News
IMF's Lipsky upbeat on eurozone outlook
In an interview with Reuters published Thursday 22 February, IMF first deputy managing director, John Lipsky, said the world economy will slow slightly this year from 2006.
BoJ's Fukui expects gradual rate hikes
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui told lawmakers Friday 23 February that he is "open" to options of further rate hikes.
Zeti says Islamic institutions must reach out
Bank Negara Malaysia chief Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz said in a speech Friday 23 February that Islamic financial institutions must attempt to reach all levels of community to broaden its horizon.
FOMC members upbeat on economic outlook
Federal Reserve officials at their January meeting shrugged off past concerns and said the outlook for growth and inflation was looking positive, according to minutes of the meeting released Wednesday 21 February.
UNMIK head rejects nomination for Kosovo board
According to internet news agency KosovaLive, the Kosovo government announced Wednesday 21 February that head of UNMIK Joachim Rucker has nullified the decision for the appointment of former minister of economy Ali Sadria as a member of the Steering…
Yam warns investors to 'fasten safety belts'
Hong Kong Monetary Authority chief executive Joseph Yam said on Wednesday 21 February that the People's Bank of China's decision to raise the reserve requirement ratio on deposits will have little impact on mainland lenders.
Brazil's Lula considers central bank changes
Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is preparing to order changes in the board of directors of the country's central bank, Dow Jones reported Thursday 22 February.
Czech euro adoption 2012 likely - fin min
The Czech Republic could realistically adopt the euro in 2012, the Finance Ministry announced Wednesday 21 February, according to Prague Daily Monitor.
Bank of Japan to keep 'accommodative' policy
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui said Wednesday 21 February it will maintain its "accommodative" monetary policy for some time, after voting to raise interest rates.
Minutes show 7-2 split on BoE rate vote
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee voted by a 7-to-2 margin to keep its benchmark rate unchanged at 5.25 pct at its meeting earlier this month, minutes showed Wednesday 21 February.
SNB's Roth says rates not high enough yet
Swiss National Bank (SNB) chairman Jean-Pierre Roth said in an interview published Wednesday 21 February that Switzerland's current interest rate level is still not high enough to guarantee price stability in the medium-term.
Fed's Bies says bad mortgage debt not problem
Federal Reserve governor Susan Bies said in a speech Tuesday 20 February the bulk of the mortgage market was not troubled by bad debt problems, which were concentrated in the subprime, tarnished-credit sector.
Russia reiterates reserve diversification idea
The Russian central bank remains interested in further diversification of the currency structure of its gold and forex exchange reserves, its first deputy chairman said in a newspaper interview published on Tuesday 21 February.
CBN says currency change won't affect ECOWAS
The governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Professor Charles Soludo, has said currency restructuring by the Federal government will not affect plan for common denomination by ECOWAS countries.
Brazil will add reserves while liquidity high
Brazil's policy of increasing foreign reserves should continue as long as global imbalances support a steady flow of dollars into the country, central bank director Paulo Vieira da Cunha told analysts in New York.
Key US Democrat warns on inflation target idea
It would be a "terrible mistake" for the U.S. Federal Reserve to adopt any form of inflation target to guide policy, a senior Democratic lawmaker was quoted as telling the Financial Times on Tuesday 19 February.
Ex BoJ's Fujiwara says rate rise needed
The Bank of Japan should raise interest rates before the current rock-bottom rates trigger an asset bubble in the economy, a former BOJ deputy governor said on Monday 19 February in an interview with Reuters.
GCC chiefs to meet in April - report
Governors of Gulf Arab central banks will meet on April 3 and 4 in Saudi Arabia to discuss plans for monetary union and other issues, an official at the United Arab Emirates central bank was quoted Tuesday 20 February by Reuters.
Omi says BoJ should support growth
Japanese finance minister Koji Omi told parliament on Tuesday 20 February that the Bank of Japan's monetary policy should support economic growth, as it prepares to start a two- day meeting to decide interest rates.
Tarisa says BOT aiming to convert to bank deposits
Bank of Thailand governor Tarisa Watanagase said Tuesday 20 February the central bank will not need to issue the same number of bonds as it did in the past once it is authorised by a new law that will allow it to take deposits from commercial banks.
ECB's Tumpel-Gugerell still sees SEPA from Jan 08
European Central Bank board member Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell said Tuesday 20 February the plan for a single euro payments area (SEPA) is still on track to begin operations from 1 Jan next year, despite disputes over organising cross-border operations.
PBOC raises bank reserve requirement again
The People's Bank of China said Friday 16 February it has raised bank reserve requirements, with effect from 25 February.
Bank of England ready for 'more turbulent times'
The Bank of England said Monday 19 February it will be able to keep inflation under control even if inflation becomes more unpredictable than during the past decade.
Volcker says surging inflation in India worrying
India's surging inflation was a matter of concern but the Reserve Bank's monetary response to the issue was on track, renowned economist Paul Volcker said on Sunday 18 February.