News
Malaysia introduces deposit insurance scheme
Malaysia introduced deposit insurance on Thursday 1 September, establishing an independent body to insure people against the loss of their bank savings.
Indonesian rupiah fall unlikely to impact Malaysia
The Indonesian rupiah's fall is unlikely to have any impact on the economies of Malaysia or the ASEAN nations, Bank Negara Malaysia governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz said.
Bank of Canada counterfeit deterrence awards
The Bank of Canada has announced the 2005 recipients of its annual Law-Enforcement Award of Excellence for Counterfeit Deterrence.
More ECB dialogue wanted by France
France called for a more "resolute dialogue" between the eurozone's politicians and the European Central Bank on Tuesday 30 August, saying that fiscal and monetary policy must be better co-ordinated if faster economic growth is to be achieved.
ECOWAS central bank governors begin Accra meeting
Central bank governors of ECOWAS member countries were due to converge on Accra Wednesday 31 August for the 15th meeting of the Committee of Governors (COG) to deliberate plans to achieve macro-economic convergence criteria for the creation of a single…
Govt close to Bank of Italy reform plan
The parties within the right-wing government led by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi are close to a compromise regarding the reform of the Bank of Italy, the daily La Stampa said, without giving a source.
Iran's central bank governor pledges reforms
The inflation rate in Iran will drop to a one digit figure by end of the fourth five-year economic development plan (2005-10), said governor of the Central Bank of Iran Ebrahim Sheibani here on Tuesday 30 August.
MAS and IMF seminar on Asian integration
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will jointly host a high-level seminar on Asian regional financial integration in Singapore on Saturday 3 September.
Financial Stability Forum to meet in London
The Financial Stability Forum announced on Tuesday 30 August that it will hold its fourteenth meeting on 8-9 September in London.
PBOC to change currency design
China's central bank said it will adopt a new design for its currency note, the yuan, to reduce counterfeiting of the new edition of notes which will start circulation on Wednesday 31 August.
Report says Fazio ready to accept limited term
Bank of Italy governor Antonio Fazio is ready to accept a reform of the central bank and the introduction of limited tenure for his post, the daily Il Corriere della Sera said, citing sources close to the governor.
Strong demand for euronotes
The euro has received a good deal of flak recently, but in cash terms it seems people can't get enough of Europe's single currency as the value of euro banknotes in circulation soared past €500 billion in the second quarter of 2005.
Rupiah sinks on oil-price rise
The Indonesian rupiah has sunk to its lowest level since January 2002, following a week of rapid depreciation. Burhanuddin Abdullah, governor of Bank Indonesia, vowed to continue to defend the rupiah.
Kenya committee to advise on monetary operations
The Central Bank of Kenya will benefit from expert advice on how to implement monetary policy, following the establishment of a Monetary Policy Advisory Committee on August 24.
The yuan's stable float
Noises and signals continue to emerge from China about reforms to the exchange rate regime, but the central bank still appears to have a firm grip on the value of the yuan.
NY Fed to host credit derivatives powwow
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York is to hold a meeting with major banks to discuss issues in the credit derivatives market in September.
Fazio faces strike ultimatum
The union representing the majority of staff at the Bank of Italy has threatened to call a strike unless Antonio Fazio, the central bank's governor, resigns over the Antonveneta affair.
Filipino rates unmoved despite inflation threat
The Philippines central bank held interest rates steady at its August monetary policy meeting, despite inflation which is expected to be above-target in 2005 and 2006.
Brazil looks to strengthen AML regime
A bill has been presented to the Brazilian Congress which would bolster anti money laundering rules and give the central bank more control over transactions.
Sweden leaves interest rate unchanged
The Swedish Riksbank kept the repo rate unchanged at 1.5% at its meeting on 23 August. CPI inflation remains low at 0.3% in the year to July, but it is expected to return to the target level of 2% over the next two years.
Nigeria in record forex sale
The Central Bank of Nigeria offered $500 million to banks in the foreign exchange market on 23 August, in its largest ever sale of foreign exchange.
China legislates to protect foreign CB assets
The Chinese government is considering legislation which would exempt the assets of foreign central banks from judicial enforcement, according to the China Daily.
Mboweni downplays loan-to-Zimbabwe stories
Tito Mboweni, governor of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), yesterday told journalists that the size of the loan to the Zimbabwean government that South Africa was considering was "nowhere near" the US$1 billion mark previously reported in the press.
Bank of England to cut financial stability staff
The Bank of England is planning to restructure the division which monitors financial stability, according to a report in the Daily Telegraph. The move could see the elimination of about 20 of the 150 jobs in the department.