News
Argentina races to get IMF deal before new default
ARGENTINA - Argentine officials arrived in Washington on Monday to try to break the latest impasse in aid talks with the IMF as a potentially disastrous new debt default loomed less than two weeks away.
Brazil - New c bank head may be chosen by year-end
BRAZIL - The name of the new central bank governor may be sent to congress for approval before the end of the year, to end uncertainty on the markets, the 'Estado de Sao Paulo' reports.
Don't use stability pact as scapegoat, says Issing
GERMANY - The chief economist of the European Central Bank launched a staunch defence of the euro area fiscal stability and growth pact on Monday, accusing politicians of using it as a "scapegoat" for their own failures.
Kuwaiti dinar will be pegged to dollar
KUWAIT - Kuwait's national currency will be pegged to the US dollar starting 1 January, officials said on Monday.
IMF News Brief
NEWS BRIEF - IMF Managing Director Kohler Congratulates Brazil's President-Elect, 28 October.
IMF Press Briefing
PRESS BRIEFING - Press Briefing by Thomas Dawson, Director, External Relations Department, International Monetary Fund, Washington, D.C., 24 October 2002.
Michel Camdessus responds to Joseph Stiglitz
COMMENTARY - A Commentary by Michel Camdessus, Honorary Governor of the Bank of France, 24 October.
MAS Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) announced that it would formalise guidelines governing industry and public consultation and implementation of MAS-administered legislation, 22 October.
Takenaka woos banks over his reform plans
JAPAN - Heizo Takenaka, Japan's economics and financial services minister, continued a frantic round of diplomacy yesterday as he sought to secure the backing of bankers and politicians for his plan to revive the financial sector before its release this…
Japan's Takenaka starts diplomatic offensive
JAPAN - Heizo Takenaka, Japan's economics and financial services minister, continued a frantic round of diplomacy on Monday as he sought to secure the backing of bankers and politicians for his plan to revive the financial sector ahead of its release…
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…