News
Spain may propose Rato as IMF chief
Rodrigo Rato, former Spanish economy minister after Sunday's election, may be proposed to run the IMF, according to Miguel Sebastian, an economic adviser to Prime Minister-elect Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.
ECB to discuss economic impact of bomb attack
Austrian central bank governor Klaus Liebscher said on Tuesday 16 March that the ECB will this week examine possible consequences of the Madrid bomb attacks on the European economy.
Fed policy: steady as she goes
Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan and his colleagues were predicted to keep interest rates stable on Tuesday 16 March as data showed further jobless recovery.
Deficits of six future EU members broke EU rules
Six of the 10 countries to join the European Union in May had public deficits greater than those allowed by the EU's Stability and Growth Pact, EU data published on Tuesday 16 March showed.
Central Banks close the net on counterfeiters
Since 2000, G10 central banks have successfully persuaded manufacturers of scanning and printing technology to include secret anti-counterfeiting systems with their products.
Issing says ECB worried on stagnant euro economy
In an interview Otmar Issing has indicated that the European Central Bank is concerned about lacklustre domestic demand in the euro zone.
Vietnam not worried on exchange rate
The head of the Foreign Currency Control Department of the State Bank of Vietnam, Truong Van Phuoc said on Sunday that there was no reason to devaluate the Vietnam Dong.
GCC says no plan for a common central bank
A report quoting the governor of the central bank of the UAE said the Gulf states do not intend to have a common central bank, but are going ahead with the monetary union project.
Former Bank of England chief calls on ECB to cut
Sir Edward George, the former Bank of England governor, called for the European Central Bank to cut interest rates to boost the economy in the 12-country region that uses the euro, according to a newspaper report.
Japanese government upbeat on economy
The Japanese government gave a positive assessment on Japan's economy in its monthly report issued Monday, citing increased consumer spending and surging exports, especially to China.
Report says strong euro dented Bundesbank profits
The Bundesbank saw its annual profit fall to less than one billion euros (1.2 billion dollars) last year as a result of the strong euro and that could pose a problem for the German government's finances, according to a report in a German business daily.
Ex-NY Fed chief McDonough sees no rate hike soon
William McDonough, who until last year held the second most powerful position at the Federal Reserve said in a TV interview Friday it's going to be quite a while before the Federal Reserve raises interest rates.
PBOC vice-governor: yuan hasn't cost US jobs
Guo Shuqing, vice-governor of the People's Bank of China and director-general of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE), said in an interview that the allegation the renminbi is undervalued and has cost US jobs is unfounded.
Heads of EurAsEC central banks to meet in Belarus
The 9th meeting of the Council of chairmen of the central banks of the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC) member states is expected to start in Minsk on March 12, the National Bank of Belarus (NBB) said on Thursday 11 March.
Matti Vanhala to retire on disability pension
The Bank of Finland announced on Thursday 11 March that Governor Matti Vanhala will retire from 1 April. Deputy Governor Matti Louekoski will assume his responsibilities until a replacement is found.
Padoa Schioppa gets honorary law degree
Tommaso Padoa Schioppa was due to receive an honorary law degree on Friday 12 March in a ceremony at the University of Bari.
ECB mourns Spanish bomb victims
In Frankfurt on Thursday 11 March, about 150 employees of the European Central Bank gathered before the bank headquarters in a memorial service for the victims of the Madrid bombing.
Bangladesh Bank denies IMF advisor controls it
Bangladesh Bank (BB) this week brushed aside an allegation that the International Monetary Fund was dictating to it through an IMF official recently installed as advisor to the governor.
RBZ head Gono receives death threats
The head of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, Gideon Gono, picked by President Robert Mugabe to lead the government's anti-corruption drive, has claimed he has received death threats from corrupt businessmen and politicians, a newspaper reported this week.
Woman tries to spend fake $1 million note
A US woman was charged with forgery this week after trying to spend a $1 million bank note in a Georgia supermarket. Staff refused to accept the note or hand over her $998,328.45 in change (if they had it!) and called the manager.
Developing nations seek IMF top job
While the smart money is increasingly moving towards Spanish Finance Minister Rodrigo Rato as Horst Kohler's successor at the IMF, developing countries have waded into the debate and staked their claim to the Fund's top job.
Second ECB conference on statistics
The European Central Bank confirmed on Thursday 11 March that it will hold its second conference on statistics on 22 and 23 April 2004 in Frankfurt on "Statistics and their use for monetary and economic policy-making".
Chicago Fed's 2004 Payments Conference
The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago's fourth Payments Conference entitled, "An Electronic Supply Chain: Will Payments Follow?" will begin at noon on May 26 and conclude mid-day on May 27 at the Chicago Fed's conference center.
Constancio warns on Portugal's public finances
Antonio Constancio, Governor of the Bank of Portugal, has warned that the country's public finances are in deep trouble and it will be difficult for the government to keep the deficit below the EU's 3 per cent limit.