News
France threatens to ignore deficit cut warning
France on Tuesday defied the European Union's economic rules by suggesting it may not abide by an official order from the other governments to reduce its deficit sharply in the next four years. One finance minister said France's threat not to comply with…
Venezuelan central bank suspends trading
Venezuela's central bank suspended its foreign exchange trading for a week starting Wednesday to try to keep the country's currency, the bolivar, from further plummeting in the fallout of a 52-day-old strike that has crippled oil exports.
IMF Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - IMF Managing Director Issues Statement on Transitional Credit Support for Argentina, 17 January.
Belgium seeks ECB post for bank critic De Grauwe
Belgium is stepping up its campaign to secure a seat on the board of the European Central Bank by nominating Paul De Grauwe, an academic who has criticized the bank for failing to promote growth. De Grauwe recently ran for the job of vice-president of…
Bank of Canada Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - Bank of Canada keeps target for the overnight rate at 2 3/4 per cent, 21 January.
BMA - Bahrain building on finance hub success
Bahrain is building on its unprecedented success as a banking and financial centre, delegates heard the BMA's governor say at an international conference on Monday.
Tougher Swiss banking rules
Switzerland has introduced more stringent rules on account identities in a renewed attempt to counter accusations that its tight bank secrecy laws encourage foreign tax evaders, terrorists and money launderers to hide their money in Swiss bank accounts.
Japan, Indonesia agree currency swap deal
Japan and Indonesia have agreed on a bilateral rupiah-dollar swap arrangement aimed at ensuring stability in the currency market by supplying short-term liquidity, the two countries said in a joint statement.
Lithuania may replace litas with euro in 2006
The Bank of Lithuania governor, Reinoldijus Sarkinas, said on Monday he saw no obstacles to Lithuania adopting the euro as its national currency in 2006 or early 2007.
Shiokawa puts deflation on center stage
Deflation is an issue for the entire government to tackle, Japan's Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa said Tuesday, reversing his earlier stance that the price declines of the last four years are the responsibility of the central bank.
Brazil targets inflation of 8.5 percent in 2003
Brazil's central bank said on Tuesday it would steer monetary policy to target a year-end inflation rate of 8.5 percent, more than double its original goal but still below market forecasts for 2003.
Jewish groups protest outside ECB building
Representatives of German Jewish groups protested against pro-Palestinian remarks by Gretta Duisenberg on Monday outside the European Central Bank, where her husband Wim Duisenberg is the president.
Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan's house broken into
Police are investigating a burglary at the Washington, D.C., residence of Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, the U.S. central bank said on Friday.
Taiwan's Perng expected to remain as governor
The government is expected to give incumbent Central Bank of China Governor Perng Fai-nan a second term, it was reported Friday.
BMA-Central Bank of Iran in cooperation talks
Bahrain Monetary Agency (BMA) officials have held talks with their counterparts from The Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The talks took place during a visit to Tehran by a seven-member Bahraini delegation, led by Mr. Waleed Abdulla Rashdan,…
Pace of Japanese deflation steadies
Japanese goods fell on average by 2 per cent in 2002, as the country's three-year deflation run continues.
Irish inflation reaches 5%
Irish inflation, already twice the European Union average, rose to 5 per cent in December, its highest level in 18 months.
Pianalto to sit in for Jordan at January FOMC
Sandra Pianalto, who assumes the presidency at the Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank on 1 February, will sit in for departing President Jerry Jordan at the Fed's 28-29 January policy meeting, a spokeswoman at the bank said.
Fed's Parry-reason for uncertainty on U.S. economy
San Francisco Federal Reserve President Robert Parry said on Friday the threat of war with Iraq and the risk of terror attacks have created much uncertainty about the U.S. economic recovery.
BoJ hopeful introduces radical reflation proposal
With the name of the new governor of the Bank of Japan to be announced soon the battle is hotting up. On Sunday one of the favourites to land the job, Nobuyuki Nakahara, said the central bank should directly finance the government by Y5,000bn-Y10,000bn (…
Federal Reserve Bank of New York Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - Federal Reserve Bank of New York President William J. McDonough announces intent to retire, 16 January.
Federal Reserve Board Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - Statement by Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan, 16 January.
Bank of Israel accused of generating instability
Israel's Ministry of Finance on Thursday launched a fierce attack on the Bank of Israel, saying the central bank had failed to meet inflation targets and at times had a destabilising effect on the market.
Mboweni delivers the bad news about rates
A warning by the South African Reserve Bank against hopes of an early interest rate cut was a timely signal to quell over-optimism in the market, economists said on Friday.