News
Cleveland Fed's Pianalto reveals basketball link
Visiting a school recently, Cleveland Fed President Sandra Pianalto was mobbed for autographs by the schoolchildren who crowded round her.
Udovicki's future at NBS still in balance
The Serbian Parliament began a debate on proposed changes to legislation on presidential elections on Thursday (19 Feb). Parliament completed debate on the appointment of the National Bank governor but has yet to put it to a vote.
Doubts over Jamaica monetary committee
Bank of Jamaica governor Derick Latibeaudiere has raised doubts over Jamaica's readiness for a monetary policy committee, citing the central bank's lack of independence in controlling monetary policy tools.
Gjedrem says further rate cuts possible
Giving his annual "state of the economy" speech on Thursday 19 February, Norges Bank Chief Svein Gjedrem said he did not exclude the possibility of even further interest cuts this year.
Dallas's McTeer on inflation targets
Dallas Fed president Bob McTeer said on Thursday 19 February that inflation targets were a marketing tool not needed by the Fed, and opposed lobbying to float China's currency.
Czech PM does not see euro entry before 2009
Czech Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla has said his country will aim to adopt the euro by 2009 at the earliest. This is two years later than the timetable agreed last year.
ECB's Liebscher doesn't rule out intervention
ECB Governing Council member Klaus Liebscher said Friday that foreign currency intervention by the ECB could never be ruled out but would not be discussed in public ahead of time.
Minutes from the Sveriges Riksbank Meeting, 5 Feb
Minutes of the Sveriges Riksbank Executive Board meeting on 5 February, published 19 February. The minutes pointed to a continued strengthening in international economic activity. Deputy Governor Kristina Persson entered a reservation against the…
ECB won't burst bubbles says Issing
Otmar Issing said on Wednesday 18 February that the ECB would not use monetary policy to burst speculative bubbles in eurozone asset prices as such a move would have a negative effect on the real economy.
BNB's Quaden: Further euro rise 'not desirable'
Belgian National Bank governor Guy Quaden said at the release of the central bank's annual report that any further rise of the euro is "not desirable".
Stability Pact rule changes ruledout: Solbes
Pedro Solbes said on Wednesday 18 February that the current terms of the stability and growth pact will be maintained, ruling out any changes to the EU's much criticised budget rules.
PBOC reaffirms stability of renminbi
The People's Bank of China denied speculation on Wednesday that China's financial authorities have decided to appreciate the nation's currency in the near future.
Brazil's Copom holds rate at 16.5%
The Banco Do Brasil's monetary policy committee (Copom) announced Wednesday it was holding its Selic interest rate steady at 16.5%.
Bank of England MPC Minutes 4/5 February
Minutes of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee Meeting were released on 18 February for the meeting of 4 and 5 February 2004. In a rare move, the MPC voted unanimously to raise interest rates by a quarter point.
Netherlands plans to offload $866m of gold
The Dutch central bank plans to sell 65 tons of gold valued at $866 million when the 15-country gold sales agreement expires in September, spokesperson Tobias Oudejans said on Tuesday. 17 February
Oman plans new settlement system
The Central Bank of Oman (CBO) plans to introduce a real time gross settlement (RTGS) system for faster inter-bank transactions, a report said.
Serbian central bank warns parliament
The National Bank of Serbia warned on Tuesday 17 February that it would appeal to the Republic's Constitutional Court if parliament annuls the election of central bank governor Kori Udovicki.
BOJ's Iwata says strong GDP won't change stance
The Bank of Japan's deputy governor Kazumasa Iwata said on Wednesday 18 February that the BOJ's monetary easing policy will stay unchanged despite strong GDP figures, and added that deflation remains a stubborn problem.
Meirelles says Brazil can cope without IMF aid
Brazil's central bank chief, Henrique Meirelles, said in an interview that the country's dependence on the IMF could be reduced and a reduction in Brazil's "foreign vulnerability" could be achieved.
Finland central bank bill withdrawn
A controversial bill that would have given the Finnish government the right to grab central bank funds has been withdrawn.
SNB's Roth says euro has stabilised Swiss franc
Speaking on Monday 16 February, Swiss National Bank chairman Jean-Pierre Roth said that the introduction of the euro has stabilized the Swiss franc but has also left the economy vulnerable to sharp currency swings.
UAE's anti-money laundering laws praised
Governor of the UAE central bank Sultan bin Nasser Al Suwaidi has said that the UAE's anti-money laundering law has helped reduce serious cases since it was passed in 2002.
Central bankers say stability pact not dead
The EU's much maligned stability and growth pact is not dead despite a decision by finance ministers in November to suspend its rules, ECB and Bundesbank members said Monday 16 February.
Court told 'Treasury in the dark' over BCCI affair
The High Court in London heard on Monday 16 February that the Bank of England allegedly deliberately withheld information about the state of BCCI from the Treasury because it was concerned that the government department would force the bank's closure.