News
Report says China to set up FX investment unit
The Chinese government is expected to introduce a number of foreign exchange reform measures this year including setting up a state forex investment company, the China Securities Journal reported Thursday 1 February, citing an unnamed state official.
Bank of Russia appoints new deputy chairman
The Bank of Russia said Thursday 1 February that it had appointed a new deputy chairman to replace Andrei Kozlov, who was shot dead in a crime widely linked to his work at the central bank.
Stark says ECB policy still accommodative
European Central Bank chief economist Juergen Stark told Boersen-Zeitung in an interview to be published Thursday 1 February that eurozone monetary policy remains accommodative despite the 25 basis point December rate increase.
Malaysia confirms dollar reserves shift
Malaysia has moved some of its $82 billion of currency reserves away from the dollar, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told reporters Tuesday 30 January in Davos.
Chavez set to receive decree powers Wednesday
Venezuela's Congress has delayed by a day its vote to give president Hugo Chavez decree powers enabling him to nationalise oil and utility assets and strip the central bank of its autonomy.
Slovene president defends Gaspari nomination
Slovenia's president Janez Drnovsek has defended his decision to nominate Mitja Gaspari for a second term as central bank governor. "His contribution to the development of the Slovenian financial system is great," Drnovsek told POP TV on Sunday 28…
Hungary's PM to discuss central bank nomination
Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany has invited leaders from the country's parliamentary parties for a meeting next week to discuss the nomination for central bank governor, the bbj.hu website reported Tuesday 30 January.
Canada's Dodge to talk over second term in June
Bank of Canada governor David Dodge has said governing Canada's central bank is "still fun," and that he will speak with the board in June about whether or not to seek a second term as governor.
Ex-RBA chief joins Woolworths board
Woolworths has appointed former Reserve Bank of Australia governor Ian Macfarlane to its board, the company said in a statement on Tuesday 30 January.
Chou promoted at Taiwan central bank
According to the Taipei Times, the central bank of China in Taiwan announced Monday 29 January that George Chou, who serves as director-general of the foreign exchange department, will be promoted to the position of deputy governor.
Germany's Steinbrueck defends 'sacrosanct' ECB
German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrueck insisted Tuesday 30 January that European Central Bank independence was "sacrosanct" amid calls from some politicians for a more accountable ECB.
PBOC 'closely monitoring' property prices - report
China's central bank is "closely monitoring" domestic property prices, state media quoted the People's Bank of China governor as saying Tuesday 30 January.
Ex-Fed's Rivlin says Bernanke gets an 'A'
"In general, I think he's doing a very good job...I think he gets an A on several different grounds," former Federal Reserve vice chairwoman Alice Rivlin told Kyodo News in an interview published Monday 29 January, ahead of the anniversary of Bernanke's…
Greenspan promotes stronger Chinese yuan
China may improve the stability of its economy by allowing the yuan to rise faster, Alan Greenspan, former chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve, said Monday 29 January via video link at a conference in Shanghai organized by UBS AG.
HKMA says close monitoring needed on hedge funds
Hedge funds' activity needs to be monitored closely because their 'risk-taking . . . is often excessive,' the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) said in a paper.
ECB policy still accommodating says Bini Smaghi
ECB board member Lorenzo Bini Smaghi said Saturday 27 January in a speech in Milan that current eurozone interest rates are still "accommodating" and will continue to be so in the coming months.
BoE's Blanchflower downplays 'dove' tag
Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee member, David Blanchflower, has attempted to downplay the market's view of him as an interest rate dove in an interview with the Guardian published Monday 29 January.
Buba's Remsperger sees German recovery into 2008
Bundesbank executive board member Hermann Remsperger said in an interview with the Financial Times published Monday 29 January Germany's economic recovery has a good chance of continuing beyond 2007 and into next year.
PBOC's Wu says yuan to shift gradually
People's Bank of China deputy governor Wu Xiaoling said at the World Economic Forum that the yuan exchange rate will gradually become more flexible.
ECB's Trichet sees risk of inflation spiral
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet told French television there is a risk of an increase in inflation in the eurozone and noted that ECB rates are well below those of the US Fed.
Buba's Weber says rates may have to rise
Bundesbank President Axel Weber said in an interview published Monday 29 January a further increase in euro zone interest rates may well be needed, if German wages increase steeply.
BoJ to discontinue its Quarterly Bulletin
The Bank of Japan said Friday 26 January it will stop publishing its Quarterly Bulletin from now on due to increased use of the internet. The last issue was the November 2006 edition, the BoJ said in a statement.
China's Yu says coordinate foreign reserve policy
Yu Yongding, a former adviser to the People's Bank of China, said on Friday 26 January that officials should coordinate foreign reserve policy with other Asian central banks to prevent volatility in currency markets.
Ota says BoJ, govt share same view on economy
Japan's economic and fiscal policy minister Hiroko Ota said Thursday 25 January the Bank of Japan and the government share the same view on the state of the world's second-largest economy.