News
Banjul joins single currency
GAMBIA - The Gambia has joined five other countries in the West African sub-region in the introduction of a single currency, the West Africa Second Monetary Zone ( WAMZ).
Portugal has budget woes, not crisis - c bank
PORTUGAL - Portugal's Central Bank Governor Vitor Constancio said on Monday the country was facing budget problems as its deficit widened but not an economic crisis.
Bulgarian nat bank to tighten bank system control
BULGARIA - The Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) will closely monitor the small shareholders in Bulgarian banks, which acquire stakes of over 3.0 pct, according to Banking Act amendments, reports Bulgarian News Digest.
PBOC challenged on conflict in supervisory role
CHINA - A fierce debate is raging within the Chinese Government over whether to remove from the central bank its role as supervisor of the banks and set up a new organisation that would do a better job.
Market-based monetary management in Pakistan
ARTICLE - In the late 1980s the developing countries were attracted to the growing importance of International Monetary Fund's Stabilisation Programme and the World Bank's Structural Financial Adjustment Programme to carry out the desired market-oriented…
Czech Senate okay c bank law on meeting EU needs
CZECH REPUBLIC - The Czech Senate on Wednesday approved an amendment to the Czech National Bank (CNB) bill which brings the legislation into line with European Union requirements.
IMF dilutes its role in int'l bankruptcy plan
US - The International Monetary Fund on Monday amended its proposal for developing a system to allow troubled countries to file for bankruptcy protection to give it a smaller role than creditors.
Argentina pleads for new aid
ARGENTINA - A delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has arrived in Argentina to weigh up whether to grant the stricken country fresh aid.
Japan's tankan survey shows economy nearing upturn
JAPAN - Corporate confidence in Japan stopped falling for the first time in five quarters in March but was still weak, a widely watched central bank survey showed on Monday, pointing to a modest economic rebound from June.
Tokyo, Beijing sign currency-swap deal
JAPAN - The Japanese government signed a currency-swap agreement with China on 28 March.
India's RBI discusses gold exchange
INDIA - Reserve Bank of India's Deputy Governor Y V Reddy has proposed setting up an exchange for trading in gold as part of the efforts to develop the precious metal's market in the country and integrate it with the financial market.
BOJ 'tankan' to show Japan sentiment bottoming out
JAPAN - The Bank of Japan's closely watched 'tankan' survey is set to record its first improvement in 18 months, economists say, suggesting the long-suffering economy may be bottoming out on hopes for an export-led rebound.
Montenegro rejects any link with Yugoslav Nat bank
YUGOSLAVIA - The National Bank of Yugoslavia is not competent to represent Montenegro, officials of the tiny coastal republic have told representatives of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Kabul joins queue for bank services
AUSTRALIA - Two months after John Howard promised Australian help to rebuild Afghanistan's war-ravaged central bank, the Reserve Bank of Australia official chosen to advise his Afghan counterparts is still cooling his heels in Sydney, The Australian…
Decision on HKMA staff wage cuts Thursday
HONG KONG - The Exchange Fund Investment Committee will decide Thursday whether to cut salaries at the Hong Kong Monetary Authority for the new financial year starting next month, the Ming Pao reports.
Korea's c bank union criticises commerce minister
SOUTH KOREA - The labour union of South Korea's central bank blasted the commerce minister on Wednesday over his recent comments on interest rates.
Bulgarian central bank, Oracle to co-operate
BULGARIA - Bulgarian central bank (BNB) and U.S. software giant Oracle signed a two-year memorandum for co-operation on 26 March.
Indonesia to decide on new central bank deputies
INDONESIA - Parliament is in the process of choosing two new central bank deputies after receiving nominations from Bank Indonesia's troubled governor Sjahril Sabirin on Wednesday.
Slovak c bank says joining euro possible in 2007
SLOVAKIA - Central bank Governor Marian Jusko said on Wednesday Slovakia should adopt the single European currency as quickly as possible upon EU membership and urged other candidate countries to consider the same.
Central bank head in Iran faces corruption trial
IRAN - Iran's judiciary revealed on Tuesday that it intended to go ahead with the trials of the oil minister, the governor of the central bank and other senior politicians as part of an anti-corruption drive launched by the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali…
Turk PM says IMF reforms cut too much state power
TURKEY - Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Wednesday some IMF-backed reforms may have cut state power too much and crisis-hit Turkey's priority must be a return to elusive growth.
Santomero - Govt must actively regulate markets
CZECH REPUBLIC - The lack of transparency in the financial system means that the government must retain a key role in regulating that system, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia president Anthony Santomero said Wednesday.
Energy prices expected to spur Brazil's inflation
BRAZIL - Strong energy prices are likely to drive Brazil's inflation higher than initially expected this year and next, the country's central bank said Wednesday.
Rise in new home sales add to evidence of recovery
US - The US economy received more signals on Wednesday that a recovery was under way, but the latest reports fuelled speculation about the strength and speed the recovery might display.