News
UK's Brown urges gold revaluation for debt relief
Gordon Brown, the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, on Friday 9 July called on the International Monetary Fund to revalue its gold reserves as a method of releasing more money for debt relief for the world's poorest countries.
India introduces mobile ATM
The State Bank of India on Saturday 11 July rolled out its first mobile ATM to improve accessibility to customers in remote areas and tourist locations in the country.
SARB's Marcus makes abrupt departure
Gill Marcus, deputy governor of the South African Reserve Bank, left her post on 30 June at the end of her five year contract, in a move local press reports described as unexpected.
Staff audit begins at Central Bank of Nigeria
The central bank of Nigeria (CBN) is embarking on a staff audit exercise aimed at fishing out ghost workers on its payroll, Vanguard reported this week. The exercise will cover serving members of staff and pensioners.
After Greenspan, Who?
Alan Greenspan has just begun another term as chairman of the Federal Reserve, but a number of new hirings suggests a deep pool of potential heirs is being assembled, this article says.
Interview with St Louis Fed's William Poole
In the interview "My goal for inflation is zero" published this week, St Louis Fed President William Poole talks about the central bank's need to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to rising prices. He also said he believes that Fannie Mae and Freddie…
Alan Greenspan is the man!
It's no surprise that President George W. Bush has asked Alan Greenspan to re-enlist for a fifth four-year term as chairman of the Federal Reserve, this article says, especially since Bush pledged to do so one year ago. Comparing Greenspan to four other…
Decision on 'Mr Euro' delayed to September
Finance ministers from the 12-country eurozone have deferred until September a decision on creating a "Mr Euro" as the political face of the single currency.
Leeladhar, Gopinath tipped as RBI dep governors
Union Bank of India chairman V Leeladhar and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) executive director Shyamala Gopinath are set to take charge as future deputy governors of the RBI, The Economic Times reported this week.
Minutes from the Sveriges Riksbank Meeting, 23 Jun
Minutes of the Sveriges Riksbank Executive Board meeting on 23 June were published 8 July. One member summed up the discussion of the international economic situation, saying developments had largely confirmed the assessment in the previous Inflation…
Portugal increase growth forecast
The Bank of Portugal has raised its forecast for economic growth this year owing to a higher-than-expected increase in internal demand, central bank Governor Vitor Constancio said.
NBP urges faster spending cuts for euro in 2009
Poland should move ahead quicker with its spending-reduction plan to cut the budget deficit and allow the largest new European Union member to adopt the euro before 2009, deputy governor of the National Bank of Poland (NBP) Krzysztof Rybinski said.
PBOC's Zhou says China won't loosen loan controls
The People's Bank of China will not loosen control over loan extension despite complaints from local businesses about cash flow problems, according to Governor Zhou Xiaochuan of the People's Bank of China.
Finland missing 1.45bn markka after euro switch
Close to 1.45 billion Finnish markka, equivalent to 244 million euros, have yet to be exchanged for euros two and a half years after Finland switched to the euro, a Bank of Finland official said.
Reports of Russian bank crisis in progress
Pravda reported Friday a Russian banking crisis in progress, causing a rapid appreciation of the US dollar against the ruble. But a former government official said the situation could hardly be called a crisis.
Central banking in New Zealand
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has updated one of its brochures, entitled "Central Banking in New Zealand", which is a generic description of the Reserve Bank's functions and its governance arrangements.
RBI's Mohan says rates unlikely to change
the RBI's deputy governor, Rakesh Mohan, said on Thursday 8 July that he saw no change in the country's official interest rate policy following the new government's federal budget, presented earlier in the day.
Zimbabwe expulsion from IMF delayed
The International Monetary Fund has delayed Zimbabwe's possible expulsion for unpaid debt, giving the southern African country six months to turn around its economy, the state-run Herald newspaper said on Thursday 8 July .
Czech cb divided on June rate rise
The Czech central bank's decision to raise interest rates in June was supported by three board members and opposed by two, the central bank said on Thursday July 8.
Sarkozy calls for more transparency at ECB
French finance minister Nicolas Sarkozy has called on the European Central Bank (ECB) to publish records of its debates and votes when setting interest rates, in the interests of transparency.
Bank of England holds rates unchanged
The Bank of England decided against a third consecutive monthly rise in interest rates on Thursday 8 July , in a move which was widely expected.
Weber says no plan for ECB rate increase
Although the Federal Reserve recently raised US interest rates, the European Central Bank does not see a change in eurozone interest rates in the foreseeable future, ECB Governing Council member and Bundesbank president Axel Weber said on Tuesday 6 July.
Broaddus US economy strong, inflation contained
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President Alfred Broaddus said on Tuesday 6 July that the U.S. economy looks strong, and inflation does not appear to be a problem but the Federal Reserve will "walk the walk" to ensure price stability.
Viet Nam sees increased used of non-cash payments
Non-cash payments have become more popular in Viet Nam, accounting for 79 per cent of all payments at banks in the first six months of the year as against 77 percent in 2003, according to VNA.