News
Brazil makes 17th consecutive rate cut
Brazil's central bank made its 17th consecutive cut in the overnight lending rate on July 18, as inflation continued to be kept in check by the strong exchange rate.
Turkey's reserves hit record high
The Turkish central bank announced on Thursday that its foreign currency reserves had reached a new record level of $118bn on July 6.
FSA urged to take on retail banking regulation
John Tiner, who leaves the UK's Financial Services Authority (FSA) today after four years as chief executive, told an annual meeting that the oversight of retail banking should be consolidated, as the reasons that had led to a separate code were no…
Rate tightening agreed by Polish cb in June
At its most recent meeting, Poland's central bank agreed that rate tightening in the future was necessary, although the bank's policymakers were split over when a move should occur.
Mixed message from Bernanke
Testimony today from Ben Bernanke, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, before the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services gave a somewhat mixed message as he predicted that while he expects economic growth to pick up slightly next year…
BoE minutes show rate rise split
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted 6 to 3 to raise interest rates this month, according to the minutes of the July meeting published today. Kate Barker and Paul Tucker voted with the governor, Mervyn King, in favour of a rise of…
Japanese policymakers fear US housing problems
Minutes of the June 14-15 meeting of the Bank of Japan's policy board, published today, show that some board members have concerns about the persistence of housing problems in the United States, which may point to difficulties in making future rate rises.
Thai rates cut with one eye on baht
Thailand's central bank cut its benchmark interest rate, the one-day bond repurchase rate, to 3.25% from 3.5% today, the fifth consecutive cut this year. Suchada Kirakul, the assistant governor, told reporters after the rate decision that the cut "will…
German confidence takes a dip
A survey of investors published yesterday by the ZEW Institute in Mannheim suggested that Germany's recovery might falter as the country feels the effect of higher interest rates, nervous financial markets and a stronger euro.
Hungary's Simor questions Maastricht criteria
Andras Simor, the president of Hungary's central bank, told reporters in Bucharest on 17 July that the Maastricht criteria for the adoption of the euro "might not be as appropriate for emerging countries as for the more developed ones."
Concerns remain over rising baht
The Thai central bank was has been urged by the country's military-backed government to cut its key interest rate further to try to stem the rise of the baht, the country's currency, which has reached ten-year highs against the dollar.
Zimbabwe can't join rand monetary union - Mboweni
Tito Mboweni, the governor of the South African Reserve Bank, says Zimbabwe was far from being ready to join the rand common monetary area (CMA), which currently includes South Africa, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland.
Australia also wants wider net for Fund leader
Peter Costello, the Australian federal treasurer, has joined the international chorus urging a departure from tradition in the selection of the next head of the International Monetary Fund.
India mulls sovereign wealth fund
The government of India has decided to set up a "wholesale banking company" - its own version of a sovereign wealth fund - in a separate country with a mature financial system, according to reports in the Indian media.
Mexico ends dollar sales for three months
Mexico's central bank, Banco de Mexico, announced today that it will not sell dollars in the third quarter of 2007.
Inflation surprise lifts New Zealand dollar
New Zealand's benchmark interest rate is widely expected to be raised by a quarter of a percentage point to a record level of 8.25% next week, after a report published today revealed that inflation has risen faster than the Reserve Bank anticipated. The…
Choose Fund head on merit - Colombia's Uribe
Jose Dario Uribe, the governor of the central bank of Colombia, says it is still too early to select a candidate to head the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to succeed Rodrigo de Rato, who will leave the Fund in October.
Tanzanian governor "will not resign"
The governor of the Bank of Tanzania, Daudi Ballali, called a special press conference at the end of last week in which he denounced mounting allegations against him as "malicious lies and fabrications" and said he had no intention of resigning.
Sarkozy tones down ECB rhetoric
French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, appears to have relented to pressure from other European leaders over his repeated criticism of the European Central Bank (ECB). The newly-elected leader said on 16 July that he supported the central bank's independence.
New regulator for Qatar
Qatar is to follow the international trend towards an integrated approach to the regulation of various financial products, services and institutions. Work is under way to create a fully-integrated regulatory and legal environment for financial services.
Dutch finance minister keen on Islamic banking
The Dutch finance minister, Wouter Bos, is calling for an investigation into the possibility of developing Islamic banking in the Netherlands.
Su heads Chinese central bank's Shanghai office
Su Ning, a deputy governor of the People's Bank of China is to be chief of its Shanghai office. Su succeeds Xiang Junbo, who has been appointed as the president of the Agricultural Bank of China.
Sants named as new FSA chief executive
Hector Sants has been appointed chief executive of Britain's Financial Services Authority (FSA). He will take up the post on 20 July 2007, succeeding John Tiner who steps down at the Annual Public Meeting on 19 July.
Zimbabwe to jettison release of inflation data
Recent media reports have highlighted the state of chaos in the management of the Zimbabwean economy, with central bank governor, Gideon Gono, seen as fighting a losing battle again the country's president, Robert Mugabe.