News
Changes in Swedish banknote and coin series 2005
In order to reduce the risk of counterfeiting and to facilitate the recognition of genuine banknotes, the Sveriges Riksbank has decided to increase the security details in 50-kronor and 1000-kronor banknotes.
Riksbank reports loss in 2003 Annual Report
Sweden's central bank published its 2003 annual report on 12 February. This reported a loss of SEK 9.3 billion for the year with the krona appreciation in 2003 leading to a loss of SEK 12.5 billion.
ECB sees faster eurozone growth
The European Central Bank published its February 2004 Monthly Bulletin on 12 February. In the February Bulletin, the ECB said that in its new regular quarterly 'Survey of Professional Forecasters', the experts had revised their forecasts upwards.
Improvements to the Federal Reserve's website
The Federal Reserve Board on Tuesday 10 February announced a number of improvements to its website, including the capability to view and submit comments on regulatory proposals.
UAE to hold seminar on money laundering
Senior government officials and lawyers will gather at the UAE central bank on Saturday 14 February to discuss legal procedures against money laundering.
CBI, IDB to hold monetary conference in Tehran
The Central Bank of Iran (CBI) and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) will hold their first international monetary conference next week between 16-18 February.
Argentina won't pay IMF without accord revisions
President Nestor Kirchner said on wednesday 11 February that the Argentine government would not use its reserves to make its next instalment of payments due to the IMF unless it first approves revisions to the accord.
BOK chief calls for more authority
Governor of the Bank of Korea Park Seung on Wednesday 11 February called for more authority to conduct independent on-site inspections of financial institutions.
City livery company for bankers - and central bankers
After centuries of hanging on to others' coat tails, bankers are set to gain their own liveried guild in London.
Russian for ex intervention hits record $3bn
The central bank of Russia spent a record $3 billion on Tuesday 10 february to hold down the ruble. The intervention represented the biggest foreign-exchange intervention in Russia's history.
EU regulators to redraft settlement standards
European financial regulators are to soften proposed new standards on clearing and settlement after fierce lobbying and sustained criticism from banks and industry bodies.
ECB board member says euro rates appropriate
In a speech on Tuesday 10 February, European Central Bank executive board member Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell said the ECB is not currently considering a cut in rates and that despite the euro's rise growth predictions remain the same.
Zhou: China's 'stable and healthy' monetary policy
People's Bank of China Governor Zhou Xiaochuan said on Tuesday 10 February that China will allow its money supply and credit loans to keep growing at an appropriate pace in 2004.
Greenspan sees vigorous growth, warns on deficit
In testimony on Wednesday 11 February, Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan said the U.S. economy has good odds for sustained robust growth, but that policy-makers can be patient about interest-rate rises. He warned there could be problems "in the relatively near…
Argentina holds 'constructive' IMF talks
Argentina's Economy Minister Roberto Lavagna described talks with IMF chief Horst Koehler on Monday as constructive but said there was no change in its offer to repay its defaulted debt at 25 cents on the dollar.
RBI governor to lead market surveillance panel
The Reserve Bank of India has formed a high power committee headed by the governor for integrated market surveillance and alert systems. The committee is to strengthen market supervision and monitoring.
Euro rate not major target for ECB says Issing
European Central Bank chief economist Otmar Issing said that the euro foreign exchange rate is not a major target of the ECB's monetary policy strategies but does play an important role in the assessment of price risk.
Russia not to vary currency policy after G7 meet
Russian Central Bank First Deputy Chairman Oleg Vyugin said on Monday 9 February that the bank saw no reason to change its currency policy following last weekend's Florida meeting of the Group of Seven finance ministers and central bank governors.
Currency volatility a growth risk says G7
Exchange rates should be flexible and avoid excess volatility, the Group of Seven (G7) industrial nations said at the weekend.
PBC rejects renminbi revaluation talk
An official at the People's Bank of China has refuted speculation in local media that it may be planning to revalue the renminbi this coming March, allowing China's currency to rise by 5% against the U.S. dollar.
CNB's Tuma sees higher inflation this year
Czech inflation will tick higher this year due to changes in the value added tax agreed by the ruling coalition last week, Central Bank Governor Zdenek Tuma said on Sunday 8 February.
Forex curbs staying in Venezuela, but may be eased
Venezuela will keep its year-old currency controls in place, boosting its foreign reserves, but the government will try to make them more flexible, President Hugo Chavez said on Sunday 8 February.
Central bank chiefs open Hong Kong meeting
Central bank governors began a two-day meeting in Hong Kong Sunday to exchange views on the latest global economic and financial situation as well as exchange rates regimes and plans to combat terrorist financing in the region.
Brazil's Meirelles scotches resignation rumours
Rumours originating in New York this week suggested that Brazilian central bank president Henrique Meirelles was about to resign.