News
Central banks autonomy under global pressure
INDIA - Even though central banks may gain independence from their respective Governments, they may tend to be circumscribed by the compulsions of the international financial community, according to Dr Y.V. Reddy, Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India.
'No prior talks' on emergency interest rate cuts
UK - The world-wide cuts in interest rates in the wake of the terror attacks on New York and Washington was not coordinated in advance, according to a prominent former member of the Bank of England's policy-making Monetary Policy Committee.
Federal Reserve Board FOMC Meeting minutes
MINUTES - Minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee, 21 August.
Fed met on rates twice in wake of attacks
US - The U.S. Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee held two telephone conferences in the aftermath of the 11 September attacks in New York and Washington, agreeing unanimously on 17 September to cut interest rates sharply, according to minutes…
€ EURO - Portugal to use big value notes
PORTUGAL - Portugal has changed its mind about not circulating the two highest denomination euro banknotes and now plans to distribute a small number of Euros 500 ( £310) and Euros 200 notes.
€ EURO - Greek kiosks in the front line
GREECE - The owners of Greece's 15,000 kiosks say they want help from the government to prepare for the launch of the euro.
€ EURO - Most ATMs stand ready
BELGIUM - Five in six automated teller machines (ATMs) in the eurozone will provide euro notes from January 1, the first day of the single currency, a survey by the European Commission has found.
€ EURO - Smaller groups less prepared
BELGIUM - One in five small and medium sized businesses in the eurozone say they will not be able to operate entirely in euros on January 1, the first day of the new currency, according to a European Commission study.
€ EURO - Franc to go out with a bang
FRANCE - A trick question for euro-specialists: when is a franc worth Euros 34, not Euros 0.15?
Brazil inflation slows sharply
BRAZIL - Brazil's inflation in September slowed considerably over previous months but is still expected to exceed the upper limit of the government's year-end target of 6 per cent.
Unattended bag sparks bomb scare at MAS Building
SINGAPORE - It was not business as usual down at the MAS Building in Shenton Way after an apparent bomb scare led to parts of the building being cordoned off.
Bank of France printing employees strike to 5 Oct
FRANCE - On October 3 printing employees at the Bank of France at Chamalieres (Puy-de-Dome), on strike for three weeks, unanimously decided to continue action until 5 October.
Bank of England cuts interest rates, quarter point
UK - The Bank of England has cut UK interest rates by a further quarter point as it tries to stem the economic turbulence triggered by last month's terror attacks.
Bank of England News Release
NEWS RELEASE - Official News Release from the Bank of England on interest rate decision, 4 October.
RBNZ directors - Breach of inflation target was OK
NEW ZEALAND - The Reserve Bank of New Zealand's breach of its official inflation target through much of the year ending 30 June, isn't a matter for concern, the central bank's non-executive directors said in its annual report issued Thursday 4 October.
Banks fail on internet targets
UK - Banks have failed to meet targets for cost savings from internet banking and almost half believe the business case for setting up web services may not be viable.
Brussels seek breakthrough on financial regulation
BELGIUM - The European Commission will try to break a deadlock today in negotiations on the introduction of tough measures against money laundering, which have so far been resisted by the European parliament.
Hayami: Financial systems more stable than 1998
JAPAN - Bank of Japan Governor Masaru Hayami said Thursday 4 October that Japan's financial system is much more stable than it was in 1998, when the nation came to the brink of a full-blown financial crisis.
Shiokawa: Want BOJ to keep at least Y8T reserves
JAPAN - Japanese Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa said Wednesday that he won't propose the Group of Seven monetary authorities take joint action against the weak dollar at their meeting in Washington Saturday.
Japanese snap up foreign bonds despite attacks
JAPAN - Japanese investors have been buying a massive amount of foreign bonds in recent weeks, making a mockery of the view they were busily repatriating funds ahead of half-year bookclosings, data showed on Thursday 4 October.
Banks need no RBI nod for online debit cards
INDIA - Banks will not be required to seek the approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for introducing online debit cards, where straight-through-processing is done.
Pakistan buying dollars to bolster reserves
PAKISTAN - Taking advantage of the sharp drop in the U.S. dollar against the rupee, Pakistan's central bank has been buying the U.S. unit from the interbank market to bolster its foreign exchange reserves, a source said on Wednesday.
Russia c bank to sell $50M to non-residents today
RUSSIA - Today, 4 October, the Russian Central Bank will conduct an auction for non-residents with S-accounts in Russia.
2.5% - US Interest rates at lowest since 1962
US - The US central bank, the Federal Reserve, has cut interest rate for the ninth time this year, by half a percentage point to 2.5%.