News
Bulgaria stretches path to euro
Bulgaria will join the single European currency no earlier than July 1, 2009 according to a source quoted by Novinite.
Korea cuts coin issue
The amount of coins issued by the Bank of Korea was cut sharply last year because of declining demand, the central bank said this week.
Putin asks CBR to restore banking order
Russian President Vladimir Putin called on the Central Bank of Russia (CBR) on Friday "to restore order" in Russia's banking sector.
Fed must protect inflation credentials-Guynn
The Federal Reserve must heed signs of brewing inflation to protect its key weapon against price pressures - its credibility, a top Fed official said on Friday.
T&T central bank marks 40th anniversary
Trinidad and Tobago's central bank marked its 40th anniversary on Friday 11 June by reflecting on a problem that could lay low prospects for Caribbean development.
Bank of England raises interest rates to 4.5%
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee voted to raise the Bank's repo rate by 0.25 percentage points on Thursday 10 June. The Bank said that inflationary pressures were likely to continue building.
Prodi defends independence of ECB
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and his compatriot Romano Prodi, president of the European Commission, have locked swords over the strength of the euro and European Central Bank interest rate policy during the G8 summit of industrialized nations…
Bank of France urges reform to meet deficit limit
Bank of France governor Christian Noyer on Thursday 10 June called on the French government for measures to bring the country's budget deficit below three percent of output by 2005.
Fed will act when needed says Hoenig
Recent gains in US inflation should fade, but if this assessment is wrong, the Federal Reserve will act decisively to keep prices in check, top Fed policymaker Tom Hoenig said on Wednesday 9 June
IMF's Rato upbeat on global economy
New IMF chief Rodrigo Rato has given an upbeat assessment of the global economy, also pledging to listen more to the developing world and to review the crisis in Argentina.
Basel Committee considers IFRS
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision has been considering the potential impact the implementation of certain International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) may have on regulatory capital and whether it should be adjusted, in response.
Berlusconi calls for ECB rate cut
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has called on the ECB to cut its interest rates, believing the euro to be over-valued against the dollar and complaining that it is hindering Italian exports by making them less competitive.
Buoyant economic growth predicted for Ireland
A study on the EU's future economic prospects has reportedly predicted that Ireland's economy will grow at twice the rate of the 12-nation eurozone over the coming years.
Fukui says rate rises reflect changing price trend
The recent surge in Japanese long-term interest rates reflects the changing trend of prices, but deflationary pressures remain within the Japanese economy, said Bank of Japan Governor Toshihiko Fukui, according to Kyodo News.
Smallest euro coins running short- Bundesbank
Germany's central bank said on Tuesday 8 June that Europeans are refusing to pay with the small copper-coloured euro coins and letting them lie unused at home, leading to shortages in several eurozone countries.
Trichet says ECB vigilant on oil
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet said the ECB has to be vigilant over the recent rise in oil prices, but is confident that inflation in the euro zone will be below 2 pct in 2005.
Federal Reserve to close Friday
The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in Washington, D.C., will be closed on Friday, June 11 in observance of the national day of mourning for former President Reagan.
Bank of Canada keeps interest rate unchanged at 2%
The Bank of Canada announced on Tuesday 8 June that it is maintaining its target for the overnight rate at 2 per cent. In a press release it said all things considered, the Bank's outlook for economic growth and core inflation is essentially unchanged…
Fed ready to guard price stability says Greenspan
The Federal Reserve will do "what is required" to keep inflation under control if it transpires the forecast behind its view that interest rates can rise gradually is wrong, Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan said Tuesday.
BOT profits hit by exchange rates
The Bank of Thailand's (BOT) annual report recorded Bt5 billion net profit for 2003, a sharp drop of 58 per cent from the previous year, attributed to foreign exchange losses and lower interest income.
Central banks' annus horribilis
As policymaking institutions, central banks had a good 2003. The global economy turned up, the financial sector strengthened. As businesses though, 2003 was a disaster. The plunging dollar saw central banks around the world take huge hits on their…
Moderate oil prices preferable - World Bank chief
World Bank President James Wolfensohn said at the conference 'Corporate Governance and Economic Growth in Russia', which opened in Moscow on Thursday 3 June, that moderate oil prices are better for the world economy in general.
Russian gold, forex reserves climb 3.57% in May
Russia's gold and foreign currency reserves increased by 3.57%, or $2.95 billion, in May, to $85.61 billion from $82.66 billion, the Central Bank of Russia reported.
BOJ, govt closer on economic policy says Takenaka
Japan's government and central bank now have closer ties, Economics and Financial Services Minister Heizo Takenaka said on Monday 7 June, citing a recent agreement among policymakers that by some views demands more accountability from the Bank of Japan.