News
Credit information laws aid consumers-Greenspan
Speaking to the US Congress on Wednesday 30 April, Alan Greenspan said having credit information flowing freely benefits borrowers by reducing uncertainty and pushing interest rates lower than they would otherwise be, according to Reuters.
IMF's Rogoff to leave Fund, return to Harvard
The International Monetary Fund announced Tuesday that Ken Rogoff, its chief economist, would be leaving the Fund in the autumn to return to academia, accoding to Reuters.
Bank of England to withdraw Dickens £10 note
The Bank of England on Tuesday april 29 announced that it is to withdraw from circulation the older style £10 notes featuring a portrait of Charles Dickens.
First five years of the ECB
Commenting on the fifth annual report of the ECB presented to the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs by ECB vice-president Lucas Papademos, Committee Chair Christa RANDZIO-PLATH (PES/Germany) said that the ECB and European Monetary Policy both…
Tumpel-Gugerell new ECB Board Member
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs gives ll clear for Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell as new ECB Board Member, 29 April.
Support for Tumpel-Gugerell
Unanimous Support for new ECB Executive Board Member, 29 April.
Hong Kong launches euro clearing system
Hong Kong launched its euro clearing system on Monday 28 April with the aim of eliminating Herstatt risk in foreign exchange settlements, according to Reuters.
China quarantines banknotes in SARS scare
China's banks are taking steps to halt the spread of the SARS virus and the central bank has urged people to use cards instead of cash. Other steps include sterilising banknotes with disinfectant, according to Dow Jones.
Duisenberg heir need not be French, lawmaker says
Christa Randzio-Plath, chairwoman of the European Parliament's monetary committee, has said that Wim Duisenberg's successor at the ECB does not have to be French, commenting "We have not only to look at nationality", according to Bloomberg News.
ECB warns SARS more damaging than war
In an interview with Spanish newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore, Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa, an executive member of the ECB, said the negative impact of the Iraq war could be outweighed by the effect of the SARS virus.
BMA chief to chair Jeddah conference
Bahrain Monetary Agency (BMA) Governor Shaikh Khalifa will chair the second meeting of the Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) Council meeting at the Islamic Development Bank on Wednesday 30 April, according to the Gulf Daily News.
Iraq central bank staff ready for return to work
Al Jazeera reports that staff of the looted and destroyed central bank of Iraq are ready to return to work - if there is security and another location can be found.
ECB's Duisenberg implies he will leave in a year
The European Central Bank published its annual report for 2002 on Tuesday with Wim Duisenberg hinting that he would not be at the ECB this time next year. "This will be the last foreword of an ECB Annual Report to bear my signature," he said in the…
Bank of Canada appoints new deputy governors
The Bank of Canada announced the appointment of two deputy governors to its interest rate setting governing council on Tuesday. David Longworth joined the Bank of Canada in 1974 and Mark Carney represents the addition of an outsider from an investment…
Ensuring a balanced ECB Executive Board
On Tuesday 29 April at 9.30 , the Committee of Economic and Monetary Affairs will be holding a Confirmation Hearing of Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell who has been nominated by the Council of Ministers as a member of the Executive Board of the European Central…
Greenspan returns to work after surgery
After undergoing surgery Alan Greenspan was back at work towards the end of last week for what was described as a routine work day, Associated Press reports.
NZ c bank to appoint new external monetary adviser
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand will appoint a new external monetary policy adviser, after placing newspaper adverts at the weekend, according to Dow Jones. The position plays a central role in advising the bank's governor Alan Bollard on interest rate…
Philippines c bank to tighten dollar transactions
The monitoring of dollar transactions will be tightened by the BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the country's central bank)as part of an effort to plug loopholes in existing rules on currency forward transactions, says BusinessWorld.
Estonian central bank reappoints auditor
The Bank of Estonia has asked parliament to reappoint Deloitte & Touche as auditors, according to the Baltic News Service The company audited the central bank's results for 2002.
ECB voting change could hinder UK euro entry
The UK's treasury select committee said on Monday April 28 in a report that the ECB's proposed change in voting arrangements could pose an "obstacle to entry" for Britain and the euro, according to the Financial Times.
Lithuania may be first from east to adopt euro
Lithuanian central bank chief Reinoldijus Sarkinas has said the east European country could be the first to adopt the euro in 2007 as it already meets conditions to adopt the single currency, according to a report by Bloomberg.
Bank of France :Trichet to propose branch closures
A report from Bloomberg news says Bank of France governor Jean-Claude Trichet will probably inform the central bank's board members that he plans to cut the central bank's branch network by more than 100.
Chile's new central bank chief tough but popular
The newly appointed president of Chile's central bank Vittorio Corbo has said the tight grip on inflation will be maintained as he takes office. Corbo is reported to joke, in the Reuters report, that markets rally every time U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman…
Repo rate left unchanged by Riksbank at 3.5%
Sweden's central bank left interest rates unchanged at its Thursday meeting citing the picture of future inflation it presented in the March Inflation Report as a major reason for the decision.