News
Iceland appoints new central bank governor
Ingimundur Fririksson was appointed governor of the Central Bank of Iceland on Thursday 29 June.
Fukui, would-be Greenspan of Asia, replaceable
According to this article from Bloomberg published Friday 30 June, Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui was urged to become the "Greenspan of Japan, if not Asia" soon after he began running the BOJ in 2003.
Fischer plans radical bank restructuring
Bank of Israel governor Stanley Fischer has announced a major structural reorganisation of the bank, according to this article by Haaretz, published Friday 30 June.
Bank of Japan may ban staff investment
A Bank of Japan panel decided Friday 30 June to recommend that the central bank ban its executives from investing in private funds, Kyodo News agency reported.
When facts change, central bank intentions should
According to this article published by the Financial Times on Wednesday 28 June, by Francesco Giavazzi and Charles Wyplosz, the Bank of England, which once pioneered transparency and innovative communication, is trailing behind other central banks.
Fed views on U.S. inflation targeting
This article from Reuters, published Wednesday 28 June, provides summaries of views voiced by Federal Reserve policy-makers on the merits of stated numerical inflation targets.
BoE's King criticises MPC appointment process
Bank of England governor Mervyn King on Thursday 29 June took aim at the "very much last minute" way in which members were appointed to the Monetary Policy Committee by Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown.
Fernandez Ordoez nominated as Bank of Spain chief
Spain's finance minister, Pedro Solbes, proposed Miguel Angel Fernandez Ordonez as the new governor of the Bank of Spain on Wednesday 28 June.
Yamamoto says Fukui should resign 'immediately'
Kozo Yamamoto, head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's monetary policy panel, said Thursday 29 June that Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui should resign "immediately" over the Murakami investment scandal.
Hong Kong unlikely to use yuan as reserve currency
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority is unlikely to use the yuan anytime soon as one of its reserve currencies, HKMA chief executive Joseph Yam said Thursday 29 June.
Sao Tome government fires central bank governor
The government of Sao Tome and Principe has dismissed the governor of the country's central bank, the macauhub.com website reported on Wednesday 28 June.
Federal Reserve expected to raise rates
Federal Reserve policymakers were widely expected to finish a two-day meeting on Thursday 29 June, by raising US interest rates for the 17th consecutive time to 5.25 percent.
Euro membership not good for all, study says
According to this article published Monday 26 June, a new report from the CEPR claims Britain and other European economies have little to gain from adopting the euro now.
Iran's central bank and BIS to boost cooperation
According to IRNA news agency, Iran's central bank governor Ebrahim Sheibani held talks with the general Manager of the BIS, Malcolm Knight, in Basel aimed at stepping up banking cooperation.
Bank of Canada appoints Special Adviser
The Bank of Canada announced Wednesday 28 June the appointment of Professor Steve Ambler to the position of Special Adviser for the year 2006-07. The Special Adviser position was created to bring additional perspectives to monetary policy discussions.
BoF's Noyer warns on imprudent mortgage lending
Bank of France governor Christian Noyer told the French banking commission Wednesday 28 June that imprudent mortgage lending by French banks could lead to problems if interest rates rise or property prices fall.
BOJ scandal heats up
Calls for the resignation of Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui are intensifying amid worries about interest-rate hikes and falling stock prices, according to this article from BusinessWeek, published Tuesday 27 June.
Paulson has strong confidence in Bernanke
Henry Paulson, President Bush's nominee as the next US Treasury Secretary, has thrown his weight behind Ben Bernanke, the new chairman of the Federal Reserve.
Philippines central bank to reduce policy meetings
The central bank of the Philippines has decided to hold its monetary policy-setting meetings every six weeks starting July, instead of every four weeks.
Sri Lanka appoints new central bank governor
Effective from Thursday 22 June Presidential Advisor on Economic Affairs and Secretary to the Ministry of Plan Implementation Ajith Nivard Cabraal became the new governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
ECB 'permanently alert' says Trichet
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet said in an interview published Tuesday 27 June the ECB governing council is "permanently alert" and ready to act to counter inflation risks.
King, robed in red, given Cambridge's top honour
According to this article, Bank of England governor Mervyn King was due to receive Cambridge University's highest honour on Tuesday 27 June.
Fed confronts failure to comprehend
According to this article from Bloomberg published Tuesday 27 June, five months into the term of Ben Bernanke at the Fed he and his colleagues haven't figured out how to get financial markets to understand what they are trying to do with monetary policy.
Garganas says ECB may aggressively raise rates
European Central Bank council member Nicholas Garganas said in an interview the bank is ready to accelerate the pace of interest-rate increases to counter higher inflation risks in the eurozone.