News
UK industry shows sharp rise in support for euro
UK - Enthusiasm for the euro has risen sharply among Britain's manufacturers in the past 18 months, judging by a survey released on Monday.
Brazil's central bank president want independence
BRAZIL - The autonomy of the Central Bank in the future Brazilian administration was defended by the bank's current president, Arminio Fraga, and by a former one, Gustavo Franco, in Rio de Janeiro.
Japan faces fourth year of falling prices
JAPAN - Japan is on track to enter its fourth consecutive year of deflation - a phenomenon not seen in any postwar industrialised country - as the country's core consumer price index tumbled for the 36th consecutive month in September.
Solomons c bank investigates get-rich-quick scheme
SOLOMON ISLANDS - The governor of the Solomon Islands Central Bank has challenged the promoters of a get-rich-quick scheme in the impoverished island country to a public debate. Thousands of Solomon Islanders have apparently invested money in what is…
BOK gov, Monetary policy should focus on growth
KOREA - The Bank of Korea (BOK) should conduct monetary policy in a way that supports current accounts and the employment situation, as well as price stability, the central bank head said at a weekend seminar hosted by the BOK.
Thai central bank and govt to discuss credit cards
THAILAND - The Bank of Thailand and the Finance Ministry will meet this week to finalise details of a new regulatory structure for non-bank credit card issuers.
Russian central bank agrees info deal with Latvia
LATVIA - Latvia's financial watchdog, the Finance and Capital Market Commission has today signed an agreement on information exchange with the Bank of Russia, reported the commission's public relations department.
Bank of Canada Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - Bank of Canada releases its October Monetary Policy Report, 23 October.
Manuel calls for SARB inflation target review
SOUTH AFRICA - Finance Minister Trevor Manuel has suggested politicians and other interested parties hold a discussion on inflation targeting once Statistics South Africa has completed its study on the country's target measure, CPIX.
Sri Lanka c bank predicts sharp drop in inflation
SRI LANKA - The Central Bank (CB) has forecast a sharp drop in the annual average inflation by the end of 2002 with the foreseeable continuation of the present ceasefire in the North.
Malaysia pushes for 'gold dinar'
MALAYSIA - Malaysia will set up a secretariat to study and promote the use of the gold dinar as currency for international trade if the cabinet agrees, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said yesterday.
Treasury-central bank rift in Israel
ISRAEL - For the first time in decades, the Prime Minister's Office, the treasury and the Bank of Israel did not jointly publish the national forecast together with the publication of the 2003 budget. The disagreement is testimony to the difficult…
Brazil's finance chiefs upbeat on life under Lula
BRAZIL - Brazil's economic authorities have held out the possibility of a significant recovery in the country's battered financial markets following a likely leftwing victory in Sunday's presidential run-off election.
BOK urged to focus on long-term inflation target
KOREA - The central bank should set its inflation target on a medium- or long-term basis rather than on an annual basis to maintain price stability more effectively, economic experts said at a seminar on inflation held at the Bank of Korea (BOK) in…
Takenaka apology leaves bank reform in turmoil
JAPAN - Confusion over Japan's proposed banking reform deepened yesterday as Heizo Takenaka, this month empowered by Junichiro Koizumi, the prime minister, to clean up the financial system, apologised to parliament for remarks suggesting that no company…
ECB Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - Statement of the Governing Council on the Stability and Growth Pact, 24 October 2002.
ECB Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - The long-term evolution of TARGET, 24 October 2002.
Second ECB Central Banking Conference
CONFERENCE - The transformation of the European financial system, Frankfurt, 24 and 25 October 2002.
Expectation increases of UK interest rate cut
UK - The odds against a cut in interest rates before the end of the year have shortened sharply after it emerged that three members of the Bank of England's monetary policy committee voted for a cut earlier this month.
Takenaka faces no-confidence vote in Japan
JAPAN - Heizo Takenaka, Japan's embattled economic czar, will today face a parliamentary vote of no confidence as the opposition tries to exploit a clash within the ruling Liberal Democratic party over how to tackle the country's banking crisis.
US economy still stuck in doldrums
US - The US economy is struggling to break out of the doldrums, with widespread sluggishness infecting retail sales, according to a regular survey of business conditions by the Federal Reserve.
Lobby group warns UK on delaying euro entry
UK - Eight out of the 10 states poised to join the European Union could be ready for euro membership by 2007, increasing the risk that the UK will be isolated unless it joins soon, according to Britain in Europe.
Canada's c bank warns of spike in inflation
CANADA - The Bank of Canada said Wednesday economic growth will be lower than expected in the short term but inflation could still double the bank's target by year-end, as Canada continues to be pulled in opposite directions by uncertain global markets…
Polish rate cut may be last - Balcerowicz
POLAND - Chairman of the Polish National Bank [NBP] Leszek Balcerowicz said on Thursday that October's interest rate reduction, that had surprised the market, did not have to mean another reduction.