News
EMU not all it's cracked up to be
ARTICLE - Fabrice Collard and Harris Dellas from the Centre for Economic and Policy Research have published a paper "Exchange Rate Systems and Macroeconomic Stability". One of the article's vital conclusions is that the justification of the single…
O'Neill mystified by Europe's complacency-FT
EUROPE - Paul O'Neill, U.S. Treasury secretary, said on Apr 19 that he was "mystified" by European leaders' claims that Europe would not be affected much by a U.S. downturn, the Apr 20 overseas edition of the Financial Times reported.
Malaysia concedes IMF role in Asia forex swap deal
MALAYSIA - Malaysia will bow to a majority decision on whether the IMF plays any role in an Asia-wide currency swap safety net aimed at protecting countries facing balance of payments problems, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said.
Bank Indonesia governor says he can't be replaced
INDONESIA - Bank Indonesia Governor Syahril Sabirin said that President Wahid would not be successful in removing him from office because regulations prevented it.
China's cbank drafts e-banking regulations
CHINA - China's central bank is drafting regulations concerning e-banking and guidelines for e-banking risk management, which are expected to be promulgated soon, a top bank official announced.
Honduras not ready to adopt dollar-central banker
HONDURAS - A large trade deficit and limited foreign currency reserves mean Honduras is not ready to follow in the footsteps of neighboring El Salvador and dollarize its economy, Central Bank President Victoria Asfura said on Apr 19.
India may cut interest rates
INDIA - India's central bank has indicated an intention to cut interest rates to help revive the slowing economy. The governor made his comments at a presentation on monetary policy for this year.
ECB says bases policy on too slow, inaccurate data
GERMANY - The European Central Bank said on Apr 19 that the data on which it based policy decisions was often not timely or accurate enough for the job.
Debelle becomes RBA head of economic analysis
AUSTRALIA - The Reserve Bank of Australia has appointed Dr Guy Debelle as head of the economic analysis department, replacing Malcolm Edey.
Estonian cbank 2000 profit 158.3m EEK
ESTONIA - The Estonian central bank said on Apr 19 its council had closed the books on its 2000 financial year that ended with 158.3 million kroons ($9.02 million) profit.
Nigeria's cbank up banks' cash deposit to 40%
NIGERIA - Nigeria's Central Bank on Apr 19 announced it has raised the percentage of deposits that banks must now keep in cash to 40 percent from 35 percent.
European fin mins meeting to discuss growth, ECB
EUROPE - European finance ministers meeting in Malmo this weekend have put the European Central Bank on notice that it had better explain its refusal to cut interest rates amid gathering gloom for global growth.
Tsang fights for Exchange Fund independence
HONG KONG - Financial Secretary Donald Tsang has rejected the Democratic Party's request to freeze a Hong Kong Monetary Authority plan to spend HK$4 billion from the Exchange Fund on new offices.
Caruana warns savings banks over shareholdings
SPAIN - the Bank of Spain governor Jaime Caruana on Apr 18 warned the annual assembly of savings banks that being stable shareholders in industrial companies, with influence on the management, could conflict with their status and objectives.
Singapore's Lee says Singapore $ policy unchanged
SINGAPORE - Singapore will maintain its policy of a "gently appreciating band" for the Singapore dollar and expects positive economic growth in 2001, Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told parliament on Apr 19.
Rusnok to be governor at WB, Tuma governor at IMF
CZECH REPUBLIC - The Czech cabinet on Apr 19 appointed new finance minister Jiri Rusnok to be Czech governor on the Board of Governors of the World Bank and Czech central bank governor Zdenek Tuma on the board of governors of the International Monetary…
Philippine c.bank confirms 50 bps cut in key rates
PHILIPPINES - Philippine central bank governor Rafael Buenaventura confirmed on Apr 19 that its policy-making Monetary Board decided to cut key benchmark interest rates by 50 basis points, matching the move by the U.S. Fed overnight.
Brazil hikes interest rate 50 bp to 16.25 pct
BRAZIL - Brazil's Central Bank on Apr 18 said it was hiking its key Selic lending rate for the second month running to 16.25 percent from 15.75 percent, due to expected inflation pressures from a weakening currency.
Pakistan c.bank allows all banks to deal in forex
PAKISTAN - Pakistan's central bank on Apr 18 allowed all bank branches to buy and sell foreign currency from the general public.
Tokyo denies intention to depreciate yen
JAPAN - The Financial Times reported on Apr 17 that Japanese officials were attempting to deny rumours that Tokyo was trying to boost its flagging economy at the expense of other Asian exporters and the US by weakening the yen.
Fed seeks female governor for board-Reuters
UNITED STATES - The Bush administration is seeking women and bankers to fill two empty posts on the powerful seven-member Fed Board of Governors, Reuters reports on Apr 18.
New Zealand lowers interest rates to six percent
NEW ZEALAND - The New Zealand Reserve Bank has cut its official cash rate by 0.25 percent to 6 percent following an inflation dip.
Fed decision unlikely to influence ECB rates
EUROPE - Euro-zone interest rates are unlikely to change in response to the Federal Reserve's half point cut in key interest rates. The ECB again defended its decision last week not to reduce rates.
Fed surprises by reducing rates to 4.5%
UNITED STATES - The US Federal Reserve on Apr 18 continued its agressive easing of monetary policy by cutting interest rates by 0.5% for the fourth time this year.