News
Portugal may join budget deficit breakers
Portugal's central bank has announced that its deficit will exceed the EU's 3 per cent limit, under the growth and stability pact, according to a report by EU Politix. The bank said it would probably run a deficit in excess of 4 per cent, due to the…
Greenspan: Deficits haven't hurt economy
In remarks to a monetary conference sponsored by the Cato Institute on Thursday 19 November, Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan said "creeping protectionism" may interfere with US attempts to reduce its huge trade deficit, according to Associated Press. Without…
Mexico awards software contract to ERAS
Mexico's central bank has awarded a contract to Miami-based bank software provider ERAS to drive a browser-based image clearing system for transmitting check items in Mexico, reports Business News Americas. The central bank's clearing arm CECOBAN will…
Brazil makes unexpected cut to base rate
The central bank of Brazil's Copom monetary policy committee has cut its main interest rate to by 1.5 per cent, according to AFX. The Copom said in a statement that the decision to cut the selic to 17.5 pct, with no bias, was based on its positive…
Intro of electronic funds transfer cheers BNZ
The central bank of Zambia's Currency and Payments Systems Director Morris Mulomba has said despite the important role cash plays in the economy, it is neither prudent nor convenient to pay for goods using cash, according to Zambia News Agency. He urged…
Issue of NBP revaluation reserve returns
Reports in Poland by the Polish news Bulletin said that the Finance Ministry may try to convince the Monetary Policy Council (RPP) that the central bank's revaluation reserve should be used to patch the budget deficit. However, the RPP criticised the…
Data to determine when rates will rise-Fed's Poole
St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank President William Poole said on Wednesday 19 November that new economic data would determine when U.S. interest rates eventually rise. He suggested he was comfortable with the current market view of when the federal funds…
BoE's King explains reasons for rate rise
Appearing before the Treasury Select Committee on Thursday 20 November, Mervyn King, governor of the Bank of England gave the reasons for this month's 25 basis point rise in interest rates - the first in nearly four years. A combination of positive…
Bank of England MPC Minutes 5/6 November 2003
Minutes of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee Meeting were released on 19 November for the meeting of 5 and 6 November 2003. The minutes showed the MPC voted 8-1 in favour of raising interest rates to 3.75%. The only dissenter was Marian…
Bank of England voted 8-1 for rate hike
Minutes from the Bank of England's last monetary policy meeting released on Wednesday 19 November showed an 8-1 vote in favour of increasing interest rates 0.25%, Reuters reports. Marian Bell, who has been labelled a dove on the MPC was the only member…
Fed's Parry-US economy has room for strong growth
Speaking on Tuesday 18 November, , San Francisco Fed chief Robert Parry said US interest rates could remain at 1 percent for "a while longer" and that there is room for some pretty strong growth before inflationary pressures become a concern.
Greenspan, Snow seek Mutual Fund reforms
Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan and U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow on Tuesday 18 November,in letters to the heads of the Senate and House committees overseeing the financial services industry who are holding hearings into the industry this…
IMF says no clear evidence China yuan undervalued
The IMF said on Tuesday 18 November that there is no evidence that the yuan is undervalued, according to Reuters. In a review of the Russian economy the Fund said more flexibility of the yuan, also known as the renminbi, would be in China's own interest…
No sign of U.S. inflation pressure-Fed's Santomero
There is some distance between the current level of the US economy and its potential, Anthony Santomero told the Philadelphia Estate Planning Council on Tuesday 18 November, according to Reuters. The Philadelphia Fed President also said a counter…
Economy Minister: Poland should consider zloty peg
Polish Economy Minister Jerzy Hausner has called for Poland to peg the zloty to the euro, according to EU Business. But National Bank vice president Andrzej Bratkowski said prematurely linking the zloty to the euro "risks impeding a coherent economic…
PBOC signs cooperation agreement with HKMA
People's Bank of China governor Zhou Xiaochuan and Joseph Yam, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority signed a cooperation memorandum for conducting renminbi (RMB) business in Hong Kong on Wednesday 19 November, according to the China Daily.
Is the Reserve Bank of India overstaffed?
India is a country well known for its huge population. But this article in Business Standard asks whether the Reserve Bank of India is itself overpopulated. The lower-rung jobs that form the bulk of its strength can be significantly cut down, it says.
Broaddus of Richmond Fed announces plan to retire
J. Alfred Broaddus, Jr., president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, announced on Thursday 13 November that he plans to retire on August 1, 2004, according to Associated Press. He turns 65 next July. 'It has been a great privilege to serve the…
Metcalfe named chair of St. Louis Fed's Board
The Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis has named Walter Metcalfe Jr. as chairman of its Board of Governors, with effect from 1 January 2004, reports the St Louis Business Journal. Gayle Jackson has been named deputy chair.
Baghdad's central bankers come under fire
Staff at the central bank of Iraq were evacuated on Monday 17 November while a rocket that landed close to the bank was defused, according to a report by AFP. The centre of Baghdad came under intense fire on Sunday with a report saying the central bank…
Ben Bernanke takes oath of office for new Fed term
Ben Bernanke took the oath of office last Friday, 14 November, for a new term on the Federal Reserve's Board of Governors. The ceremony was conducted by Chairman Alan Greenspan in his office and was witnessed by Bernanke's wife and children.
Sports talk, central bank style
Mervyn King is a well known supporter of English premier league football team Aston Villa. But the Bank of England Governor doesn't confine his support to the stadium. Last weeks Inflation Report presentation continued King's regular habit of making…
Heikensten: Developments follow Inflation Report
Sveriges Riksbank Governor Lars Heikensten gave a speech at the Swedish Bankers' Association's meeting on 13 November. He said that international developments have largely followed the Riksbank's forecast over the past month, confirming the picture of…
Opening date of BOJ Representative Office, Beijing
The Bank of Japan will open its representative office in Beijing on 18 December 2003. As a result, there will be multiple BOJ representative offices in Asia as well as the Americas and Europe. The bank said it hopes this network of representative offices…