News
BOJ maintains static view of economy
The Bank of Japan has maintained its assessment of the economy for the second straight month in January but warned of risks from weak private consumption as well as flat exports and output.
Takenaka says govt, BOJ should share policy goal
Japanese Economics and Financial Services Minister Heizo Takenaka on Thursday called on the Bank of Japan to foster more growth in money supply and said the government and central bank should share a policy goal.
Brazil raises interest rates in surprise move
Brazil's central bank surprised financial markets yesterday with an increase of its prime lending rate by 0.5 percentage points to 25.5 per cent, showing its intention to implement tough inflation controls. Only two weeks ago central bank chief Henrique…
ECB sticks with growth forecast in monthly report
The European Central Bank sounded a dovish note in its monthly bulletin on Thursday but economists cautioned against building expectations of another rate cut very soon.
Indian banks in a fix over 'no staples' policy
The Reserve Bank of India's recent decision to do away with stapling of new currency notes to increase the longevity of the notes has come under fire.
CBR sets foreign bank capital procedures
The Russian central bank has established procedures for Russian bank participation in the charter capital of foreign banks.
G30 proposes payment system security revolution
The Group of Thirty have announced proposals for far-reaching reform of the global securities markets. The highly influential group, made up of prestigious members of the central and private banking community, has drawn up a detailed and comprehensive…
Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee Minutes
MINUTES - Minutes of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee Meeting released on 22 January for the meeting of 8 and 9 January 2003. The same pattern of voting was seen at this meeting as in the previous two meetings. The nine MPC members voted…
Bank of Japan Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - Announcement of the Bank of Japan Monetary Policy Meeting decisions (unchanged), 22 January.
Norges Bank Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - Norges Bank reduces interest rates, 22 January.
Norges Bank Press Conference
PRESS CONFERENCE - Norges Bank's Executive Board decided today to reduce the key rate, the sight deposit rate, by 0.5 percentage point with effect from Thursday, 23 January.
Norges Bank reduces interest rates again
Norway's central bank cut its key interest rates by 50 basis points as expected on Wednesday and signalled more cuts were likely to dampen the effects of a global downturn on the oil-backed economy.
Kazakh national bank to up gold purchases in 2003
The Kazakhstan National Bank plans to increase gold purchases on the domestic market in 2003. The Bank's net gold and foreign currency reserves totalled 2.981bn dollars in December 2002.
Koizumi calls for more 'effective' monetary policy
Junichiro Koizumi, Japan's prime minister, on Wednesday called on the Bank of Japan to adopt a more "effective" monetary policy but the central bank ignored his call, leaving its policy unchanged in a unanimous decision.
Fisher seen as likely next New York Fed Chief
Although the search to fill the important shoes of New York Federal Reserve Bank President William McDonough has only just begun, it seems that the US Treasury's Peter Fisher has emerged as a clear front-runner.
OECD advise independence for S Korea central bank
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development is set to recommend that South Korea guarantee more independence for its central bank in making monetary policy, it was reported on Tuesday.
UK rate setters worry about global economy
The stalemate within the Bank of England's monetary policy committee continued this month, with two members voting for a rate cut at a fourth consecutive meeting, and some expressing concern about the global economy.
Thailand to get faster cheque clearance system
The Bank of Thailand will reduce the timeframe for inter-provincial cheque collection to three days from six, starting on 14 February.
France threatens to ignore deficit cut warning
France on Tuesday defied the European Union's economic rules by suggesting it may not abide by an official order from the other governments to reduce its deficit sharply in the next four years. One finance minister said France's threat not to comply with…
Venezuelan central bank suspends trading
Venezuela's central bank suspended its foreign exchange trading for a week starting Wednesday to try to keep the country's currency, the bolivar, from further plummeting in the fallout of a 52-day-old strike that has crippled oil exports.
IMF Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - IMF Managing Director Issues Statement on Transitional Credit Support for Argentina, 17 January.
Belgium seeks ECB post for bank critic De Grauwe
Belgium is stepping up its campaign to secure a seat on the board of the European Central Bank by nominating Paul De Grauwe, an academic who has criticized the bank for failing to promote growth. De Grauwe recently ran for the job of vice-president of…
Bank of Canada Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - Bank of Canada keeps target for the overnight rate at 2 3/4 per cent, 21 January.
BMA - Bahrain building on finance hub success
Bahrain is building on its unprecedented success as a banking and financial centre, delegates heard the BMA's governor say at an international conference on Monday.