News
Fukui says Japan's prices to continue decline
Toshihiko Fukui said on Thursday 3 June that rises in wholesales prices were being largely absorbed by higher productivity, and that consumer prices would remain negative for some time.
Greenspan says past no guide to future on rates
According to a letter released on Wednesday 2 June, Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan told a US lawmaker that looking at the past is no guide to predicting how quickly and aggressively the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates.
IMF's Krueger: Financial crises need fast response
Countries can suffer financial crises rapidly, requiring an immediate response, the acting head of the International Monetary Fund Anne Krueger said on Wednesday 2 June in San Diego.
Richmond Fed's Economic Quarterly, Spring 2004
The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond has published its Economic Quarterly for Spring 2004. The latest edition contains four articles including "Which price index should a central bank employ?" Many central banks give a high degree of prominence to the…
Chicago Fed National Activity Index, April 2004
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index April 2004 increased sharply in April, to +0.64, from an upward-revised +0.23 in March. Each of the four broad categories of indicators that comprise the index made positive contributions in April, with production-…
CBK to get increased regulatory powers
Under proposed changes, the Central Bank of Kenya will have additional powers to monitor and regulate the banking industry. The ministry of finance will transfer banking licensing, regulation and disciplinary authority to the CBK, the East African…
S. African treasury and cb to co-ordinate policies
The South African treasury and the Reserve Bank have signed a memorandum of understanding to ensure there was no conflict between their different approaches to fiscal and monetary policies, Lesetja Kganyago, the new director-general of the treasury said…
EU Finance ministers urge OPEC action on oil price
French Finance Minister Nicolas Sarkozy says that eurozone finance ministers have agreed to coordinate any response to surging oil prices and want talks with oil producers to lead to an increase in output.
Report says Basel II will cost banks 20-30bn euros
Applying capital requirements under a new accord drafted by the Basel committee should cost European banks 20-30 billion euros between 2002 and 2006, a study prepared for the European Commission has estimated.
PBOC won't hike rates if economy grows
China will not raise interest rates as long as the nation's economy keeps growing, People's Bank of China Vice Governor Su Ning said at a symposium in Tokyo, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported.
BOJ's Muto says unclear when deflation will end
A Bank of Japan official said on Tuesday 1 June that it was unclear when deflation in Japan would end and that the central bank would maintain its quantitative easing policy for a "considerable time".
Fazio warns Italian government on spending
Speaking during the Bank of Italy's annual meeting on Monday 31 May, Antonio Fazio said that Italy is still capable of joining in with the world recovery but it has to change direction, initiating a clear, concrete and agreed economic policy.
Philippines may stay on FATF list
The Philippines may have to wait another year before it can be removed from the list of so-called "uncooperative" countries by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF,) Governor Rafael Buenaventura of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Monday 31 May.
Central Bank of Nigeria: From Sanusi to Soludo
This article published by Vanguard today, 28 May, looks at the leadership changeover at the Central Bank of Nigeria. Joseph Sanusi will step down as CBN governor on Saturday, 29 May, when Professor Charles Soludo will begin his own tenure. Sanusi's five…
DNB visitors play governor for a day
With summer fast approaching in Europe, visitors to the Netherlands central bank will get to play an interactive quiz game where they act as central bank governor for the day.
Central bank employees to strike in Israel
Bank of Israel employees are to begin a protest strike against Bank of Israel Governor David Klein and the Bank's Board of Directors, according to Maariv International.
CBBH appoints new vice governor
The Governor of the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Peter Nicholl, has appointed Anka Musa as Vice Governor of the CBBH and Ankica Kolobaric as Comptroller General of the CBBH.
Former Atlanta Fed President Forrestal dies at 72
The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta announced on Wednesday, 26 May, the death of former Atlanta Fed President and Chief Executive Officer Robert P. Forrestal who passed away at 72. Forrestal served as Atlanta Fed president from 1983 until 1995.
Solans set to leave ECB
ECB Executive Board Member Eugenio Domingo Solans, who in 2002 oversaw the debut of the euro notes and coins, will step down from his post on Monday, 31 May. He will be replaced by Spaniard Jose Manuel Gonzalez Paramo.
Former IMF chief elected German President
Former head of the International Monetary Fund, Horst Kohler, was narrowly elected Germany's new president last Sunday, 23 May.
Riksbank appoints new department heads
At its meeting on 19 May the Executive Board of the Sveriges Riksbank appointed Kai Barvell as new head of the Market Operations Department and Mats Galvenius as head of the new general secretariat.
BOE's Nickell sees further rate rises
Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee member Steve Nickell said in an interview with the Times newspaper that the bank's benchmark interest rate will need to rise further.
BOJ's Suda: Start planning exit policy
The Bank of Japan's Miyako Suda said this month that the BOJ should start planning an exit from its ultra-loose policy, according to a report of her speech.
Fed says foreign central banks buying more US debt
Foreign central banks continued to be net buyers of U.S. debt in the latest week, the Federal Reserve said on Thursday 27 May, taking their total holdings to another record high.