News
Japan discovers misprints in yen notes
Japan's high-tech money-printing bureau was embarrassed on Tuesday 9 May when 39,500 bills were found to be misprinted.
G10 central bankers wary of inflation
Central bank chiefs from leading industrialised and developing countries called on Monday 8 May for "very special attention" to guard against ongoing global economic growth from becoming inflationary.
HKMA's Yam rejects calls to dump dollar peg
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority has said it would resist pressure to re-peg the Hong Kong dollar away from the U.S. dollar and onto the Chinese yuan.
PBOC trying to cool overheating sectors
The People's Bank of China is seeking to cool overheating economic sectors such as real estate as well as cut its huge foreign exchange reserves, a senior Chinese government official said.
Asia is getting ready to dump the dollar peg
According to this article published Monday 8 May, even as they continue to pile up U.S. debt in their foreign exchange reserves to keep their currencies stable against the dollar, Asian nations are preparing for a scenario where the dollar collapses…
Philippines, Japan sign currency swap
The Philippine central bank and the Bank of Japan have signed a currency swap arrangement letting both countries draw from each other's foreign reserves for any "immediate need".
Why the dollar is set to plunge
The fundamental reason for the dollar's weakness has become greater since it enjoyed a modest revival from the end of 2004, according to this article published Monday 8 May.
Qatar appoints central bank chief
Qatar appointed a member of its ruling family to the position of head of the central bank on Sunday 7 May, according to the AME Info website.
Angola swears in deputy governors
The Angolan Head of State, Jose Eduardo dos Santos swore in last Wednesday 3 May in Luanda two deputy governors of the National Bank of Angola (BNA).
Bank of Israel names new deputy governor
Bank of Israel governor Stanley Fischer has named Tel Aviv University economics professor Zvi Eckstein for the position of deputy governor, Haaretz reported.
Chairman Bernanke's clarity issue
According to this article published Thursday 4 May, while Ben Bernanke is unlikely to make radical changes in the statement issued after the next FOMC meeting, Fed watchers say he could aid his cause by eventually disclosing the central bank's forecasts…
German pay policy points to a eurozone design flaw
According to this article by Paul de Grauwe, published Friday 5 May, in spite of the fact that the eurozone is a union of countries which set their monetary policy jointly, wage policies have been characterised by a blatant co-ordination failure.
Trichet 'not satisfied' with inflation over 2%
Speaking at the Frankfurt Chamber of Industry and Commerce on Friday 5 May, Jean-Claude Trichet said the European Central Bank is 'not satisfied' with inflation above 2 pct in the euro zone.
SNB's Blattner says rates will rise 'gradually'
Swiss National Bank vice-president Niklaus Blattner said on Friday 5 May that Swiss interest rates would continue to rise "gradually" to ensure longer term price stability.
Issing to leave ECB but monetarism lives on
Otmar Issing's legacy is set to continue, despite his retirement from the European Central Bank at the end of the month, according to this article published Friday 5 May.
Stratthaus rejects Buba board membership
Gerhard Stratthaus, finance minister of the state of Baden-Wurttemberg, has declined to join the Bundesbank's board, according to the Financial Times Deutschland.
Europe must relax inflation test for euro entrants
According to this article by Willem Buiter, published Thursday 4 May, forcing eurozone membership candidate countries to meet both an exchange rate criterion and an inflation criterion makes no economic sense.
Why India badly needs a new financial regulator
With two of its stock markets now among the world's five most active, India badly needs a modern financial regulator, according to this article published Thursday 4 May.
Is the IMF still useful?
IMF reform has been on the policy agenda for a long time. In the last year, however, reform discussions acquired a new sense of urgency, this article by Barry Eichengreen published Thursday 4 May says.
China needs more Volcker and less Greenspan
According to this article published Monday 1 May, China's recent increase in interest rates may have the opposite effect to what was intended. The move may boost the economy, instead of slowing it, it says.
ECB signals June rate rise
At the ECB's post-meeting press conference, after holding eurozone interest rates unchanged, on Thursday 4 May Jean-Claude Trichet said the Governing Council will exercise strong vigilance in order to ensure that risks to price stability over the medium…
ADB says growth depends on oil price fall
The Asian Development Bank has said the rapid growth of the region's economies may only be sustained if there is a decline in global oil prices.
Vietnam to issue VND20,000 polymer notes
The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) will issue VND20,000 polymer notes into circulation from May 17.
ECB warns on Sepa timetable
The European Central Bank has issued a raft of amendments to a draft Directive on harmonising payment services in the EU, and warned that any delays in adoption of the rules could wreck the proposed timetable for the introduction of a Single Euro…