News
Sveriges Riksbank holds interest rates steady
The central bank of Sweden, the Sveriges Riksbank, held its repo rate unchanged at 2.75 per cent, 16 October. The risks in the inflation outlook are largely the same as before. However, the probability of lower inflation due to slacker international…
Trichet's successor may face reduced role
Former vice-president of the ECB Christian Noyer could be named as a replacement to Jean-Claude Trichet at the Bank of France, notes the Financial Times, but Herve Hernoun could also take the job as a less political choice. Whatever the case, the new…
PBOC to strengthen cooperation with US Treasury
The People's Bank of China will launch a technical cooperation program with the United States Treasury Department which would facilitate communication and cooperation between financial experts of the two countries, according to a bank spokesperson quoted…
SARB cuts repo rate by 1.5%
With effect from Friday 17 October, reports Business Africa, the South African Reserve Bank will cut its main repo rate to 8.5 percent, Tito Mboweni said at the end of the two-day meeting by the SARB's Monetary Policy Committee on Thursday.
IMF official is named President of New York Fed
Timothy F. Geithner, 42, was named president and chief executive of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on Wednesday 16 October, according to the New York Times. The appointment brings to an end the nine-month search for a replacement for William…
Fed's survey finds recovery in most areas
The Federal Reserve's Beige Book, released on Wednesday 15 October, said "On balance, the pace of economic expansion has picked up since the last report", according to Associated Press. The Current Economic Conditions survey, known as the Beige Book, is…
EU leaders to meet Trichet after ECB confirmation
After his confirmation as President of the European Central Bank, which was due to take place on Thursday 16 October at a two-day summit in Brussels, Jean-Claude Trichet was scheduled to meet EU leaders, according to EU Business. The EU's Italian…
Basel committee vows to respect timetable
At its weekend meeting in Madrid, the Basel Committee moved forward with a proposal for how banks would treat what is known as expected credit losses, adopting the stance of the US banks. The committee pledged to stand by its timetable for implementing…
Chicago Fed's Moskow upbeat on growth
For a substantial fall in unemployment to occur the US economy must grow above potential for a "significant period of time" Chicago Fed President Michael Moskow said in a television interview Monday, Reuters reported.
Supervisory body to boost BI's accountability
Indonesia's Minister of Finance, Boediono, has repeated the importance of establishing a supervisory board for Bank Indonesia's board of governors, a report in the Jakarta Post said. The idea has been opposed by Bank Indonesia but is meant to strengthen…
Bank of Canada leaves key rate unchanged
The Bank of Canada held interest rates steady on Wednesday at 2.75 percent, the Canadian Press said. Some economists said the rate should fall to cool the rise in the Canadian dollar.
Jarai says talks underway with ECB over ERM II
Hungary's central bank governor Zsigmond Jarai said Tuesday, Interfax reported, that the MNB has begun informal talks with the ECB on Hungary's membership of the ERM II mechanism. The path to the adoption of the euro in 2008, as agreed between the…
Documents show RBA basement holds huge wine cellar
Documents obtained under Freedom of Information laws show the Reserve Bank of Australia houses a $100,000 wine cellar in the basement of its Sydney headquarters alongside vaults guarding Australia's reserves. RBA secretary David Emmanuel defended the…
EU to confirm Trichet as ECB chief on Thursday
The leaders of the 12 euro countries will "appoint the President of the European Central Bank" on Thursday afternoon at an EU summit in Brussels, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi wrote to his EU colleagues Tuesday, EU Business reported.
Bank of Canada statement on interest rate decision
In its statement released 15 October the Bank of Canada said indicators of economic activity and inflation in Canada have evolved broadly in line with the Bank's expectations since the decision to lower rates on 3 September.
France's Mer-ECB rates a powerful tool on FX moves
France's Finance Minister Francis Mer has called ECB interest rates a "powerful lever" that could be used in response to the declining dollar, Reuters said. "It's a powerful lever that can be mobilised in a non-inflationary environment," he said.
Bank of Japan upgrades October assessment
The Bank of Japan raised its assessment of the economy for the second month running Tuesday but warned that a too strong yen could hurt exports, according to Associated Press. "The foundation for a gradual recovery in Japan's economy is being laid, as…
Duisenberg on training contract with Russian cb
At the press conference for the signing of the TACIS "Central Bank Training" contract and of a Protocol between the European Central Bank and the Central Bank of Russia Wim Duisenberg said the Eurosystem hopes to contribute to further strengthening the…
Office of CBRC set to open in Shanghai
The China Banking Regulatory Commission will open a Shanghai Bureau this week, says the China Daily.. The CBRC's Shanghai bureau will take over the supervision of the city's banking industry from the local branch of the People's Bank of China, the…
Academics agree with Turkish cb chief on ex rate
Turkish academics have agreed with central bank governor Sureyya Serdengecti that a risk to the exchange rate exists in the market posing a significant obstacle to stability, according to the Turkish Daily News.
Serbia to discuss NBS governor election procedure
The ruling Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) council agreed on Friday 10 October, according to the Tanjug news agency, that consideration of the National Bank of Serbia's annual report should include an examination of the procedural issues which were…
Swinging euro worries Bundesbank chief Welteke
Bundesbank chief Ernst Welteke has said the euro is at around its long-term average, according to RTE News, but that abrupt swings in the exchange rate with the dollar could harm the global economy.
Asian currencies need more flexibility - IMF
IMF Deputy Managing Director Shigemitsu Sugisaki has called on Asia to play its part in adjusting the US trade deficit by allowing greater foreign exchange rate flexibility, according to a Reuters report. "With comfortable reserves and a strong economic…
Buba eyes 400-600 tonne gold sale in new pact
A report says that the Bundesbank is considering selling between 400 and 600 tonnes of gold from late 2004 to 2009, according to Reuters. Bundesbank President Ernst Welteke declined to comment on details of any deal ahead of discussions in the spring…