News
RBA's Macfarlane facing final hearing
The Australian House of representatives economics committee will hold a public hearing on Friday 18 August with the Reserve Bank governor, Ian Macfarlane.
War will slow growth says Israel's Fischer
Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer said in an interview that war with Hizbullah will cut the nation's economic growth rate by 1 percentage point this year.
Report says US considering inflation gauge change
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics is contemplating a change in the consumer price index that may have an impact on how markets and policymakers interpret inflation data, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday 14 August, citing a government official.
SNB's Roth sees continued rate hikes
Swiss National Bank president Jean-Pierre Roth said in an interview with Swiss Sunday paper NZZ am Sonntag that the SNB will continue its policy of gradual interest rate hikes.
RBZ's Gono given increased protection
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono has been given increased security following a recent arson attack on his property, the Zimbabwe Standard reported.
France's Breton says sharp ECB hikes not needed
France's Finance Minister Thierry Breton said in an interview there is no need for the European Central Bank to continue raising interest rates much above the current 3.0 pct level.
BOJ steps in after Tokyo blackout
The Bank of Japan began supplying emergency funds Monday 14 August to the interbank market after a blackout halted fund settlements.
New PBOC adviser says 5% yuan gain okay
It would be acceptable to China for the yuan to appreciate by about 5% a year in the coming two years, a member of the People's Bank of China monetary policy committee, Fan Gang, said in an article published in Monday's 21st Century Business Herald.
Fan Gang to join PBOC committee
China's Cabinet said Friday 11 August it had appointed economist Fan Gang to the People's Bank of China's monetary policy committee, an advisory body to the central bank.
BOJ's Fukui says rate hike not ruled out
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui said Friday 11 August the central bank will "slowly" adjust interest rates while keeping a close eye on economic and price moves ahead.
Zimbabwe's Gono warns of 'inflation dragon'
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe chief Gideon Gono urged Friday 11 August a fight against the "inflation dragon," saying it still posed a major threat to the economy although the rate has fallen back to just under 1 000% recently.
The curse of the parochial view
This article by Samuel Brittan of the Financial Times, published Friday 11 August, compares the reaction to the recent round of central bank interest rate decisions.
UK freezes bank accounts of terror suspects
The Bank of England said Friday 11 August it had frozen the accounts of 19 of the 24 men arrested in an alleged terror plot, and publicly released their names.
Foreign buyers bring a host of challenges
According to this recent article by Bank of Mexico governor Guillermo Ortiz, published in The Banker magazine, the purchase of developing country banks by global banks can be mutually beneficial.
Fed probably will skip rate increase next month
According to this article published Wednesday 9 August, by John Berry of Bloomberg, the best guess is probably that there won't be a rate increase in the US next month.
PBOC will increase yuan flexibility
The People's Bank of China said on Thursday 10 August that it would gradually increase the flexibility of the yuan's exchange rate and that market forces would play a fundamental role in determining its value.
Zimbabwe seizes trillions of old notes
State media reported on Wednesday 9 August that Zimbabwe security agents had seized more than Z$10-trillion (about $40m) in old banknotes at the country's main airport in a campaign against money laundering.
Lithuania sets sights on eurozone entry in 2009
The Lithuanian government has said that it will pass a euro adoption plan this Autumn, according to a local press report.
Japan's Abe sees end of deflation in view
Japan's chief government spokesman said Thursday 10 August the end of deflation is "within sight," but did not declare it over in the world's second largest economy.
Communications breakthrough reaps reward for Fed
According to this article from the Financial Times, published Wednesday 9 August, Ben Bernanke will probably be pleased with the muted market reaction that followed the FOMC's latest interest rate decision.
Central bank's ex-chief defends ex-Dominican pres
The Dominican central bank's ex-chief has defended ex-president Hipolito Mejia's actions regarding the payment to several depositors during the liquidation of the collapsed Intercontinental Bank, Dominican Today reported.
Richmond's Lacker first to dissent under Bernanke
This article published Tuesday 8 August by Bloomberg notes that Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond president Jeffrey Lacker disagreed with the Fed's decision to forgo an interest-rate increase.
MAS committed to anti-money laundering efforts
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has reiterated the country's commitment to the international efforts to fight against money laundering and terrorism funding, Channel NewsAsia report said Tuesday 8 August.
China to use ex rate for economic structure
The People's Bank of China said in its monetary policy report released Wednesday 9 August that it will use the exchange rate to adjust the nation's economic structure.