News
Merrill Lynch hires former NY Fed chief
William McDonough, former president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, has joined Wall Street investment bank Merrill Lynch & Co. as vice chairman and special adviser to the chairman on business development, the company said Monday 23 January.
PBOC will make better use of yuan band
China intends to use of the yuan's six-month old trading band in a better way, rather than doing another one-off revaluation, a senior Chinese central banker said on Wednesday 25 Janaury.
Portugal's Constancio agrees new five year term
Bank of Portugal governor Vitor Constancio has agreed to stay on at the central bank for a second five-year term at the invitation of the government, Finance Minister Fernando Teixeira dos Santos said.
Netherlands' Zalm warns on ECB rate comments
Dutch finance minister Gerrit Zalm has warned euro group finance ministers not to make public comments on the European Central Bank's monetary policy.
Bank of England demands costs for legal case
The Bank of England is making a demand for costs of up to £80 million for legal costs incurred defending the failed £850 million lawsuit by accountancy giant Deloitte, liquidator of the scandal hit Bank of Credit & Commerce International.
Gambia plans central bank reform
Famara Jatta, Governor of the Central Bank of The Gambia, has said that the bank has started work on reforms within the framework of a restructuring exercise for the enhancement of national economic statistics preparation and processing.
Stark the 'only candidate' for ECB post
Germany's Juergen Stark is the "only candidate" for the European Central Bank's executive board, according to the head of the eurozone group of finance ministers.
Bank of Canada raises interest rates 0.25%
The Bank of Canada announced on Tuesday 24 January that it is raising its target for the overnight rate by one-quarter of one percentage point to 3 1/2 per cent. In a statement the bank said the move was necessary to keep inflation on target over the…
Former Bank of Lebanon governor dies
Edmond Naim, who as governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon from 1985-1991, kept the country's finances functioning during the last five years of the civil war, has died at the age of 88.
Philipp Hildebrand to chair the Deputies of G10
Following a proposal by Giulio Tremonti, Italy's Finance Minister and current Chairman of the Group of Ten, Philipp Hildebrand, a member of the Swiss National Bank's Governing Board, was appointed Chairman of the Deputies of the Group of Ten on Monday 23…
Latvia sees problems meeting euro criteria by 2008
Latvia's central bank governor has said the Baltic state is unlikely to meet all the EU's economic convergence criteria for adopting the euro in 2008.
Fed says foreign central banks boost debt holdings
Federal Reserve data released on Thursday 19 January showed foreign central banks were net buyers of US debt in the latest week, with purchases of agency securities slightly exceeding a decline in Treasury holdings.
Thailand to host ACD forum in April
The Asian Co-operation Dialogue (ACD) forum will take place in Bangkok from 30 April-1 May.
G30 calls for more regulation of reinsurers
Coordinated international regulation of the reinsurance industry is needed despite the fact that the industry poses few risks to the financial system. This was the message of a report by the Group of 30 (G30) launched on Monday 23 January at the Bank of…
Fed's Poole: Rate rise forecast 'sensible'
St. Louis Fed President William Poole said in an interview published on Monday 23 January that inflation is less worrying now but one or more interest-rate hikes by the Fed could be considered a "sensible forecast".
Paper says freer yuan would help monetary policy
The People's Bank of China would gain greater control over the country's money supply if it allowed more flexibility for the yuan, a semi-official think-tank said in a report published Monday 23 January.
Iran confirms reserves transfer
The head of the Central Bank of Iran has indicated that Tehran has already started shifting its foreign hard currency reserves amid the threat of sanctions, Iranian media reported on Friday 20 January .
Fukui upbeat on economic recovery
Bank of Japan Governor Toshihiko Fukui increased expectations on Friday 20 January that the central bank could end its ultra-loose monetary policy soon, saying that his opinion on a policy shift had moved forward since December.
IMF's Rajan sees a very promising 2006
The International Monetary Fund's Chief Economist on Friday 20 January predicted better global economic growth in 2006 but warned the European Central Bank against raising interest rates too quickly.
Yellen says Fed shouldn't target bubbles
It should not be the Federal Reserve's role to directly target its policies at bursting possible asset bubbles, San Francisco Fed president Janet Yellen said on Thursday 19 January.
Lacker sees continued clarity move for Fed
Richmond Fed president Jeffrey Lacker said Friday 20 January that Fed chairman-nominee Ben Bernanke will maintain the shift toward greater policy transparency.
IMF repayment hits Brazil's reserves
Brazil's international reserves stood at US$ 53.8 billion at year-end 2005, down US$ 10.5 billion from November, the central bank said.
RBI group to advise on accounting issues
The Reserve Bank of India plans to establish a small group comprising representatives from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and the central bank to discuss matters relating to audit and accounting standards.
ECB's Issing sees no let up in euro zone growth
European Central Bank chief economist Otmar Issing told a conference on Wednesday 18 January that there are no signs that euro zone growth is slowing.