News
Lebanon c bank finds new stash of Iraqi cash
The US Treasury has said that US$495 million of Iraqi funds has been recovered by the central bank of Lebanon, reports Associated Press. The U.S. has stressed that all recovered assets will be used to help the people of Iraq and rebuild the country.
UK to announce euro entry decision on 9 June
The announcement over whether the UK has passed the five euro entry tests will be made on 9 June, according to the Financial Times and other newspapers. In what some reports called a dramatic announcement there will now be a decision-making process…
Costello hints at new term for RBA's Macfarlane
Australian Treasurer Peter Costello gave a strong hint Reserve Bank (RBA) governor Ian Macfarlane would be appointed to lead the central bank for another term, according to The Age newspaper. Mr Macfarlane's term is due to expire on September 17.
Upbeat on the UK, downbeat on Europe
Unveiling the Bank of England's May 2003 Inflation Report on Thursday, Mervyn King was upbeat about prospects for UK economic growth and inflation. The Bank predicts that growth will pick up to trend and inflation will fall to remain close to its target…
U.S. Treasury remakes $20 to stop counterfeiters
The new US $20 note unveiled by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing on Tuesday includes the first change in the colour of U.S. currency in almost a century, Reuters reports
ECB predicts eurozone recovery
In its May bulletin published on Thursday 15 May, the ECB said "Looking ahead, a gradual strengthening of real GDP growth is expected to start later in 2003 and to gather more pace in the course of next year", according to the Financial Times
UK think-tank urges 'stay out of the euro'
An influential think-tank published a report on Thursday 15 May saying that Britain should stay out of the euro as the policies of the European Central Bank and the inadequacies of the stability and growth pact present a real barrier to UK entry,…
'Mr Yen' suggests new era of deflation
Frmer vice-finance minister of Japan, Eisuke Sakakibara, who is known as Mr Yen, has said he thinks Japan has been unfairly blamed for failing to tackle deflation with conventional monetary policy, according to the Financial Times. He also suggested the…
Ex Ukraine central banker jailed for 5 years
The UNIAN news agency reported that former first deputy chairman of the board of the National Bank of Ukraine, Volodymyr Bondar, was jailed for five years on Tuesday after being found guilty of violating an instruction which was in force at the National…
Fisher and Fischer withdraw from NY Fed race
The Washington Post reported on Wednesday 14 May that two top contenders for the job of president of the New York Fed, Peter Fisher and Stanley Fischer, have withdrawn their names from consideration for the position.
Germany sparks row over bank watchdog
Bundesbank president Ernst Welteke is reported by the Independent newspaper to have said on Tuesday 13 May that Germany rather than London should house the new supervisory regulator for banking in Frankfurt because of the proximity to the ECB and because…
Serb c bank chief: foreign reserves reach $3.3bn
National Bank of Serbia Governor Mladjan Dinkic has said the country's foreign currency reserves have reached 3.3bn dollars, according to the Tanjug news agency.
Russian c bank reports surge in counterfeit notes
In its annual report for 2002 the central bank of Russia has reported an increase in forged bank notes of 17 per cent with the 100-rouble note the most popular to be copied, reports the ITAR-TASS news agency.
Ghana- Bill against money laundering in the offing
An anti-money laundering bill developed by the Bank of Ghana, according to Ghanaweb, is intended to address the devastating economic, security and social consequences of money laundering.
Eurasian c bankers to discuss market integration
Representatives from the Central Bank of Russia and the national banks of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan will arrive in Dushanbe to discuss issues of cooperation in the area of currency market integration, reports the Asia-Plus news agency.
Shortage of notes threatens Zimbabwe's banks
Zimbabwe has been hit by a shortage of banknotes recently after currency restrictions made it difficult for the central bank to import special note paper, banking officials said. However, the central bank this week attributed the note shortages to the…
Indonesia announces new central bank governor
A parliamentary commission on Monday 12 May selected Burhanuddin Abdullah to head Indonesia's central bank, according to a report by Channel News Asia Mr Burhanuddin won 34 votes from commission members while current central bank deputy governor Miranda…
Brown reaffirms euro test results date
Gordon Brown on Tuesday 13 May repeated that the result of its five economic tests on whether Britain should join the euro would be announced by the first week of June, according to a report by Business & Finance
Bundesbank sees German public deficit at 3.5%
Bundesbank chief economist Hermann Remsperger said in an interview with Sueddeutsche Zeitung, reported by RTE News, that the German fiscal deficit would amount to 3.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) this year.
Fed's Parry doesn't expect deflation
Speaking on Monday 12 May, San Francisco Federal Reserve President Robert Parry said "I'm not expecting deflation. We will see a pick-up in real growth and the pace of that pick-up is likely to be stronger by 2004", Reuters reports.
Hungary - C bank accused of discredited policies
Kossuth Radio in Budapest reported that members of the Hungarian Socialist Party have criticised the National Bank of Hungary, saying the monetary policies of the central bank have been discredited after the MNB only warned about the dangers of an…
IMF delegates visit Croatian National Bank
A delegation from the IMF arrived in Croatia on Monday and held talks with the governor of the Croatian National Bank (HNB), Zeljko Rohatinski.
Bank of England Inflation report accolade
The Bank of England gets top marks for best inflation report, 13 May. All inflation targeting central banks produce Inflation Reports. But what makes a good report? Central banks' writing and reporting skills are assessed in a new report.
Bank of England is top of the targetters
The Bank of England has the best inflation report, (the document all inflation-targetting central banks publish), a study entitled "How do central banks write?", out Tuesday claims. CentralBankNet reports from the press conference in London.