News
EU calls for single payment area by 2010
Charlie McCreevy, the European Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services said on Tuesday 20 September that banks must create a single pan-EU system for payments by 2010, a demand the European Commission will underpin by legislation.
Jarai says euro target date 'hopeless' for Hungary
Hungary's "macroeconomic developments do not appear to be improving, especially in terms of the public sector", Hungary's central bank Governor Zsigmond Jarai told a press conference on Monday 19 September.
China to attend G7 Washington talks
China has accepted an invitation to a working lunch on Friday in Washington of finance ministers and central bank governors of the Group of Seven major industrialised countries, Vice-Finance Minister Li Yong said on Tuesday 20 September.
BoE's Nickell warns on growth shortfall in UK
The economy faces a 'serious risk' that economic growth will fall short of the Bank of England's forecasts, Stephen Nickell, a member of the central bank's rate-setting body told the Financial Times.
Report says IMF to cut US growth outlook
The International Monetary Fund expects the United States economy to grow less than previously expected this year and next, but will upgrade Japan's growth prospects on its upcoming world economic scorecard, German newspapers said over the weekend.
PBOC vows to maintain stable yuan
China's central bank said Monday 19 September it will keep the yuan rate basically stable as it works to improve the exchange rate mechanism introduced at the end of July.
GSE bill vote seen this week
The U.S. House of Representatives may vote on legislation to rein in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac this week, a key lawmaker has said.
Pakistan's Hussain plans economic think tank
The governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, Dr Ishrat Hussain, has said he intends to establish an Economic Think Tank in Pakistan soon after his retirement.
Colombia central bank plans reserves sale
Colombia's central bank said on Friday 16 September it cut interest rates by half a percentage point and would sell at least $3 billion in international reserves to the government.
G7 may call for further currency reform in Asia
G7 finance ministers and central bankers are likely to reiterate their call for increased currency flexibility in emerging Asian economies at their meeting in Washington later this week, a source close to the French finance ministry told AFX News.
Time to go, Mr. Fazio
The agenda set out in this article published Monday 12 September is clear. Bank of Italy governor Antonio Fazio must go. Even if nobody can legally force him out, the campaign for his resignation will not go away, it says.
World Bank names Europeans to top posts
World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz named two Europeans to senior positions at the development lender on Friday 9 September.
Fed schedule suggests Greenspan January exit
The Federal Reserve has shortened its planned two-day monetary policy meeting for 31 Jan - 1 Fed down to one day, suggesting Alan Greenspan will leave the Fed then.
Interview with Bundesbank's Weber
In an interview published on Saturday 10 September Deutsche Bundesbank president Axel Weber said Germany could learn a lot from Britain's success in reducing unemployment to such low levels.
Greenspan successor to face tough economic climate
Until recently it seemed that Alan Greenspan's successor at the Federal Reserve would have a fairly easy ride at first. But according to an article published this week, that seems like a distant memory now that Hurricane Katrina has sent gasoline,…
Place your bets! Will Fazio stay or go?
A Swedish online gambling website is offering odds on whether embattled Bank of Italy governor Antonio Fazio will stay in office beyond the start of October.
Greenspan, the Wizard of Bubbleland
This lengthy article published on Wednesday 14 September covers a lot of central banking ground. Greenspan's measured-paced interest-rate policy is a reversal back to the Fed's tradition of gradualism, it says, but the debt cancer is spreading faster…
BoE's Lambert downplays UK inflation rise
Writing in the UK newspaper the Sun, Bank of England rate setter Richard Lambert downplayed the sharp recent rise in UK inflation, saying that the central bank does not set rates according to where inflation stands at present.
BOJ's Iwata repeats inflation target call
Bank of Japan deputy governor Kazumasa Iwata said Thursday 15 September that the central bank should adopt a specific inflation target to boost transparency in monetary policy and fend off excessive market speculation after its quantitative easing…
Vietnam to maintain compulsory reserves ratio
Vietnam's central bank said on Thursday 15 September it will not raise the compulsory reserve ratio banks must keep aside.
RBI: Banks must improve technology to manage risk
A senior Reserve Bank of India official said Thursday 15 September that Indian banks need to strengthen technology platforms to manage risks better.
Argentina mulls increasing gold reserves
Argentina's central bank may increase its gold reserves as a hedge against inflation and to protect it against financial crises, according to Juan Ignacio Basco, the bank's head of market operations.
Besieged Fazio gets a supporter at last
European Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy said Friday 16 September that the Bank of Italy's governor, Antonio Fazio, appears to have acted legally in the ongoing saga that has enveloped the central bank.
Poland may hold euro referendum
Poland may hold a referendum on when to adopt the euro if the country's expected next ruling coalition cannot agree on a timetable, top presidential candidate Donald Tusk said on Thursday 15 September.