News
Argentina defaults on World Bank loan
ARGENTINA - The Argentine government on Thursday took the extraordinary step of defaulting on a loan repayment to the World Bank, in a sign of its intense frustration over negotiations with the bank's sister institution, the International Monetary Fund.
Korea - Inflationary pressures likely to mount
KOREA - Consumer-price inflation will likely accelerate in coming months due to wage hikes and the recent rise in international oil prices, the Bank of Korea (BOK) said Thursday.
Russian gov't agrees to currency control removal
RUSSIA - Russia's government agreed in principle Thursday on a draft of a law that would abolish almost all currency controls by 2007.
Indian banks cautioned on risks in e-banking
INDIA - The Reserve Bank of India has cautioned Indian banks about the inherent risk factors that accompany the introduction of high-tech electronic delivery system in the banking sector.
MAS Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - MAS seeks industry comment from financial institutions on technology risk management guidelines, 11 Nov.
Former Canada c bank chief reveals row in new book
CANADA - Former Bank of Canada governor John Crow reveals in a new book 'Making Money' that a political row with the finance minister over inflation targeting prevented him from taking up a second term as head of the central bank.
San Francisco Fed chief expects recovery next year
US - Following the Federal Reserve's half point interest rate cut last week Robert Parry said in a speech on Wednesday that the Fed thought it was wise to "take out a little insurance" to keep the expansion going.
Eurozone rate cut hopes boosted by ECB report
GERMANY - The ECB's monthly bulletin released Thursday appeared to increase the likelihood of a future rate reduction on the back of comments made by Win Duisenberg last week.
BOJ may resist pressure to ease again next week
JAPAN - After easing liquidity further at the last meeting of the BOJ, many economists expect the bank to resist calls for further easing when it meets next week.
Thai CB head urges trade growth to fight deflation
THAILAND - Thai central bank governor Pridiyathorn Devakula said on Thursday that promoting intra-Asia trade was a crucial step in fighting off deflation, which is becoming an increasing threat to the region's economies.
RBZ launches new payment system
ZIMBABWE - Starting on November 18, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) will introduce an electronic transfer and settlement system (ZETSS) that will link Zimbabwe's commercial banks in the movement of funds among participating banks using settlement…
Russian PM says old regulations hinder economy
RUSSIA - The existing system of currency regulation and control hampers the development of the national economy, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov said at a cabinet session on Thursday.
Greenspan questions wisdom of tax changes
US - Alan Greenspan entered the political arena yesterday claiming that use of fiscal policies to manage the US economy could have uncertain results and threaten long-term stability.
Webster quits as accounts watchdog
US - William Webster on Tuesday quit as head of the US's new accountancy regulator, a casualty of a debacle that has already forced out Harvey Pitt, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Economists' expectation of UK euro entry falls
UK - Financial markets indicate expectations of Britain joining the euro are receding as a result of the lack of any movement in the opinion polls, according to economists at HSBC.
Banks face tough test ahead on international stage
JAPAN - Japan's banks, soon to face unprecedented pressure to clean up their massive bad loan mess, already have a lot on their plate. But their job now looks set to get even harder, thanks to new capital accounting standards the Bank for International…
Risk-profile onus falls on India's banks
INDIA - The RBI has rolled out Risk Based Supervision (RBS) for banks. The central bank has sent a template of prudential norms to all banks to independently measure their prudential status.
China beats USA as Korea's largest export market
SOUTH KOREA - China has surpassed the United States in terms of its share of South Korea's export market in the first nine months of this year, the Bank of Korea said Wednesday.
Greenspan: Economy has hit 'soft patch'
US - Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said on Wednesday the U.S. economy was weighed down by worry over possible war and falling stock prices but not by dangerous imbalances that tended to herald recession.
EU disciplines Germany over deficit, warns France
BELGIUM - The European Commission publicly censured Germany and France over their budgets on Wednesday, saying Berlin would exceed EU deficit limits this year and Paris risked following suit next year.
Mboweni takes inflation plan to the people
SOUTH AFRICA - South African Reserve Bank (SARB) Governor Tito Mboweni took the central bank's views on inflation to the public on Wednesday, stressing the bank would not try to meet its targets "at all costs".
New mandates for management of equity portfolios
PRESS RELEASE - Norges Bank Investment Management is today announcing new external active mandates for the Government Petroleum Fund. The new mandates are within the consumer staples, consumer cyclicals, media and services sectors, 12 November.
War cloud hangs over global economy recovery in 03
MEXICO - The global economy is set for recovery next year, once uncertainties surrounding the possibility of a war on Iraq are resolved, the head of the Bank of International Settlements said on Monday.
French urge Britain to speed entry to the euro
FRANCE - The French government has made a private plea to senior British MPs to speed British entry to the euro, promising flexibility in negotiations on the terms of British entry.