News
Mexico central bank tightens monetary policy
Mexico's central bank tightened monetary policy to curb mounting inflationary pressures on Friday by increasing the amount of cash it holds back from the secondary money market.
Brazilian inflation hits eight-year high
Inflation soared to an eight-year high in November, as Brazil's currency continued to weaken ahead of the transition to a new government next month.
Argentine central banker offers resignation
Argentine President Eduardo Duhalde said on Friday he would talk to Central Bank chief Aldo Pignanelli next week about Pignanelli's offer to resign.
B of E's George wary of Euro over-regulation
The governor of the Bank of England sounded a veiled note of caution about the European Union on Friday when he presented his vision of how European integration would move forward.
US Treasury secretary O'Neill resigns
President George W. Bush's economic team was in disarray on Friday after Paul O'Neill, US treasury secretary, and Lawrence Lindsey, White House economic adviser, announced their resignations.
Bank of England Maintains Interest Rates at 4.0%
The Bank of England held rates steady on Thursday after warning of a sharp correction in UK house prices, risks to inflation and minutes from the last meeting showed the MPC moving further away from an easing bias.
ECB Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - Monetary policy decisions, 5 December.
Euro rates slashed to boost growth
Mounting fears over the sluggish eurozone economy have prompted the European Central Bank (ECB) to cut its key interest rate by a half-point, to 2.75%. There have been strong hints in the weeks since the last meeting from governing council members that…
Sveriges Riksbank Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - Repo rate lowered 0.25 percentage points to 3.75 per cent, 5 December.
Sweden reduces interest rates again
Sweden's central bank cut its key repo rate on Thursday for the second time in three weeks, saying it expected inflation to fall below its two percent inflation target as industrial activity deteriorated.
Japan's Takanaka says inflation defeat difficult
Japan's Economy Minister Heizo Takenaka kept up the pressure on the Bank of Japan Thursday to further ease monetary policy. But, as we have previously reported, the Bank is keen to add further stimulation with board member Hidehiko Haru saying last week…
Central Bank of Russia boosts assets 24%
The Central Bank of Russia boosted assets 23.8% in the first ten months of 2002 from 1.713 trillion to 2.120 trillion rubles, including a rise of 2.8% in October, the Central Bank balance sheet shows.
Hayami - Monetary policy a kind of targeting
Bank of Japan Governor Masaru Hayami Thursday dismissed calls for the BOJ to set a target for inflation, saying the central bank didn't have the tools to make such a target credible. A senior politician Taku Yamasaki, said on Wednesday, 'at the very…
China's central bank pledges to keep dollar peg
China's central bank governor has vowed to keep the yuan pegged to the U.S. dollar even as surging foreign investment and a widening trade surplus boost demand for the Chinese currency.
Moderate may head Brazil's central bank
The debate over who will take charge of Brazil's central bank continues as we hear that a moderate economist is going to be appointed by the incoming leftist government to head the Banco Do Brasil, a Brazilian newspaper reported Wednesday. The outgoing…
ECB Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - Review of the quantitative reference value for monetary growth, 5 December.
ECB rate cutting far too slow says report
ECB watcher David Begg had some harsh words to say on the ECB's recent performance, but offered a little sympathy for a central bank that is not allowed to take the credit when it deserves it.
RBA leaves rates unchanged as expected
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) left interest rates unchanged Wednesday as the shaky global outlook overshadowed a reactively strong domestic economy. After its final meeting for 2002 the RBA left the cash rate at 4.75 per cent.
ECB's Duisenberg wins award after euro launch
An awards ceremony Tuesday gave ECB president Wim Duisenberg the title of "Business Leader of the Year" after the successful launch of the euro. There was also a somewhat tongue in cheek prize for Romano Prodi.
China central banker vows to tackle deflation
China's central bank chief vowed on Wednesday to focus on preventing deflation, a persistent economic scourge which some fear could spread to other Asian nations and undermine regional growth.
Potential to boost trade between Islamic states
A conference on Islamic banking and finance by the World Bank, is set to take place in Bahrain on 2 and 3 March 2003. The line-up of speakers includes three central bank governors and top officials from various regulatory authorities.
HKMA set for reshuffle as top executives leave
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority faces a management reshuffle with two deputy chief executives leaving next month and a third reportedly ready to go in March, officials said Wednesday. In a press release, which confirmed one of those to leave, Joseph Yam…
Central Bank of Sri Lanka signs RTGS deal
Logica announced Wednesday that it has signed a deal worth US$9 million to implement the Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) System and the Scripless Securities Settlement (SSS) System for the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL).
Hong Kong Monetary Authority Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - Departure of Mr Tony Latter and Mrs Marian Li, 3 December.