News
Botswana to introduce formal inflation target
Botswana's central bank has introduced a formal inflation target of 3% - 6% for the coming three years, according to a statement released by the bank.
IMF likely to raise Japan growth forecast
The International Monetary Fund will likely revise its forecast of 2.0 percent growth for Japan in 2006 "significantly" upwards, a senior IMF official said on Tuesday 28 February.
EurAsEC central bankers meet in Belarus
The XIVth session of EurAsEC Council of the heads of central banks was held in Minsk on Monday 27 February.
BoE says payment covers all stolen notes
The Bank of England said on Friday 24 February that the £25 million payment made by Securitas on Wednesday covers all the stolen notes belonging to the central bank.
Japan's PM says govt would tolerate BOJ shift
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi indicated on Monday 27 February that the government would be prepared to tolerate a move by the Bank of Japan in lifting its ultra-easy policy as early as March.
Economist calls for cut in China's dollar reserves
Economics professor Xiao Zhuoji said in an interview published on Monday 27 February that China should cut its share dollars in its foreign exchange reserves due to risks posed by the dollar's instability.
Bulgaria doing everything to join euro
Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev told European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet on Monday 27 February that his government was doing everything possible to join the EU as soon as possible and to introduce the euro in 2009.
BI to introduce Sharia Banking Committee
Bank Indonesia intends to develop Sharia Banking Committee (KPS) as the regulatory body for sharia banks.
Bernanke says bad idea to manage asset prices
The Federal Reserve has to pay close attention to asset prices because they affect the economy, according to Fed chairman Ben Bernanke, but it is not a good idea for the US central bank to try to affect their prices directly.
US economy can stand Fed 'mistake' says Poole
St Louis Fed president William Poole said on Friday 24 February that the U.S. economy can cope if the Federal Reserve makes a "mistake" and raises interest rates too high.
Fed's Warsh sworn in
Kevin Warsh took the oath of office as a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System on Friday 24 February.
ECB launches 'Legal Working Paper' series
The European Central Bank on Friday launched the publication of a Legal Working Paper series. The contributors to the Legal Working Paper series are lawyers from within the ECB, as well as lawyers who have otherwise contributed to the ECB's legal…
Sir John Gieve to head BoE security review
The review of the security of banknote storage which the Bank of England announced on Wednesday 22 February will be headed by Sir John Gieve, Deputy Governor of the Bank.
IMF's de Rato to visit Honduras
Rodrigo de Rato, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), will visit Honduras on February 27, 2006, at the invitation of the President Jose Manuel Zelaya Rosales.
Greenspan may work with WSJ columnist on book
Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan and David Wessel, the Wall Street Journal's deputy Washington bureau chief and author of the paper's Capital column, have talked about collaborating on a book, according to Dow Jones.
ECB's Trichet to visit Bulgaria on Monday
President of the European Central Bank Jean-Claude Trichet will visit Sofia on 27 February at the invitation of the Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivaylo Kalfin.
Bank of England switches auditors
The Bank of England has decided to offer its audit work to Big Four rival KPMG, ending one of PricewaterhouseCoopers longest running audit contracts.
BOJ's policy shift in sight in March, says paper
Bank of Japan Governor Toshihiko Fukui and senior BOJ officials are considering starting to dismantle the BOJ's ultra-easy policy as early as the March 8-9 policy board meeting, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Friday 24 February.
Biggest UK robbery promps BoE security review
The Bank of England is to review security for banknote storage following Britain's biggest ever robbery at a cash centre in Kent that may have netted the thieves between £40-50 million.
Poland's Samoobrona calls for sackable NBP head
Poland's Self Defence (Samoobrona) party has presented amendments to its draft act on the National Bank of Poland (NBP).
Sweden's Riksbank raises interest rates
Sweden's Riksbank raised its interest rate, the repo rate, by 0.25 percentage points to 2% on Thursday 23 February.
Greenspan speaks on outlook for energy
Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan discussed the energy outlook and the U.S. housing market, among other topics, at a gathering hosted by ABN AMRO on Wednesday 22 February, an economist told Reuters.
BOJ's Muto says shift won't mean policy tightening
Bank of Japan Deputy Governor Toshiro Muto said on Thursday 23 February that an end to the BOJ's ultra-loose monetary policy framework will not signify an immediate credit tightening.
Fukui says BOJ will end policy when conditions met
The Bank of Japan is hoping to end its quantitative monetary policy as soon as all the conditions laid down for its removal are met, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun quoted BoJ Governor Toshihiko Fukui as telling upper house's financial affairs committee.