News
Drug linked to disintegrating euros
A mystery substance that caused some euro banknotes in Germany to fall to pieces may be linked to the party drug crystal speed, Der Spiegel magazine reported on Saturday 11 November, quoting regional police.
Iraqi central bank officials get skills boost
A five-day workshop offering training to officials from the Central Bank of Iraq was launched Monday 13 November in Bahrain.
Russia's Melikyan vows to close banks
The Russian central bank will press on with its cleanup of the banking system despite the murder of reformist banking supervisor Andrei Kozlov, the man who took over his role said in an interview Friday 10 November.
Eurozone rates "damn low" says ECB's Wellink
European Central Bank council member Nout Wellink said in an interview published Tuesday 14 November interest rates in the eurozone are still ``damn low.''
Bernanke holds fewer political meetings
According to data gathered by an academic, Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke is holding fewer political meetings than his predecessor, Alan Greenspan, did in the last five years of his term at the Fed.
First CBS governor Guy Morel dies
Guy Joseph Morel, the first governor of the Central Bank of Seychelles, passed away Thursday 9 November at the age of 73, the Seychelles Nation reported.
Pakistan soon to launch RTGS system
The president of telecoms company PTCL, Muhammad Abdullah Bamakhrama, has said it will soon provide its latest and state-of-the-art Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) system to the State Bank of Pakistan.
Financial integration helps avert shocks - Trichet
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet said Monday 13 November closer financial integration will raise the eurozone's resistance to external shocks and increase its growth potential.
Malaysia, Hong Kong launch payment link
Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority launched a new cross-border payment-vs-payment link between Hong Kong's US dollar real time gross settlement (RTGS) system and Malaysia's ringgit RTGS system, the BNM said Monday 13 November.
China may shift reserves to gold - Numis
China is likely to diversify its foreign exchange holdings of more than one trln usd away from US dollar denominated instruments in favour of gold, Numis Securities said Monday 13 November.
Bank of Mongolia gets new head
Alag Batsukh, 44, has been appointed governor of the Bank of Mongolia, the central bank, but the decision was not unanimously approved by parliament.
Interview with National Bank of Slovakia's Sramko
In an interview with Deutsche Presse-Agentur, published Wednesday 8 November, National Bank of Slovakia governor Ivan Sramko said Slovakia needs to step up efforts if it is to meet its tight deadline for joining the euro in January 2009.
New York Fed announces Kos to leave
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York announced Wednesday 8 November that Dino Kos, the head of market operations, will resign to pursue interests outside the bank.
BOJ's Fukui watching pace of carry trades
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui said Friday 10 November the central bank is carefully watching the market for signs that the buildup or unwinding of carry trades might cause problems for the foreign exchange markets.
China to stick to reserves policy - PBOC's Zhou
People's Bank of China governor, Zhou Xiaochuan, said Friday 10 November that the country has no plans to change its foreign reserves policy.
Fukui says Japan will adjust rates gradually
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui said Friday 10 November Japan would raise interest rates preemptively and in small steps, and was aware of the risks of moving too late, the Yomiuri newspaper reported.
Trichet defends money supply data use by ECB
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet defended the ECB's use of money supply data to guide interest rate decisions, in an article published by the Financial Times on Thursday 9 November.
Estonia says euro adoption unlikely before 2010
The Bank of Estonia announced Wednesday 8 November that soaring inflation is likely to set back Estonia's target date for adopting the euro to 2010.
Interview with Richmond Fed's Jeffrey Lacker
In an interview with the Financial Times, published Wednesday 8 November, Richmond Fed president Jeffrey Lacker said the Federal Reserve has failed to communicate its determination to bring down inflation in a forceful enough fashion.
BOJ's Mizuno says gradual rate hikes needed
Bank of Japan policy board member Atsushi Mizuno said on Wednesday 8 November the central bank should gradually increase interest rates as long as recent weakness in economic indicators proves to be temporary.
Turkey's Yilmaz says price stability not ensured
In a speech to industrialists Turkey's central bank chief, Durmus Yilmaz, said inflation rates have turned out to be below expectations in October and created an optimistic mood, but cautioned it is not time yet for festivities.
Peru may confirm central bank appointees Friday
Peru's Congress will probably confirm Friday three candidates for the central bank's board of directors, Bloomberg reported Thursday 9 November.
Bank of England moves rates higher as expected
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee voted Thursday 9 November to raise UK interest rates by 0.25 percentage points to 5.0%.
Islamic banking MoU signed in Pakistan
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Monday 6 November to promote Islamic Banking in Pakistan.