News
First woman takes over as SBP chief
The first woman ever to be appointed as the governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) took up her position on Monday 2 January.
Interview with ECB president Jean-Claude Trichet
In recent comments European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet said that monetary policy "cannot resolve all problems by itself". "We need profound structural reforms to increase our growth potential", Trichet warned.
Bernanke may have to grow up fast
Alan Greenspan's first major test came a mere 10 weeks into his tenure as chairman of the Federal Reserve, with the stock market crash of 1987. This article published on Wednesday 4 January looks at the challenges that could face Ben Bernanke when he…
Argentina's Kirchner replaces Lavagna
Argentine President Nestor Kirchner yesterday replaced Economy Minister Roberto Lavagna on Monday 2 January following disagreements between the two with regard to inflation.
Interview with Hans Tietmeyer
Former Bundesbank president Hans Tietmeyer said in comments published Friday 6 January, that it's too early to pass final judgment on the legacy passed down by Alan Greenspan. "He is an impressive personality. He is open to debate. You can use all…
Bundesbank rejects report of 1,500 job cuts
The German government is planning to cut about 1,500 jobs at the Bundesbank by the end of 2007, Der Spiegel magazine reported, quoting a letter Barbara Hendricks, secretary of state to the finance ministry, sent to Volker Wissing, a member of the lower…
BOJ official sees steady progress on deflation
Japan is making steady progress in its fight against deflation as consumer prices appear set to keep rising amid a balanced economic recovery, a senior Bank of Japan official said Friday 6 January.
Korea using all means to weaken currency
South Korea's finance ministry said on Friday 6 January it would mobilise all possible means to curb the won's recent sharp appreciation against the US dollar.
Taiwan says FX turnover no intervention indicator
The Central Bank of Taiwan has urged speculators to stop second-guessing central bank policy actions on the Taiwan dollar on the basis of the forex market's daily turnover.
OECD report says Swiss economy to underperform
The Swiss economy is poised to grow slower than expected this year because of lusterless productivity gains, meaning the Swiss central bank should not raise interest rates until a recovery has been established, the OECD said in a report published Friday…
Constancio says no specific ECB rate rises planned
The European Central Bank has no specific plans for future monetary policy changes, ECB Governing Council member Vitor Constancio of Portugal said on Wednesday 4 January.
Spain sees risk to economy of house price fall
The risk of a sharp fall in house prices is increasing and could put a brake on Spain's robust economic growth, the Bank of Spain's governor said in a report published on the bank's website.
ECB misses inflation target
The European Central Bank failed to hit its inflation target for the sixth year running last year, according to figures from Eurostat.
Study shows Fed deflation tools can work
The Federal Reserve has several ways to boost the economy even if official U.S. interest rates were ever to hit zero, but the public needs to understand them to make them effective, a new Fed study shows.
PBOC pledges continued improvement on ex rate
The People's Bank of China disclosed the macro-control goals for its monetary policy in 2006 on Thursday 5 January. China's SAFE also revealed plans "to actively explore ways of investing foreign exchange more efficiently".
IMF to help with GCC monetary union plan
The International Monetary Fund has offered help to GCC countries to proceed with their monetary union plan and has proposed the creation of a body similar to the European Union's Eurostat office to support the project.
China's central bank to issue US$5b in bills
China's central bank will issue up to 40 billion yuan ($4.96 billion) in one-year bills in open market operations on Thursday, down from 45 billion yuan a week earlier, it said on Wednesday 4 January.
Fed minutes signpost end to rate hikes
The Federal Reserve on Tuesday 3 January said it considers its 1-1/2 year long policy of raising U.S. interest rates is nearing an end, saying a statement after its December meeting aimed to signal only a few more increases were likely.
ECB's Quaden says rates supportive
Eurozone interest rates of 2.25 percent are still supportive of economic growth, European Central Bank Governing Council member Guy Quaden told Belgian magazine Tendances Trends on Thursday 29 December.
Bank of Italy's Draghi to start mid-Jan
The Bank of Italy said on Wednesday 4 January that its newly appointed governor Mario Draghi is expected to take up his job in mid-January.
Redesigned BIS website now live
The Bank for International Settlements relaunched its website on Wednesday 4 January.
Lord Woolf chairs Financial Markets Law Committee
The Bank of England announced on Tuesday 20 December the appointment of Lord Woolf as Chairman of the Financial Markets Law Committee (FMLC), beginning 1 February 2006.
Dirk Witteveen to chair Joint Forum
The Joint Forum's parent organisations announced on Wednesday 21 December the appointment of Dirk Witteveen as chair of the Joint Forum for a two-year term beginning January 2006.
IFSRA announces new Chief Executive
The Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority announced on Friday 16 December that Patrick Neary has been appointed to the post of Chief Executive.