News
PBOC pledges continued improvement on ex rate
The People's Bank of China disclosed the macro-control goals for its monetary policy in 2006 on Thursday 5 January. China's SAFE also revealed plans "to actively explore ways of investing foreign exchange more efficiently".
IMF to help with GCC monetary union plan
The International Monetary Fund has offered help to GCC countries to proceed with their monetary union plan and has proposed the creation of a body similar to the European Union's Eurostat office to support the project.
China's central bank to issue US$5b in bills
China's central bank will issue up to 40 billion yuan ($4.96 billion) in one-year bills in open market operations on Thursday, down from 45 billion yuan a week earlier, it said on Wednesday 4 January.
Fed minutes signpost end to rate hikes
The Federal Reserve on Tuesday 3 January said it considers its 1-1/2 year long policy of raising U.S. interest rates is nearing an end, saying a statement after its December meeting aimed to signal only a few more increases were likely.
ECB's Quaden says rates supportive
Eurozone interest rates of 2.25 percent are still supportive of economic growth, European Central Bank Governing Council member Guy Quaden told Belgian magazine Tendances Trends on Thursday 29 December.
Bank of Italy's Draghi to start mid-Jan
The Bank of Italy said on Wednesday 4 January that its newly appointed governor Mario Draghi is expected to take up his job in mid-January.
Redesigned BIS website now live
The Bank for International Settlements relaunched its website on Wednesday 4 January.
Lord Woolf chairs Financial Markets Law Committee
The Bank of England announced on Tuesday 20 December the appointment of Lord Woolf as Chairman of the Financial Markets Law Committee (FMLC), beginning 1 February 2006.
Dirk Witteveen to chair Joint Forum
The Joint Forum's parent organisations announced on Wednesday 21 December the appointment of Dirk Witteveen as chair of the Joint Forum for a two-year term beginning January 2006.
IFSRA announces new Chief Executive
The Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority announced on Friday 16 December that Patrick Neary has been appointed to the post of Chief Executive.
Interview with ECB's Otmar Issing
In comments published on Monday 19 December, European Central Bank Executive Board member Otmar Issing said even if it is not in line with the spirit of the Treaty, he expects "voices" on the ECB's policy to continue, although not at the level we have…
Interview with ECB's Lucas Papademos
Lucas Papademos, vice president of the European Central Bank, said in comments published on Monday 19 December that labour market inflexibility meant that Eurozone countries are at risk of inflation accelerating even as unemployment remains …
Mario Draghi favourite for Bank of Italy governor
A former head of the Italian treasury, Mario Draghi, is favourite to become the next head of the Bank of Italy following the resignation of Antonio Fazio.
Richmond's Lacker says rate decisions more complex
The president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond said Thursday short-term U.S. interest rates probably won't reach a plateau and then remain steady as financial markets now predict.
LDP's Nakagawa says nominal GDP also BOJ target
A senior Liberal Democratic Party executive expressed concern on Thursday 22 December over the Bank of Japan's move to end its policy of quantitative monetary easing as early as next spring.
Italian Senate approves central bank reforms
The Italian Senate the gave final approval on Friday 23 December to a bill that will reform the Bank of Italy.
China says economic growth no threat
China has repeated its intentions to rise peacefully as a global power, insisting that its new found economy would be beneficial to the world.
Bundesbank to decide on gold reserves next year
Germany's Bundesbank will decide next year whether to dispose of its gold reserves, the Financial Times Deutschland reported.
Senate approves former regulator to Chile cen bank
Chile's senate has approved the appointment of former banking regulator Enrique Marshall as the new central bank director for the next 10 years, local press reported.
Padoa-Schioppa to join IASB
Paul Volcker is to be replaced by Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa as head of the trustees who oversee international accounting standards.
White House moving quickly on Fed vacancies
White House Spokesman Scott McClellan has said that the administration is moving "as quickly as we can" to fill the two current vacancies on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.
Germany nominates Stark for ECB Board
The German government has nominated Bundesbank Vice-President Juergen Stark to join the European Central Bank's Executive Board when its chief economist, Otmar Issing, retires next year.
Fukui sees strong chance of core CPI rising
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui said in a speech on Thursday 22 December that there is a good chance that Japan's core consumer price index will increase steadily as the world's second-largest economy starts beating deflation.
Trichet defends ECB's rate rise
European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet told Der Spiegel magazine that the ECB's recent decision to increase interest rates would increase confidence and encourage investment in the eurozone.