News
Central bank governor says Turkey doing well
The governor of Turkey's central bank said on Wednesday 30 April that political tensions should not be allowed to influence the economy, according to aMSNBC report.
Snow outlines US Iraq help with new central bank
US Treasury Secretary John Snow said on Wednesday 30 April that priorities in Iraq will include restoring the Finance Ministry and central bank and establishing a sound national currency, according to Associated Press.
Fed held conference calls on economy during war
An early draft of Alan Greenspan's testimony to the House of Representatives Financial Services Committee which was apparently released in error, revealed that the FOMC held regular conference calls during the Iraq war to monitor the US economy,…
Venezuela's Maza blasts delay in selling dollars
Central Bank of Venezuela director Domingo Maza said before a press conference that a lack of imports is hurting the country's economy with restrictions on the availability of dollars for overseas supplies, Bloomberg reports.
IMF's Rogoff to return to Harvard
Economic Counsellor Kenneth Rogoff notified IMF Management of his intention to return to Harvard University in the Autumn, 29 April.
New commission regulates Chinese banks
The China Banking Regulatory Commission began operations on Monday 28 April and will take over the supervisory role of the People's Bank of China, according to a report in Asia Times Online.
Uganda c bank declared 'least corrupt' institution
The Bank of Uganda, the country's central bank, has been declared the most honest and least corrupt institution in Uganda in a report from the Inspector General of Government, according to a report in The Monitor
Norges Bank reduces interest rates
Norway's central bank cut its main interest rate by 0.50 percentage points on Wednesday 30 April, saying that the balance of probability suggested inflation would be lower than the 2.5 target in two years time.
Sheibani appointed new CBI governor: report
The newspaper Hamshahri reported on Wednesday 30 April that Ebrahim Sheibani has been appointed the new governor of the Central Bank of Iran. A previous leading contender for the post, Massoud Nili, was said to have withdrawn his candidacy to concentrate…
Bank of Japan eases monetary policy
In a surprise move the Bank of Japan eased monetary policy sharply on Wednesday30 April, reports the Financial times. . In a statement the BoJ said the move was seen as appropriate in light of current "uncertainty regarding the economic and financial…
New York Fed steps up hunt for president
The search for a replacement at the New York Fed for William McDonough steps up this week with candidates for the post expected to be interviewed. according to the Financial Times. Two prominent candidates for the job include a Mr Fischer and a Mr Fisher.
Welteke confirms support for stability pact
Looking back over the lifetime of the euro, Ernst Welteke, the president of the Deutsche Bundesbank, said in a speech on Wednesday that the ECB had achieved its aim of price stability in the face of strong and in some cases unprecedented economic shocks…
Credit information laws aid consumers-Greenspan
Speaking to the US Congress on Wednesday 30 April, Alan Greenspan said having credit information flowing freely benefits borrowers by reducing uncertainty and pushing interest rates lower than they would otherwise be, according to Reuters.
IMF's Rogoff to leave Fund, return to Harvard
The International Monetary Fund announced Tuesday that Ken Rogoff, its chief economist, would be leaving the Fund in the autumn to return to academia, accoding to Reuters.
Bank of England to withdraw Dickens £10 note
The Bank of England on Tuesday april 29 announced that it is to withdraw from circulation the older style £10 notes featuring a portrait of Charles Dickens.
First five years of the ECB
Commenting on the fifth annual report of the ECB presented to the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs by ECB vice-president Lucas Papademos, Committee Chair Christa RANDZIO-PLATH (PES/Germany) said that the ECB and European Monetary Policy both…
Tumpel-Gugerell new ECB Board Member
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs gives ll clear for Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell as new ECB Board Member, 29 April.
Support for Tumpel-Gugerell
Unanimous Support for new ECB Executive Board Member, 29 April.
Hong Kong launches euro clearing system
Hong Kong launched its euro clearing system on Monday 28 April with the aim of eliminating Herstatt risk in foreign exchange settlements, according to Reuters.
China quarantines banknotes in SARS scare
China's banks are taking steps to halt the spread of the SARS virus and the central bank has urged people to use cards instead of cash. Other steps include sterilising banknotes with disinfectant, according to Dow Jones.
Duisenberg heir need not be French, lawmaker says
Christa Randzio-Plath, chairwoman of the European Parliament's monetary committee, has said that Wim Duisenberg's successor at the ECB does not have to be French, commenting "We have not only to look at nationality", according to Bloomberg News.
ECB warns SARS more damaging than war
In an interview with Spanish newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore, Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa, an executive member of the ECB, said the negative impact of the Iraq war could be outweighed by the effect of the SARS virus.
BMA chief to chair Jeddah conference
Bahrain Monetary Agency (BMA) Governor Shaikh Khalifa will chair the second meeting of the Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) Council meeting at the Islamic Development Bank on Wednesday 30 April, according to the Gulf Daily News.
Iraq central bank staff ready for return to work
Al Jazeera reports that staff of the looted and destroyed central bank of Iraq are ready to return to work - if there is security and another location can be found.