News
Israel holds rates at 4.25%
The Bank of Israel's rate-setting board voted on Monday to keep rates at 4.25%, despite concern over rising inflation.
Second Polish deputy resigns, slams governor
Jerzy Pruski, a deputy governor at the National Bank of Poland, has resigned, citing differences with Slawomir Skrzypek, the governor of the central bank. Pruski's departure follows that of his fellow deputy, Krzysztof Rybiski, earlier this month.
IMF calls on top state funds to make the rules
The International Monetary Fund has called on sovereign wealth funds in Singapore, Norway and Abu Dhabi to develop a set of benchmarks for transparency.
Japan cut unlikely after Fukui comments
A slowdown in Japanese growth will not lead to a rate cut, Toshihiko Fukui, the governor of the Bank of Japan indicated on Friday.
Canada will not slump despite slight slowdown
Though the likelihood of a recession in the United States has increased greatly, the Canadian economy will continue to grow, said David Dodge, the outgoing governor of the Bank of Canada.
Cyprus and Malta join gold agreement
Cyprus and Malta, the two newest members of the eurozone, have signed up to the Central Bank Gold Agreement, which limits the amount of gold cooperating institutions can sell.
France's Noyer backs SocGen despite €5bn fraud
Christian Noyer, the governor of the Banque de France, said on Thursday that he was "not at all worried" about Societe Generale, the second largest French bank, despite it falling victim to the biggest fraud in banking history.
ECB sticks to inflation line amid OECD cut calls
Jean-Claude Trichet, the president of the European Central Bank, and fellow members of the rate-setting governing council have defended the central bank's decision to fight inflation, in spite of increasingly vociferous calls for them to cut rates.
New Zealand holds rates at 8.25%
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand's rate-setting board voted on Thursday to keep the benchmark official cash rate at 8.25% in spite of high inflation.
Czech deputy Niedermayer says economy set to slow
The pace of economic expansion in the Czech Republic will decline in 2008, Ludek Niedermayer, a deputy governor at the Czech National Bank, warned on Wednesday.
Brazil rates remain at 11.25%
The Central Bank of Brazil's rate-setting board on Wednesday voted unanimously to keep the benchmark Selic rate at 11.25%.
European and US markets fall despite Fed cut
Stocks listed on European and US bourses continued to slide on Wednesday, following the Federal Reserve's emergency 75 basis point cut on Tuesday.
UK's King unlikely to take Fed tack on rate cuts
Mervyn King, the governor of the Bank of England, signalled he would prefer a gradual decline in rates on Tuesday in a speech that noted the risks to inflation as much as those to growth.
Norway keeps rates at 5.25%, warns on prices
The Bank of Norway's rate-setting board on Wednesday left its key policy rate unchanged at 5.25%, despite concern over inflation.
Canadian banks match central bank cut
Canada's biggest banks have lowered lending rates by 25 basis points in spite of speculation before Tuesday's rate cut that they would fail to follow a central bank move.
Deputy confident Russia will withstand turmoil
The Russian finance industry will escape largely unscathed from the credit crunch, though lending conditions may get tighter, said Gennady Melikyan, a first deputy chairman at the Central Bank of Russia.
Fed slashes rates by 75 basis points
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) on Tuesday lowered rates by 75 basis points to 3.5%, the biggest cut since autumn 1984.
Canada cuts rates by 25 basis points to 4%
The Bank of Canada's rate-setting board opted on Tuesday to lower its benchmark overnight rate by 25 basis points to 4%.
Crunch prompts Serbia to review reserves strategy
The National Bank of Serbia has shifted to a more conservative reserves policy in the wake of the credit crunch, Radovan Jelasic, the governor of the central bank said on Friday.
Chinese economist to get senior role at World Bank
In a move set to strengthen ties between the big emerging economies and the Bretton Woods institutions, the World Bank is to appoint Justin Lin, a Chinese economist, as its chief economist.
Japan keeps rates at 0.5%
The Bank of Japan's rate-setting board opted on Tuesday to hold rates at 0.5%.
Rock-bond plan could pay off Bank loan
The British Treasury underlined its commitment to finding a private sector bidder for Northern Rock on Monday, publishing details of a strategy that would require no upfront repayment of the £26 billion ($50.6 billion) owed by the beleaguered mortgage…
Global stocks plummet on US recession fears
Shares in Asia and Europe plunged on Monday amid concern that a United States recession would hit global growth. The Toronto stock exchange was also down by more than 4% at midday trading.
Brown calls for IMF and World Bank reform
The Bretton Woods institutions must adapt to fit the new global economic order where "contagion can move as swiftly as the fastest communication", said Gordon Brown, the British prime minister.