News
UK economy set to outperform
UK - The UK economy grew faster than previously thought during the year to September 2001, according to new official figures.
CentralBankNet report picked up by national press
CENTRALBANKNET EXCLUSIVE REPORT - On Thursday morning CentralBankNet.com's exclusive report, released on CBNet Wednesday night, was picked up by the national press and the story was carried in Thursday's London edition of the Financial Times (page 14).
Euro notes seek forgery protection
EUROPE - Two of Europe's biggest chip developers may be working with the European Central Bank (ECB) to include tiny radio transceivers in high-value euro banknotes.
5m euros are stolen in three months
EUROPE - Armed gangs and other criminals have stolen Euros 5m ( £3.1m) in the three months since minting and printing of euro notes and coins began, and the situation is set to worsen, European police have warned.
City watchdog to regulate e-money issuers
UK - The Financial Services Authority, the City watchdog, is to extend its regulatory reach to cover organisations issuing "electronic money" used as an alternative method of payment to credit cards.
RBA names new deputy governor
AUSTRALIA - The appointment on Thursday of Mr Glenn Stevens as deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia makes him the frontrunner to become the central bank's next governor.
Monetary Policy Transmission in the Euro Area
CONFERENCE - Monetary Policy Transmission in the Euro Area, at the ECB (by invitation only), 18-19 December 2001.
Global '02 econ outlook shaky but not for c banks
ARTICLE - One of the biggest surprises of 2001 was how the global economy's main economic agents responded to signs of recession.
Russian c bank auditors' contest reaches final
RUSSIA - The Russian State Duma's budgetary committee recommended on 18 December to name PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS auditor of the Central Bank of Russia.
South Africa c bank deputy gov retires
SOUTH AFRICA - The Reserve Bank of South Africa confirmed on Wednesday that its senior deputy governor, James Cross, would be retiring for health reasons at the end of December, leaving only one deputy governor at the central bank.
BOE Dec Minutes - MPC Voted 7-2 To Hold Repo Rate
UK - Seven of the nine members of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee voted to keep the repo rate on hold at 4.0% in the Dec. 4-5 meeting, according to minutes of the meeting released Wednesday.
Fed's Meyer skeptical about IMF's bankruptcy plan
US - A senior Federal Reserve policymaker expressed scepticism Tuesday about the International Monetary Fund's plan to allow debt-burdened countries to suspend payments to their creditors, saying it is unlikely to win international political support.
Gold - currency reserves of NBU grew - Yaremenko
UKRAINE - The amount of gross gold-domestic reserves of the National Bank of Ukraine made $3.259 billion by 12 December (by 29 November they made $3.153 billion).
Bank of Japan aims for boost
JAPAN - The Bank of Japan has relaxed its monetary policy, providing more cash to the banking sector in a bid to boost the flagging economy.
Argentine crisis ripples spread
ARGENTINA - Riots and looting on the streets of Buenos Aires have sparked jitters among economic pundits around the world.
Last-minute deal on euro seigniorage
EUROPE - At the 11th hour, the governing council of the European Central Bank, has agreed a deal on how to share out the seigniorage profits of the euro. The pain is delayed, but Germany still loses out.
ECB net forex reserves
GERMANY - The Eurosystem's net foreign currency reserves decreased by EUR0.1 billion to EUR255.3 billion in the week ended 14 December.
Polish fin min seeks central bank truce
POLAND - Polish Finance Minister Marek Belka appears anxious to extend the olive branch in an escalating feud between the government and Poland's central bank over high interest rates and the surging zloty.
Legacy cash spending impact on econ hard to gauge
GERMANY - Trying to pin down the exact boost to the euro-zone economy from spending in undeclared legacy currency ahead of the 1 January introduction of euro notes and coins is proving to be as slippery as tracking such money in the first place.
Ernst & Young to audit central bank
HUNGARY - The Hungarian state audit office, ASZ, has recommended Ernst & Young over two other auditing firms to audit the National Bank of Hungary for the next five years, Econews reports.
Employee relations at the ECB slated as primitive
UK - Most Bank of England staff are unhappy with their working conditions due to changes in the way the bank has been run over the last year, according to a report published today.
Senate okays Bush regulatory picks
US - While Congress may be at an impasse in moving important legislation, the Senate has had no problems in confirming President Bush's picks for top regulatory posts.
DNB personnel not satisfied with the Bank's work
NETHERLANDS - The personnel of the Dutch central bank DNB is not satisfied with the work of the bank, research of the international association of trade unions (UNI) showed.
C bank to put new LTL 20 banknote into circulation
LITHUANIA - The central Bank of Lithuania will put new twenty-litas notes into circulation on 17 December 2001.