The Bank of Canada officially put into circulation Canada's new $100 bank notes on Wednesday 17 March. The new notes contain various state-of-the-art security features and will be distributed and become available across the country over the next two…
BOJ 'exit strategy' from yen sales - report
The Bank of Japan is considering an 'exit strategy' from its practice of selling yen and buying dollars, the Nihon Keizai newspaper said in the BOJ Watch column of its Tuesday, March 16 edition.
BOJ should adopt inflation target says Nakahara
A former policy board member of the Bank of Japan has said that Toshihiko Fukui should pump more money into the economy and set an inflation target to fight deflation.
France may opt to use gold to fund research
The French government is looking at the possibility of using its gold reserves to finance research, with a ministerial source quoted as saying that while the gold is managed by the central bank it belongs to France.
Bundesbank: public-sector finances 'crisis-like'
The Bundesbank said on Monday 15 March that deep-reaching reforms, with sound fiscal policy, were still needed to get the German economy growing again.
Bank of Japan leaves monetary policy unchanged
The Bank of Japan said on Tuesday 16 March that its policy board had decided unanimously to leave its easy monetary policy unchanged at the end of a two-day scheduled meeting.
Spain may propose Rato as IMF chief
Rodrigo Rato, former Spanish economy minister after Sunday's election, may be proposed to run the IMF, according to Miguel Sebastian, an economic adviser to Prime Minister-elect Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.
ECB to discuss economic impact of bomb attack
Austrian central bank governor Klaus Liebscher said on Tuesday 16 March that the ECB will this week examine possible consequences of the Madrid bomb attacks on the European economy.
Fed policy: steady as she goes
Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan and his colleagues were predicted to keep interest rates stable on Tuesday 16 March as data showed further jobless recovery.
Deficits of six future EU members broke EU rules
Six of the 10 countries to join the European Union in May had public deficits greater than those allowed by the EU's Stability and Growth Pact, EU data published on Tuesday 16 March showed.
Central Banks close the net on counterfeiters
Since 2000, G10 central banks have successfully persuaded manufacturers of scanning and printing technology to include secret anti-counterfeiting systems with their products.
Issing says ECB worried on stagnant euro economy
In an interview Otmar Issing has indicated that the European Central Bank is concerned about lacklustre domestic demand in the euro zone.
Vietnam not worried on exchange rate
The head of the Foreign Currency Control Department of the State Bank of Vietnam, Truong Van Phuoc said on Sunday that there was no reason to devaluate the Vietnam Dong.
GCC says no plan for a common central bank
A report quoting the governor of the central bank of the UAE said the Gulf states do not intend to have a common central bank, but are going ahead with the monetary union project.
Former Bank of England chief calls on ECB to cut
Sir Edward George, the former Bank of England governor, called for the European Central Bank to cut interest rates to boost the economy in the 12-country region that uses the euro, according to a newspaper report.