News
IMF report argues for dollar peg change in Jordan
An IMF working paper has recommended Lebanon and Jordan carefully consider pegging their currencies to the euro or for a peg to a basket of currencies, as opposed to the current US dollar peg, according to the Daily Star. "Both Lebanon and Jordan are…
Brazil's real falls before swap offer expiration
The Brazilian real fell for the fifth day in six on Tuesday 29 July, Bloomberg reported, as investors awaited the results of the central bank's securities swap arrangement.
IMF urges Argentine reforms but approves loan
IMF managing director Horst Koehler has said Argentina comfortably met its fiscal and monetary targets as the final tranche in the $3bn (£1.8bn) aid package was approved, according to a BBC report.
Bank Negara Malaysia consults on money laundering
Bank Negara Malaysia is consulting before invoking the Anti-Money Laundering Act 2001, reports The Edge Daily. Speaking at the Asean Anti-Money Laundering Workshop on July 28, governor Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz said the consultations undertaken by its Finance…
CBI governor emphasises independence of banks
The Central Bank of Iran (CBI) fully supports and respects the authority of banks to implement measures to better perform their functions, said CBI Governor Ebrahim Sheibani, reported by the Iran Daily. Sheibani was also reported to have said that the…
RBNZ Governor reminds gov't of inflationary impact
Speaking on 28 July Reserve Bank of New Zealand governor Alan Bollard urged local government in New Zealand to consider the broader economic implications when putting up rates and other local body charges.
Sveriges Riksbank Board Meeting minutes, 3 July
Minutes of the Sveriges Riksbank Executive Board meeting on 3 July, published 17 July. A number of members stressed in particular the fact that new information had not provided any clear indications of an upswing and that there were therefore no…
India's forex reserves soar to new record
The Reserve Bank of India confirmed that India's foreign exchange reserves exceeded US$84 billion in July posting a new record high, according to Asia Times. Analysts said the rise in India is mainly due to fresh inflows and revaluation of non-US…
Javier Silva named president of Peru central bank
Peru's president Toledo appointed economy and finance minister Javier Silva as president of Peru's central bank on Friday in a ceremony carried live on local television Bloomberg reports. Silva replaces Richard Webb who resigned recently.
Fed's Broaddus says US economy may be on the mend
Speaking on Friday 25 July, Richmond Fed President Alfred Broaddus said that forecasts for a 3.5 percent pace of growth over the second half of this year appeared on the mark, according to Reuters, but warned that "there is not much hard evidence that…
US economy on track for strong comeback - ECRI
The Economic Cycle Research Institute's managing director has said "The index is on fire", according to Reuters. He was referring to the ECRI's leading US growth rate index which rose to a 16-year high of 10.7 percent from 9.7 percent the previous week.
Poland's Balcerowicz: State finances must improve
President Leszek Balcerowicz of the Polish National Bank told Polish radio that radical improvements must be made to the country's state finances. He said with public finances in poor health, a fast and uninterrupted economic growth will not be possible.
Uzbekistan get IMF backing for convertibility plan
Horst Kohler assured Uzbekistan, reports Uzbek Television, that the IMF's staff are ready to provide the necessary assistance in regard to Uzbekistan taking on obligations arising from Article 8 of the IMF Charter by the end of 2003.
McCreevy may seek cash from Irish central bank
The Central Bank of Ireland confirmed that its review of the adequacy of its reserves against guidelines set by the ECB will be completed over the next few months according to the Irish Times. The bank acknowledged in its 2002 annual report that any…
Chicago Fed - US economy should regain drive
Michael Moskow of the Chicago Fed said on Monday 28 July that on the upside, business sentiment could rebound more dramatically, while on the downside, the risk is that consumer spending could lose momentum, according to a Reuters report. He said the…
Zeti: Malaysia's growth exceeded expectations
Speaking on Monday 27 July, Bank Negara Malaysia governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz said that second-quarter economic growth has exceeded government expectations and the underlying trend is intact, according to Associated Press.
RBA adds an Education section to its website
The Reserve Bank of Australia has included an Education section on its website. The new section draws together information, already on the site, into key areas of interest to teachers and students of economics and finance.
RBNZ focusing on banking supervision in NZ
Speaking in Wellington, Reserve Bank of New Zealand governor Dr Alan Bollard said "The Reserve Bank is keen to ensure that our regulatory system is invigorated and focused." In a press release Friday the RBNZ signalled its intention to put more effort…
BOJ's Muto cites side effects of JGB buying
In the text of a speech published on Friday 25 July, Bank of Japan deputy governor Toshiro Muto said "Buying of 1.2 trillion yen a month represents a significantly high pace", according to a Reuters report. He suggested the policy had had some negative…
Former BIS head Crockett joins JP Morgan
Sir Andrew Crockett is to join JP Morgan Chase International as an international ambassador, The Times reports. Crockett was one of the favourites to take over at the Bank of England after leaving the BIS earlier this year. The post, based in New York,…
South Korea central bank sees economic recovery
Governor Park Seung of the Bank of Korea said on Friday 25 July, according to Reuters, that the economy could enter a recovery phase in the final quarter of this year but for the present, "our economy is in a very difficult spot", he added.
Germany's deficit shouldn't widen - Remsperger
The Bundesbank's chief economist Herman Remsperger has urged fiscal restraint and welfare reform, according to Bloomberg, saying "Borrowing to cover today's spending will worsen finances for future generations".
MNB vice president Auth warns against wage index
Inflationary pressures could build up in the Hungarian economy if next year's wage rises are linked to planned tax changes, warned the vice president of the national bank of Hungary Henrik Auth in an interview with Reuters.
Fed can keep rates low as growth quickens - McTeer
In a speech to the Dallas Rotary Club, Reuters reports that Dallas Fed President Bob McTeer expressed optimism the economy would soon revive, even as he admitted a lack of "hard evidence" of a pickup.