News
Brazil appoints new central bank chief
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Brazil's leftwing president-elect, who takes office on January 1, on Thursday nominated experienced Harvard-trained banker, Henrique Meirelles, to head the central bank.
Friedman named as Bush's chief economic adviser
The White House on Thursday announced Stephen Friedman, the former chairman of Goldman Sachs, as chief economic adviser to president George W. Bush. He replaces Larry Lindsey who was a former Federal Reserve governor.
China seeks outside help to develop debt markets
China has contacted the World Bank and Asian Development Bank to gauge their attitude toward helping develop fledgling Chinese debt markets by launching the first renminbi-denominated bonds to be issued by a foreign institution.
Bank of Japan optimistic in Tankan report
The business outlook among Japanese companies improved in the October-December quarter, although that sentiment is not expected to last in months ahead, according to a central bank survey released Friday by the Bank of Japan.
No need to raise bank insurance cap - Fed's Olson
Federal Reserve Governor Mark Olson on Friday reiterated the U.S. central bank's opposition to raising the current $100,000 cap on insured bank deposits, saying such a move is not needed.
Minutes show Fed worried over deflation
The Federal Reserve cut interest rates last month as extra insurance against deflation and the chance that the economy's stumble this summer could become something worse, according to Fed meeting minutes released on Thursday.
Bank of Brazil, Focus Report
REPORT - Focus Report on Consumer Price Inflation in November, 11 December.
GCC central bank idea to figure in Dubai talks
The proposal to create a central bank representing all the Gulf Cooperation Council states will top the agenda of a major "GCC Banking Forum" to be organized in Dubai by the six Gulf states on 12 January 2003. The event will also address other key issues…
Iraqi central bank to hold conference
The 2nd banking conference organised by Central Bank Of Iraq will begin on Saturday and run for two days.
ECB cuts growth outlook, with ongoing uncertainty
The European Central Bank Thursday slashed its forecasts for growth in coming years, citing the "persistently high degree of uncertainty" as the main reason. The publication of the ECB's monthly report reveals more on the motivation for its recent half…
China needs to free up gold mkt - Gold Council
China needs to free up its gold market further to give locals an alternative form of investment, the World Gold Council has said. Recently CentralBankNet reported how the WGC had welcomed the successful launch of trading in physical gold on the new…
BOJ buys Y71bn worth of stocks from banks
The Bank of Japan (BOJ) had purchased 71.16 billion yen worth of stocks held by commercial banks as of Tuesday 10 December on a delivery-completed basis, the central bank said in a report released Thursday.
ECB may issue €1 note to help curb price rises
The European Central Bank is to discuss the idea of introducing one euro banknotes as a possible way to curb inflation. However, the high velocity of circulation of low value notes coupled with higher production costs would make this an expensive option.
Brazil appoints new central bank chief
Brazil's President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has appointed former FleetBoston executive Henrique Meirelles to head the nation's central bank, ending weeks of intense speculation.
Ukraine parl't fail to sack c banker amid fighting
Ukrainian Supreme Council (parliament) chairman Volodymyr Lytvyn closed the parliamentary sitting on Thursday because of scuffles in the session hall. Members of parliament were due to vote on the president's request to agree to the dismissal of…
Federal Reserve Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - The Federal Open Market Committee decided today to keep its target for the federal funds rate unchanged at 1-1/4 percent, 10 December.
Federal Reserve leaves interest rates unchanged
As expected the Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged on Tuesday at the FOMC's last meeting of 2002. The press release said the risks are balanced with respect to the prospects for both goals (price stability and sustainable economic growth) for…
Norges Bank Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - Norges Bank reduces interest rates, 11 December.
Argentina's new central bank chief
Since the announcement on Monday that Alfonso Prat-Gay will take the helm as Argentina's central bank governor, CentralBankNet has found some little known facts about this new central banker.
Bank of England has doubts on eurozone convergence
With the appointment of a widely seen 'eurosceptic' as the new governor of the Bank of England, the current incumbent Sir Edward George has raised doubts about Britain's economic convergence with the eurozone but stressed the comments were based on …
ECB agrees three-speed voting model
The ECB has addressed the problem of how votes will be allocated in an enlarged euro-zone. Their choice of model has been described as the "least worst" option and will limit the number of voting members to 21.
Poland's central bank pushing for euro adoption
Central bank president Leszek Balcerowicz has said that the adoption of the euro by Poland in the years 2006-2007 would be beneficial, but only if the budget deficit is tackled. The European Commission is apparently discouraging the move in a new, still…
Growth fears push Norway to cut interest rates
Norway's central bank surprised economists and cut interest rates on Wednesday as growth concerns outweighed stubborn wage inflation. Business leaders had called for a cut to kickstart the economy. The Bank's accompanying press release appeared to…
Sweden's former central bank chiefs oppose euro
Following Swedish prime minister Goran Persson's decision to set a date last month for Swedes to vote on the euro, two former central bank governors have come out in opposition to membership of the single currency.