News
Current crisis is nothing new to Argentina
LETTER - Letter from Professor Steve Hanke published in the US edition of the Financial Times, 4 April.
Aus PM welcomes RBA decision not to raise rates
AUSTRALIA - Prime Minister John Howard has welcomed the Reserve Bank of Australia's decision not to increase interest rates at its meeting today.
Japan prices to keep falling gradually - Hayami
JAPAN - Bank of Japan (BOJ) Governor Masaru Hayami said on Thursday he expected prices to continue to fall gradually as the economy deteriorated further although pressure from weak exports and excess inventories was easing.
Japan Lower House approves new BOJ board members
JAPAN - Japan's powerful Lower House of parliament on Thursday approved the appointment of two businessmen to the Bank of Japan's (BOJ) policy-setting board, to replace members whose terms expired at the end of March.
China updates rules for bank's risk management
CHINA - China's central bank has updated guidelines on internal risk management in an attempt to further coax commercial banks into reducing credit risk.
Gov't demand changes in law on Nat Bank of Georgia
GEORGIA - Ministry of State Security of Georgia demands entering changes to law on National Bank of Georgia to study "doubtful bank enumerations".
Zimbabwe's c bank calls for debt issue discussion
ZIMBABWE - The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), the country's central bank, has urged the government to intensify efforts to shift debt towards longer term securities to address the huge debt service burden, according to the Zimbabwe Inter-Africa News…
Yugoslavia readies forex law ahead of new IMF deal
YUGOSLAVIA - Yugoslavia said on Wednesday it would fully liberalise the exchange rate regime for its dinar currency and scrap floating ranges to help secure a new three-year loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
McDonough - Argentina must find its own solutions
ARGENTINA - The solutions to Argentina's current economic crisis must be found mostly by the country's own leaders, rather than through bailouts from outside the troubled nation, Federal Reserve Bank of New York President William McDonough said Tuesday.
Kazakh c bank says expects rating upgrade
KAZAKHSTAN - Kazakhstan's central bank said on Wednesday it expected the country's sovereign credit rating to be upgraded this year and to reach investment rating level next year, paving the way for large scale portfolio investment, reports Reuters.
Bangladesh considering floating the taka - c bank
BANGLADESH - Bangladesh central bank governor Fakhruddin Ahmed said on Wednesday his country might consider floating the taka currency in an effort to further deregulate the money market.
Australia's RBA leaves rates unchanged at 4.25 pct
AUSTRALIA - The Reserve Bank of Australia Wednesday left interest rates unchanged following its April board meeting, despite expectations in some circles that it would begin the tightening cycle.
Boost for Germany's financial role
GERMANY - Recent reforms to modernise regulation of Germany's financial markets are likely to strengthen the country's position as an international financial centre, even though the government had to compromise on its proposals.
Sri Lanka c bank hands cheque clearing to local Co
SRI LANKA - The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has delegated the bank's operation of clearing cheques to local company Lanka Clear Ltd., reports the Daily News, quoting the central bank governor.
IMF stresses Polish c bank must remain independent
POLAND - The International Monetary Fund expects a limited reduction in official Polish interest rates in 2002, as 900 basis points of cuts over the past 12 months take effect, but it harshly criticized government coalition members' attacks on the…
US-based professor new Afghan central bank chief
AFGHANISTAN - An American-based university professor and former merchant banker on Sunday was appointed to probably the toughest finance job in the world - governor of the Afghan Central Bank.
President of Bank of Estonia's earnings
ESTONIA - The pay of the Estonian central bank's President Vahur Kraft totalled 874,186 kroons (EUR 56,000) in 2001, of which the 12-month salary made up 486,360 kroons.
HK monetary chief takes a 10% pay cut
HONG KONG - Hong Kong monetary chief Joseph Yam, claimed by many as being over-paid, became the first senior civil servant to take a pay cut as part of the government's belt-tightening drive.
BOJ to cut retirement money for its directors
JAPAN - The Bank of Japan (BOJ) said Friday it will cut retirement allowances for all its directors in line with the government's recent decision on pay cuts for executives of public corporations.
RBI gets new note verification system
INDIA - Counterfeiters of currency may face a tough time now. The public can look forward to fewer soiled notes in circulation. An advanced Currency Verification and Processing System (CVPS) has been inaugurated at the Reserve Bank of India, Bangalore,…
BNB to take gold reserves out of bank vaults
BULGARIA - The Bulgarian government's recent debt swap operations made the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) start leading a more active policy in managing Bulgaria's foreign currency reserves.
Fed's Hoenig - US economy likely to grow strongly
US - The U.S. economy is likely to grow strongly, Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank governor Thomas Hoenig said Tuesday.
Argentine ex-minister arrested
ARGENTINA - The former Argentine economy minister, Domingo Cavallo, has been arrested in connection with illegal arms sales to Croatia and Ecuador in the 1990s.
SNB sell 4.1 metric tons of gold in latest 10 days
SWITZERLAND - The Swiss National Bank sold 4.1 metric tons of gold in the latest 10-day reporting period ended March 28, the central bank's regular statistical report showed Tuesday.