News
FSA 'self-critical' of role in Equitable
UK - An internal investigation by the Financial Services Authority has sharply criticised its own role in the Equitable Life debacle.
Argentina draws up debt-swap plan
ARGENTINA - Argentina is preparing a new debt exchange aimed at easing its heavy interest burden, amid a raging debate as to whether the plan would in fact constitute a default.
Court bars Brazil c bank from liquidated bond sale
BRAZIL - The Central Bank's plans to sell R$11.004 billion in dollar-linked bonds owned by banks under government liquidation - Economico, Mercantil de Pernambuco and Nacional - is under threat.
Hayami says Greenspan against inflation targeting
JAPAN - Bank of Japan Governor Masaru Hayami said on Thursday U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan had told him the U.S. central bank chief was opposed to the idea of setting an inflation target for central banks.
Fed nominees pledge inflation fight, help growth
US - Two candidates for the Federal Reserve board, Susan Bies and Mark Olson, Wednesday gave their support to the U.S. central bank's dual mandate of fighting inflation and pursuing steady economic growth.
Fed eases rules on foreign banks, US branches
US - Almost four years after it was first proposed, the Federal Reserve on Wednesday approved easing rules on activities of branches of U.S. banks abroad and for U.S.-based branches of foreign financial institutions.
Singapore MAS to review bank ATM rule in 2-3 years
SINGAPORE - The Monetary Authority of Singapore said Wednesday it will review the restriction on foreign banks' access to local banks' automated teller machine network in two to three years.
Economic leaders choose Ottawa
CANADA - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank have confirmed that their delayed annual meetings will now be held in Ottawa on 17-18 November.
Finland tops economic league
FINLAND - Little Finland has knocked the United States off its perch as the world's most competitive economy, according to an annual ranking from the World Economic Forum (WEF).
ECB net gold reserves decline in Oct 12 week
GERMANY - The Eurosystem's net reserves in gold and gold receivables declined by EUR1 million to EUR128.2 billion in the week ended 12 October, the European Central Bank said Tuesday.
Gambia struggles with economic reform
GAMBIA - Presidential elections this week in the Gambia will push the small West African nation into the international limelight.
Reserve Bank of Australia Bulletin - October 2001
REPORT - The Reserve Bank of Australia has published its regular monthly bulletin for October, Future Directions for Monetary Policies in East Asia.
HKMA exec says no to US$ as Hong Kong's currency
HONG KONG - Hong Kong Monetary Authority Deputy Chief Executive Tony Latter said Monday said there was no need to make the U.S. dollar the city's official currency.
ECB's Hamalainen urges speedier market integration
IRELAND - European Central Bank board member Sirkka Hamalainen has urged euro zone countries to speed up the integration of financial markets and help the implementation of monetary policy in the 12-member currency bloc.
RBA buys a net $778 mln in forex market, September
AUSTRALIA - The Reserve Bank of Australia bought a net $A778 million in its foreign exchange market transactions in September, according to figures in its monthly bulletin.
Philadelphia Fed Oct. index plunges
US - The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia's business outlook survey for October indicated the regional economy reversed following the 11 September terror attacks.
Bonds outperform T-notes on ECB monthly report
UK - Bonds marginally outperform T-notes with the 10-year yield spread narrowing to 1 bps as euro debt laps up the ECB's monthly report which highlighted an economic rebound in Europe could be delayed by 11 September attacks on U.S. cities.
Expectations of rate cut up in ECB monthly report
GERMANY - The European Central Bank yesterday strengthened expectations that it will cut interest rates soon by saying the eurozone faced moderate inflationary pressures but continuing risks to economic growth.
Testimony of the Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan
TESTIMONY - Testimony of Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan, before the Joint Economic Committee, U.S. Congress, 17 October.
Ministers clear way on money laundering laws
EUROPE - European Union finance ministers on Tuesday 16 October cleared the way for a long-sought agreement on tougher money-laundering laws that could be used to fight terrorism.
International finance meetings back on agenda
UK - The International Monetary Fund and World Bank are finalising plans to call meetings of their powerful policy-making committees within two months. The meetings were postponed after the 11 September attacks.
World's most unusual central bank
AFGHANISTAN - This is no ordinary central bank. The currency reserves of the Northern Alliance - large wads of Afghani notes that arrive from neighbouring Tajikistan - are kept in a broom cupboard in a mud-walled hut in the dusty Afghan town of Khoja…
Ecofin mins press rate cut case - ECB receptive
LUXEMBOURG - Euro zone finance ministers kept the heat on the European Central Bank to lower interest rates yesterday, Monday 15 October - and there are signs that central bankers may be sympathetic to their views.
Indonesia to issue US$390 million short term bonds
INDONESIA - The government will issue short term bonds valued at Rp3.9 trillion (US$390 million) next year to cover a deficit in the 2002 state budget, an official said.