News
IMF Managing Director Issues Statement on Turkey
Turkey has finally fulfilled the conditions for obtaining its latest loan tranche from the IMF. The letter of intent sets out further reforms aimed at fixing shaky public finances and transforming the state dominated economy into a free market system.
Venezuela c bank rejects interest rate demands
Demands from President Hugo Chavez that the central bank of Venezuela reduce interest rates have been rejected, reported Associated Press. A director at the bank said pressure to impose rates would be resisted.
Iraqi central bank looted by residents
A report from Associated Press on the war in Iraq contained details of what was described as looting at the central bank in Baghdad. The looting apparently included the removal of carpets, chairs and other fixtures from the Bank.
ECB chief to stay on while successor found
The weekend meeting of Ecofin in Athens agreed a deal whereby ECB president Wim Duisenberg will stay on until a successor can be named, according to a Reuters report. "I will be president of the European Central Bank up until the day that my duly…
Architects compete to design new ECB premises
The ECB has selected 80 architects to submit a design for the bank's new premises. The design must meet "the requirements of a modern central bank in the 21st century serving an enlarged euro area".
Cuban cb wants cooperation with Iran cb
In a meeting with the Iranian Ambassador to Havana on Friday, president of the central bank of Cuba Francisco Valdez expressed his interest in banking cooperation and the exchange of professional expertise with the Central Bank of Iran, according to an…
CBN seeks restriction on lending to government
Nigeria's central bank is supporting a Bill which would place further limits on government borrowing from the central bank. According to the Daily Times of Nigeria, CBN Governor Joseph Sanusi said fiscal prudence was vital for the effective conduct of…
Southern African DC officials meet in Angola
Measures aimed at fighting money laundering were due to be discussed at the Southern African Development Community's meeting in Angola. Central Bank governors will also approve a memorandum on the coordination of exchange control policies in the SADC…
Report says Irish gov't may switch to e-payments
A report commissioned by the Irish government recommends a move to e-payments which could save €200 million a year. However, according to the Sunday Times, the report highlighted a number of problems which must be overcome before the change can take…
Government supports Brazil cb autonomy
A vote in Brazil's parliament cleared the way for a move towards autonomy for the central bank after overwhelming support from legislators, according to a report in the Financial Times. The lower house of congress voted by 442 to 13 for a constitutional…
Russian forex reserves reach another record high
Russian central bank reserves rose to a new record high last week, according to the ITAR-TASS news agency, taking the total increase to nearly sixteen percent since January.
Polish euro entry may be hampered by reserves
Poland's finance minister said on Wednesday 2 April that if the central bank refuses to release the revaluation reserve it will entry to the euro difficult for Poland in 2007, according to the PAP news agency.
Russian inflation target on track - Ignatyev
Speaking at an economic conference Russia's central bank governor Sergei Ignatyev said inflation should be held under 12 per cent despite IMF suggestions that price rises may be difficult to control, according to the Moscow Times.
ECB Rome meeting: questions and answers
In the exceptional circumstances of the war Wim Duisenberg said it is not possible at this time to assess what effect conflict will have on the global economy. "The outlook for the basic elements of price stability remain in place and accordingly we…
ECB chief Duisenberg blasts 'high US deficits'
Speaking at a news conference after the ECB policy meeting on Thursday 3 April that left rates on hold, Reuters reports that Wim Duisenberg said "We now see - and that is a cause of concern - both the current account and the federal government deficit…
Riksbank's Irma Rosenberg attends EMU seminar
Sveriges Riksbank Deputy Governor Irma Rosenberg said at a seminar that it is important to safeguard long-term stability in EMU.
NYSE nominate New York Fed's McDonough to Board
William McDonough, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, has been nominated to the Board of the New York Stock Exchange.
Former Argentine central bank chief Maccarone dies
Roque Maccarone, who was president of the central bank of Argentina from May 2001 to January 2002, has died at the age of 70, Associated Press reports.
Swiss National Bank reports fall in income
Swiss National Bank Financial Statements and Annual Report 2002. The SNB reported a fall in aggregate income during 2002; however this was partially offset from receipts of Sfr 1.53 billion from gold transactions and the revaluation of gold holdings.
Indonesian c bank director given three years' jail
Heru Supraptomo, a director with the Indonesian central bank, was jailed for three years on Thursday 3 April after he was found guilty of corruptly failing to properly monitor insolvent banks during the regional financial crisis, according to a report…
Bank of England told to hand over BCCI documents
A ruling in the appeal court means confidential documents held by the Bank of England relating to the BCCI collapse must be released, according to a report in the Financial Times. Liquidators for BCCI creditors allege that senior Bank of England staff…
Banks seek redress after clearing system seizes up
A damages row has erupted after a computer failure at the worlds largest forex clearing house left some banks facing heavy losses last month. CLS Bank, which operates the real-time payment system linking the central banks of the seven largest currencies,…
ECB's Duisenberg receives award in Italy
Decoration for Dr. Willem F. Duisenberg, President of the European Central Bank,2 April 2003. Duisenberg was presented with the "Knight of the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy".
ECB meeting on monetary policy decisions
At Thursday 3 April's meeting, which was held in Rome, the Governing Council of the ECB decided that the minimum bid rate on the main refinancing operations and the interest rates on the marginal lending facility and the deposit facility will remain…