News
IMF mail 'positive for anthrax'
US - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said mail it received in Washington has tested positive for the anthrax bacteria. This comes less than a month after we reported an anthrax scare at the Federal Reserve.
Fed's Olson: Banking industry is sound
US - Federal Reserve governor Mark Olson on Tuesday said the U.S. banking system is sound, but cautioned that weaknesses could come to light now that the economy has pulled out of recession, the first in a decade.
Sweden 'not ready' for euro - Report
SWEDEN - Sweden is not yet ready to join the euro because its currency is too unstable and the central bank not independent enough from the government, the European Commission has said.
Gold price rises on war fears
INDIA - Fears of a military conflict between India and Pakistan pushed the price of gold to a 27-month high in trading on Wednesday.
IMF Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - IMF Managing Director meets Argentine Economy Minister, Board extends repayment of SRF, 21 May.
Bank of Japan Monetary Policy Meeting
PRESS RELEASE - At the Monetary Policy Meeting held today, 21 May, the Bank of Japan decided, by unanimous vote, to maintain the following guideline for money market operations for the intermeeting period:
European Parliament Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - ECB President warns States to stick to Stability Pact, 21 May.
Bank of England News Release
NEWS RELEASE - New Design £5 Banknotes, 21 May.
Bank of England unveils new note
UK - The Bank of England has unveiled an improved, criminal-proof £5 note featuring a portrait of Elizabeth Fry, the 19th century social reformer.
Outlook for US economy positive - Chicago Fed
US - The U.S. economy is in the midst of a modest rebound from recession, and capital spending, a key driver of growth, is likely to recover in the third or fourth quarter of 2002, said Curt Hunter, the head of research for the Chicago Federal Reserve on…
Latent recovery fails to move Bank of Japan
JAPAN - The Bank of Japan announced a decision to leave monetary policy unchanged after a two-day Policy Board meeting which ended on Tuesday.
Poll says most Germans want rid of euro
GERMANY - A UK newspaper reports that the party is over for the euro in Germany. A majority of the country which more than any other embraced the concept and birth of the single currency now longs for the return of the Deutschmark it is claimed.
ECB warns about deficits, inflation
BELGIUM - The president of the European Central Bank, Wim Duisenberg, urged euro-zone government to stand by promises to balance their budgets by the end of 2004, here on Tuesday.
Business gets good news from Russian EBRD meeting
ROMANIA - European business leaders, attending a forum here alongside a meeting of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, got assurances from Russia Monday that the country was about to stage a comeback on international capital markets.
HKMA Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - Fifth Hong Kong Monetary Authority distinguished lecture, 21 May.
US aid for Philippine money laundering campaign
US - The US Agency for International Development is to extend assistance to the Philippines' campaign against money laundering, the US embassy said Monday.
BOJ expected to keep same policy
JAPAN - Japan's economy may be showing signs of emerging from its worst postwar downturn, but analysts expect the Bank of Japan to be alert to risks the U.S. upturn may lose momentum and send Japan deeper into recession.
Europeans aim for joint rate rises
UK - Europe's central banks are set to raise interest rates simultaneously on 6 June, say leading economists. The Bank of England, the European Central Bank and the Swedish Riksbank are likely to hike rates at their respective policy-making meetings in…
Brazil central banker dampens rate cut talk
BRAZIL - Brazil Central Bank President Arminio Fraga on Friday watered down his own remarks on the possibility of future interest rate cuts, just as the market was doubting any such decision next week.
Fed proposes role change as emergency bank lender
US - The Federal Reserve yesterday proposed a change in its capacity as lender of last resort, essentially suggesting that credit markets have more of an influence in determining its lending rate on emergency loans to cash-strapped banks.
Aznar urges Argentina to bite IMF bullet
SPAIN - Spain's prime minister bluntly urged debt-strapped Argentina on Friday to take "painful decisions" and secure a deal with the International Monetary Fund as fast as possible.
Swiss fight for banking secrecy
SWITZERLAND - Swiss officials are digging in to defend secrecy laws synonymous with the country's huge banking industry before talks with the European Union expected in June.
AIB signs new risk-control agreement
US - The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, the Maryland Commissioner of Financial Regulation and the Central Bank of Ireland have signed a written agreement with Allied Irish Banks, Allfirst Financial and Allfirst Bank setting out the steps to be taken…
Polish gov't calls for exchange rate discussion
POLAND - Following a government session on Tuesday, finance minister Marek Belka called the central bank's Monetary Policy Council (RPP) to discuss potential proposals aimed at abandoning the policy of no-intervention on the foreign exchange market, and…