News
Polish finance minister resigns to join IMF
Polish Prime Minister Marek Belka said that Finance Minister Andrzej Raczko was leaving the government for a post at the International Monetary Fund and would be replaced on Wednesday by the economist Miroslaw Gronicki, AFP reported Friday.
Central bank staff may okay job action in Israel
The Bank of Israel labor union will meet next week to officially approve "lengthy strikes," Haaretz reported Friday 16 July. Central bank employees struck for one day last May.
Meyer's book lifts lid on life inside the Fed
Former Federal Reserve governor Laurence Meyer's new book reveals some insights on life inside the Fed. This review says Meyer was advised against saying anything in a speech that might move financial markets. In the book, Meyer writes that Chairman Alan…
Bank of Japan Monthly Report, July 2004
The Bank of Japan released the English version of its monthly report on 15 July. Japan's economy continues to recover, with the increase in production and corporate profits exerting positive effects on employment, the central bank said.
Issing says ECB must check inflation expectations
European Central Bank Chief Economist Otmar Issing said it's important for the bank to prevent expectations of inflation from rising excessively, the Nihon Keizai newspaper said, citing an interview with Issing.
Bank of France raises growth forecast
The Bank of France raised its forecast for growth in the second and third quarters as June retail sales surged, manufacturers lifted production, and executives' confidence was its highest in more than three years.
Banking crisis declining says Russia's Ignatyev
Russian Central Bank Chairman Sergei Ignatyev said on Thursday 15 July that he believes the banking crisis is declining. "I believe the trust crisis is over. It is very important now to ensure higher activity on the inter-bank loan market," he said.
RBA says credit card reforms working
Shopkeepers stood to save $430 million a year from lower credit card costs after the Reserve Bank stepped in to regulate fees, the RBA said in its July Bulletin released Thursday.
Fed watching prices closely says Santomero
The Federal Reserve is closely watching price increases in various industries, Philadelphia Fed President Anthony Santomero said on US television.
Dallas Fed's McTeer - Inflation rise likely a blip
Increases in US inflation recently may prove to be a blip but the Federal Reserve needs two to three more months of data before it can make this judgment, Dallas Fed president Bob McTeer said on Tuesday 13 July.
Fed's Hoenig sees US inflation staying in 2% range
U.S. inflation should remain contained despite strong growth, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City President Thomas Hoenig said on Tuesday 14 July.
House prices likely to grow slowly Fed study shows
House prices in the US are likely to grow at the slowest pace in more than three decades as interest rates climb and land prices take a tumble over the next three years, researchers at the Federal Reserve have estimated in a new study.
Chirac calls on ECB to consider Europe's growth
The European Central Bank should not limit its role to controlling inflation and should review its mission so that it can take into consideration Europe's growth, French President Jacques Chirac said on Wednesday 14 July .
ECB on Court of Justice decision on Pact
The European Central Bank (ECB) said in a statement released Tuesday 13 July that it takes note of the judgement by the Court of Justice on the Council's actions of 25 November 2003.
Moroccan law gives central bank more independence
Morocco's Lower house has adopted by a majority vote a bill regarding amendments to the status of Bank Al Maghrib, the central bank, which will grant it more autonomy, MAP news agency reported.
Snow says terror threat hangs over US economy
The potential for more terror attacks is a risk to the U.S. economy that requires vigilance against any bid to weaken measures for investigating suspicious money transactions, U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow said on Tuesday 13 July.
Noyer says ECB rate can't stay low forever
Bank of France governor Christian Noyer said in an interview that the ECB's interest rates are appropriate, but that financial markets should not expect them to remain low forever.
Iran's Sheybani stresses use of modern technology
Ebrahim Sheybani, the governor of the central bank of Iran, told a seminar on Saturday 10 July that implementing policies to use modern technology with the aim of expanding non-oil exports sector would act as an impetus for higher economic growth and…
European Parliament on Pact decision
Christa Randzio-Plath, outgoing chair of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs of the European Parliament, expressed her views on the Stability and Growth Pact issue in this press release, 13 July.
Bundesbank urges Brussels to 'reactivate' pact
The Bundesbank urged the European Commission in Brussels Tuesday to "reactivate" the European Stability and Growth Pact in its current form, following a landmark ruling on the EU's strict budget rules by the European Court of Justice.
Bundesbank warns of small coin shortage
in a press release of 8 June the Bundesbank said on there is a shortage of small-denomination coins in many euro-area countries. A particularly relevant factor seems to be that people are setting aside the small coins given them in change rather than…
Brazil cb COPOM Minutes15/16 June
The Banco Central Do Brasil has published the minutes of the 97th meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (COPOM), 15 and 16 June. Recent economic activity indicators confirm the continuity of the economic rebound process initiated in the second quarter…
Hoenig sees US inflation staying below 2%
Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank President Thomas Hoenig said in a speech to a business group that he doesn't think inflation will exceed a 2.0 percent rate in the US.
No need for ECB to hike rates: Buba's Weber
Bundesbank president and European Central Bank governing council member Axel Weber said in an interview published at the weekend that available information indicates the ECB will not need to change its interest rates in the foreseeable future.