News
Bernanke pleased to continue at Fed
Ben Bernanke said he was very pleased to have the opportunity to continue to work with Alan Greenspan and his Federal Reserve colleagues, 9 September.
Argentina defaults on $3 Billion IMF debt
Argentina defaulted on its IMF debt on Tuesday 9 September, according to a Reuters report. The Cabinet Chief's office said "To avoid compromising 25 percent of (central bank) reserves, the government has decided to suspend the payment that was due today".
Wellink: EU 'budget sinners' need sanctions
In an interview to be published, Dutch central bank chief Nout Wellink said sanctions could be imposed against countries whose public deficits exceed agreed limits under the Stability and Growth Pact, according to AFP. "Penalties are part of the system…
Swedish PM says euro vote will be tight
Swedish Prime Minister Goeran Persson has said the race will be tight in the euro referendum vote on Sunday, according to Associated Press. "I think it's going to be somewhere in the 53-47 interval. But which way I don't know," he said.
Ex-banker files case against BSP chief
The former president of the now defunct Urban Bank, Teodoro Borlongan, filed a case against Philippines central bank governor Rafael Buenaventura at the Supreme Court on Wednesday 10 September, according to a report by INQ7 Money. Borlongan said he would…
KC Federal Reserve Bank announces appointments
The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City has announced two appointments to represent the 10th Federal Reserve District on the Federal Advisory Council.
Duisenberg eyes recovery, says ECB rates correct
Wim Duisenberg said in testimony on Wednesday 10 September: "Indications of an upturn in economic activity starting in the second half of the year have strengthened" and that the key ECB interest rates are considered "appropriate at present", according…
Riksbank's General Council say 'yes' to the euro
All eleven members of the Riksbank's General Council vote "yes" to Swedish membership of the Eurosystem, 4 September. The Council said "The campaigners advocating a "no" vote claim to safeguard the krona and the Riksbank, but we eleven who appoint,…
German inflation rate picks up in August
Final figures for August inflation in Germany showed the rate was unchanged from the July figure of 1.1 percent, AFP reported. The final data were revised downwards slightly from preliminary estimates published at the end of August.
BMA Governor attends launch of Islamic bank unit
Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Governor of the Bahrain Monetary Agency (BMA) said Monday "The global Islamic banking industry is witnessing tremendous growth, both in terms of volumes of business and in terms of number of institutions, many of…
Brazil allowed to draw $4.3B from IMF
After reviewing Brazil's economic performance the IMF has given the go ahead to release $4.3 billion, the second-to-last part of its $30 billion loan, the Associated Press said. Talking to reporters in Brasilia, the nation's capital, Finance Minister…
Central Bank of Sri Lanka implements RTGS system
The central bank of Sri Lanka implemented its Real Time Gross Settlement System (RTGS) together with the Automated General Ledger system on Monday, according to Sri Lanka Daily News. The RTGS system will facilitate large value fund transfers and…
Deflation remains a serious threat to Japan - IMF
In its annual Article 1V consultation with Japan, the IMF said the economy 'remains vulnerable to significant downside risks' and argued a 'more comprehensive and integrated policy approach is needed to tackle deflation and to address fiscal imbalances',…
UAE to implement Basel II accord
The UAE central bank announced Monday it would adopt the risk assessment mechanism known as Basel II, which will go into force in 2007. The governor of the central bank said final touches were being added to the system in order to enable banks to…
Japan's yen selling to alleviate pressure: Fukui
Speaking on the sidelines of the regular meeting of central bank governors at the Bank for International Settlements, Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui said "We are still cautious about the outlook for Japan's economy, but there are certainly some…
Swedes to say 'no' to euro, latest survey says
A Danske Bank survey published on Monday showed 40 percent of Swedes were opposed to swapping their krona for the euro, while 30 percent were in favour, EU Business reported.
Mboweni takes flak...
The admirable Tito Mboweni, governor of the South African Reserve Bank, is under bombardment as fellow countrymen splutter at his recent pay rise. Mboweni has been accused of double standards for accepting a pay rise of 9% this year and 12% last year …
...but aims high
But Mboweni has received political support - which is valuable since, some say, he has his eyes on the presidency when current president Thabo Mbeki's term ends in 2009 (Mboweni's current term ends in 2004).
Gerashchenko into politics
The global political establishment can now boast a couple more ex-heavyweight central bank governors to their number: Viktor Gerashchenko from Russia and Bimal Jalan from India. Gerashchenko, who resigned from Russia's central bank in March 2002 citing…
Jalan too
Bimal Jalan, having ceded power at the central bank to the capable hands of YV Reddy, will slip into what will surely be no less lively an occupation. He has now been nominated to the upper house of Parliament (contrasting with Gerashchenko who is to…
Afghan treasure hunt
Anwar-ul-Haq Ahady, the central bank governor in Afghanistan, has been on a treasure hunt - and was not disappointed. Together with the country's president, finance minister and justice minister, he descended into the subterranean expanse that lies…
Greenback's end...
The end of the greenback is nigh! On October 9 a new and improved version of what has hitherto been affectionately known as the "greenback" will enter into circulation, but the new $20 note will not actually be green. The background is to be a shade of …
...and Howard's end
Sir Howard Davies, who leaves the UK's Financial Services Authority at the end of this week to take up the job of head of the London School of Economics, sensibly ducks questions about whether he wanted to be governor of the Bank of England.
BDO UniconRuf to audit Russian central bank
The Russian central bank has signed an agreement with BDO UniconRuf to audit the central bank's accounts, according to The Russian Journal. The company obtained the right to audit the Central Bank's 2002 report after winning a corresponding tender…