News
Paul Sweezy dies at 93
Paul M Sweezy, a Harvard University economist who did much work on the theory of oligopoly, and left academia to become America's leading Marxist intellectual and publisher during the cold war era, died on Saturday 28 February at his New York home.
Court upholds immunity of former BSP chief Laya
The Third Division of the Philippines Sandiganbayan Court has upheld the immunity granted to former Central Bank governor Jaime Laya by the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) and dismissed the $65 million graft case against him.
Three BI insiders proposed for senior dep governor
President Megawati has proposed three names from within Bank Indonesia as candidates for the post of senior deputy governor, reflecting the government's intention to pick someone who is already familiar with the central bank's working environment.
Bank of Canada Research Fellowship Award for 2004
The Bank of Canada announced on Thursday 4 March that Professor Rene Garcia, of the Universite de Montreal, is the recipient of the bank's Fellowship award for research for 2004.
Fed says foreign central banks buying record debt
Holdings of U.S. debt by foreign central banks have hit a new record, the Federal Reserve said on Thursday 4 March, the 19th straight week that purchases of Treasury and agency paper have risen.
Schroeder calls for better dollar/euro balance
Speaking on Friday 5 March, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said he would be happy if the dollar and euro "come into a reasonable balance".
Jarai: Hungary further and further away from 2008
President Zsigmond Jarai of the National Bank of Hungary said in a TV interview that Hungary is slipping "further and further away" from the introduction of the euro in 2008.
PBOC repeats plan to perfect exchange rate regime
China plans to give the market a greater role in setting the exchange rate for the yuan, but will keep the fixed currency basically stable for now, the country's foreign exchange chief said on Friday 5 March.
OECD upbeat on prospects for world economy
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development said on Friday 5 March that US economic prospects continue to improve, along with those of all major industrialised economies of the world except Italy.
IMF contenders line up after Kohler's shock exit
Horst Kohler's decision on Thursday 4 March to step down a year early from the IMF to accept a nomination to become German president has seen various names enter the fray as possible successors, including UK chancellor Gordon Brown.
IMF pats BOE on back
The IMF, in a report following annual consultations with London, said on Friday the British economy "has weathered the global slowdown well" and that following a slowdown in the wake of the Iraq war, "economic activity has staged a strong recovery."
Bank of Canada announces anti-counterfeiting award
The Bank of Canada announced on Wednesday 3 March the creation of a Law Enforcement Award of Excellence that will be presented annually to an official who demonstrates outstanding commitment and initiative in the fight against banknote counterfeiting.
Lithuania begins euro transition preparation
The Lithuanian government approved a proposal on Wednesday 3 March for the country to join the European Union's exchange rate mechanism, which is crucial before Lithuania can join the euro.
Trichet firm on ECB's independence
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet said at the ECB's post- meeting press conference on Thursday 4 March that the bank should never be influenced by political pressure when it takes interest rate decisions.
Bank of England keeps rates on hold
The Bank of England left interest rates at 4 per cent on Thursday 4 March; economists speculated that the MPC wanted to see how households were adjusting to the higher cost of borrowing.
Brazil senate committee wants to quiz Meirelles
The Brazilian senate's economic affairs committee has invited Finance Minister Antonio Palocci and Central Bank President Henrique Meirelles to explain the government's economic policy, the Senate's news agency reported.
China to keep monetary policy & yuan stable in 04
China's Premier Wen Jiabao will tell parliament on Friday 5 March that China will retain stable monetary policy and proactive fiscal policy in 2004, but aims to pare down lending to duplicate projects to curb over-investment.
IMF's Koehler named candidate for presidency
Horst Koehler, managing director of the IMF, is to become the candidate of the opposition parties for president of Germany. If he is elected by parliament in a vote on May 23, he will leave his IMF post a year before his term runs out.
China rejects Greenspan's forex warning
China dismissed warnings by Fed chief Alan Greenspan that it faces serious economic consequences if it continues to mount up massive US dollar holdings as it defends the dollar pegged yuan system.
Norway says no plan to resume forex buying
Norway's central bank reaffirmed on Wednesday it had no plans to resume purchases of foreign exchange for the country's USD 121 billion oil fund.
Japan says Greenspan remarks not criticism
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said Wednesday he does not see the warning by US Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan against Japan's currency interventions as criticism of Japan's policies.
US Mint ships in new nickels
180 million new US nickels are currently being shipped to the Federal Reserve and will sport their first new look for 66 years as part of the Mint's new Westward Journey Nickel Series.
G20: Imbalances pose risk to world recovery
Finance officials from the G20 group of developed and big emerging market economies agreed on Wednesday that global imbalances were a risk to the improving world economy.
Bank of Canada cuts rates by quarter point
The Bank of Canada announced on Tuesday 2 March that it is lowering its target for the overnight rate by one-quarter of one percentage point to 2 1/4 per cent.