News
Euros become majority currency in Ireland
IRELAND - The amount of euros in circulation has for the first time surpassed the amount of pounds in circulation, according to latest figures from the Central Bank of Ireland. At close of business on Thursday, the Central Bank had issued 148 million…
Vice governor appointed to Slovak central bank
SLOVAKIA - Tatra Banka board member Ivan Sramko was appointed a new central bank (NBS) vice-governor by Slovak President Rudolf Schuster in Bratislava on Friday.
Bahrain host meeting of Islamic money market group
BAHRAIN - Board members of the planned International Islamic Financial Market are to hold their first meeting in Bahrain on Tuesday to discuss steps to set up the market, Bahrain's central bank said on Monday.
International bankruptcy scheme 'easy to set up'
UK - An international bankruptcy procedure for governments could be set up quickly and easily while protecting key public services from creditors, according to a report from a leading campaign group.
Banknote and Coin Circulation Figures - Ireland
PRESS RELEASE - Banknote and Coin Circulation Figures, 8 January 2002.
ECB Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - Update on the euro cash changeover, 11 January 2002.
Argentina's peso trades again
ARGENTINA - After three weeks which have seen Argentina default on its debts, four presidents come and go, and rioting spread in the streets, the country's currency markets are again open for business.
Yen's fall risks Malaysia devaluation
MALAYSIA - Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has said his country may be forced to devalue the ringgit, if the Japanese yen continues to decline in value.
Greenspan: non-discrimination good for business
US - Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said on Thursday that discrimination in lending and other aspects of financial life simply makes for bad business.
Reserves up by $200m
RUSSIA - Russia's gold and foreign exchange reserves rose by $200 million to $36.7b in the week to 4 January 2002, up from $36.5b on 28 December 2001.
Poole - Job losses can rise after recovery starts
US - Recent economic data suggest that the U.S. economy has already seen the worst of the current recession, though the data show little sign about the timing and strength of an economic recovery, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President William Poole…
Potmesil might become CNB Board member - Report
CZECH REP - Deputy Finance Minister Tomas Potmesil might become a hot candidate for the post of a member of the Czech National Bank (CNB) Board if President Vaclav Havel does not renew the mandate of CNB vice-governor Ludek Niedermayer, daily Pravo says…
Bk of Israel say lawmakers try to politicise them
ISRAEL - Bank of Israel Governor David Klein accused legislators Thursday of trying to politicise the central bank with a bill that would water down his authority in setting interest rates.
Canada to host G-7 meeting 8 February
CANADA - Group of Seven finance ministers and central bank governors will meet in Ottawa in February to discuss the state of the global economy, Minister of Finance Paul Martin announced Thursday.
Japan says yen's fall 'too rapid'
JAPAN - Japan's finance minister has said the yen has been falling too fast, remarks which prompted the currency's biggest rally since September.
Sweden may hold referendum on euro next year
SWEDEN - Goran Persson, Sweden's prime minister, yesterday indicated he was ready to hold a referendum on euro membership next year.
Polish ministers ease stance on bank challenge
POLAND - Poland's government appeared to be edging away from a potentially damaging legal challenge to the central bank after a meeting yesterday.
Chinese fund managers under attack
CHINA - A Chinese stock market regulator has criticised several fund managers, accusing them of exploiting regulatory loopholes to enrich themselves and their companies at the expense of the public.
Bank of England leaves interest rates unchanged
UK - Bank of England chiefs have left interest rates on hold at 4%, despite increasing evidence of the strength of the UK economy.
Bank of England News Release
NEWS RELEASE - Bank of England Maintains Interest Rates at 4.0%.
U.S. central bankers try to dim hopes
US - U.S. central bank governors are sending out word this week that while the U.S. economy appears to be on the mends, a quick rebound does not appear to be in the works.
Argentina's central bank delays trading restart
ARGENTINA - Argentina has once again delayed the resumption of currency trading, disappointing Argentine people and businesses.
ECB Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - Update on the euro cash changeover, 10 January 2002.
ECB's Issing sees 'tentative' signs of recovery
GERMANY - European Central Bank chief economist Otmar Issing said that there are "tentative" signs of a recovery in the euro zone economy, and that a "significant" upturn is possible in 2002.