News
RBNZ countdown to smaller lighter coins
On 31 July the current 50, 20, and 10 cent coins will be replaced with smaller and lighter coins, and the 5 cent coin will begin to be phased out, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand said on Monday 10 July.
Bank of Canada keeps rates unchanged
The Bank of Canada left interest rates unchanged at 4.25% on Tuesday 11 July and repeated a May statement that the seven prior increases are enough to return inflation to its 2 percent goal.
BOK maintains hawkish stance
Bank of Korea governor Lee Seong-tae said on Monday 10 July that the central bank will take preemptive action to curb increased pressure on inflation.
Paulson sworn in as US Treasury Secretary
Henry Paulson was sworn in as the 74th U.S. Treasury Secretary on Monday 10 July, saying he would build on the achievements of his predecessor, John Snow.
Trichet says financial integration 'major goal'
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet said Tuesday 11 July financial integration is a key goal for the ECB as it will help boost growth and absorb shocks.
President of the Slovak Republic visits ECB
The President of the Slovak Republic, HE Ivan Gasparovic, visited the European Central Bank (ECB) on Monday 10 July.
Dutch central bank wants better payment system
The Dutch central bank has called for a more efficient payment system and is considering a set of measures to encourage people to pay more by electronic means, MarketWatch reported.
British pound passes yen in central bank reserves
According to this article by Bloomberg News published Monday 10 July, central banks around the world are increasing their holdings of British pounds.
Central bank's focus should be on growth
According to this opinion piece from The Jakarta Post, published Monday 10 July, Bank Indonesia should start concentrating on issues of how it is going to use its monetary policy to spur further economic growth.
Bomb explodes near Iraqi central bank
A bomb exploded near Iraq's central bank in central Baghdad on Monday 10 July, killing several people, Reuters reported.
Crisis prevention in emerging markets
In the run up to the IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings in September 2006, the IMF and the Singapore Government have organized a high-level seminar on Crisis Prevention in Emerging Market Economies on July 10-11, 2006 in Singapore.
Japan ruling party backs ending BoJ rate policy
The Bank of Japan has received clear backing from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party on its plans to end the current zero interest rate policy.
Juncker says ECB 'pointing' to rate rise
Euro group president Jean-Claude Juncker said Monday 10 July the European Central Bank has been signalling that it will raise interest rates again before long.
Too much secrecy in appointing the Bank's MPC
Writing in the Financial Times on Friday 7 July, UK shadow chancellor George Osborne says the appointment process to the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee has been brought into sharp focus with the MPC down to seven of its full complement of…
Serbia's Jelasic says banks want to fight NBS
In a recent interview, Radovan Jelasic, governor of the National Bank of Serbia (NBS), says he would be very happy if the NBS did not have to make so many monetary policy decisions, because they are very costly.
Russia and Belarus ready for single currency
The central banks of Belarus and Russia will be ready for the planned introduction of a single currency in 2008, Russia's central bank chief Sergey Ignatyev said in Belarus on Thursday 6 July.
EU Parliament wants information on SWIFT
The European Parliament adopted a resolution on Thursday 6 July asking EU governments, the Commission and the European Central Bank to explain what they know about the SWIFT agreement.
ECB considers new securities settlement service
The European Central Bank said Friday 7 July it is considering setting up a new service for securities settlement in the eurozone. Through the new system, the ECB said it aims for synergies and harmonized settlement of securities transactions in the euro…
Sao Tome central bank has new governor
The Central Bank of Sao Tome and Principe has a new governor, according to the macauhub website. Arlindo Carvalho, was reported to have taken office this week, and was quoted as saying he will give priority to increasing corporate confidence and…
Trichet gives strong hint on August rate rise
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet said Thursday 6 July that the ECB governing council will meet in person on 3 August rather than by teleconference, as it normally does for its early August policy meeting.
Europe suffers worrying wave of financial chaos
According to this article published Wednesday 5 July by Bloomberg, Europe is increasingly encircled by financial woes. Emerging markets are being hit by a wave of selling, sending currencies falling and interest rates jumping.
Morgan Stanley economist linked to BoE post
AFX News reported on Thursday 6 July that David Miles, managing director and chief UK economist at Morgan Stanley, has been approached to join the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee.
Panel recommends BOJ disclosure rules
An advisory panel on Thursday 6 July recommended that the Bank of Japan should require its top officials to disclose personal financial assets.
BOJ will conduct appropriate policy for economy
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui reiterated on Thursday 6 July that the central bank will implement appropriate monetary policy by fully checking economic and price conditions.