News
Ed Kelley to resign from Federal Reserve Board
US - The Federal Reserve Board has released the following statement from Governor Edward W. Kelley, Jr., announcing his plans to resign from the Board after at least one of the current vacancies is filled.
Asian common currency idea given cautious welcome
SINGAPORE - Asia's economies will have to integrate further before they start thinking about creating their own monetary union, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the managing director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, said on 4 June.
IMF backs gold
US - A senior IMF official has made a statement about gold that in the view of experts is the first of any significance made since the Board's discussion of this subject in 1995.
Stable Europe important to growth - Duisenberg
SINGAPORE - European Central Bank (ECB) President Wim Duisenberg told delegates at the International Monetary Conference in Singapore on 4 June that economic stability in the euro zone was the best contribution Europe could make to world growth.
New Thai bank head to make monetary policy changes
THAILAND - Incoming Thai central bank Governor Pridiyathorn Devakula said on 4 June that there are going to be changes in monetary policy.
Peru's new President will bring in bank chief
PERU - Alejandro Toledo, the son of a poor mountain sheep herder, won the presidency on 3 June over one-time President Alan Garcia after a campaign that left Peruvians deeply disillusioned. Aides to Garcia attempted to calm the markets by indicating that…
Malaysia's finance minister resigns
Malaysia - Malaysian Finance Minister Daim Zainuddin ended weeks of speculation about his future on 2 June, quitting his post despite Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's apparent efforts to retain him.
New governor to Algerian central bank
ALGERIA - Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika named Mohamed Laksassi as the country's new Central Bank governor on 2 June, an official statement said.
Bank of Italy to complete BPM investigation
ITALY - Italy's central bank, Banca d'Italia, is about to complete its investigation on Italian bank Banca Popolare di Milano (BPM), which started four months ago.
SBI official in running for Indian bank job
INDIA - Vepa Kamesam, managing director of the State Bank of India (SBI), is likely to be appointed as deputy governor of the central bank next month, a senior banking source said on 4 June.
Valery Giscard d'Estaing on the euro
EUROPE - One of the co-founders (with Helmut Schmidt of Germany) of the European Monetary System in 1978, former French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing was in London yesterday to deliver the 21st Mais lecture at the City University.
New Bank of England committee member starts today
UK - The Bank of England's nine strong Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has a new member from today, 1 June. Kate Barker, previously of the Confederation of British Industry, will replace DeAnne Julius who has served on the committee since 1997.
Bank Indonesia tight monetary policy remains
INDONESIA - Indonesia's central bank said on 1 June that the country's political instability would prevent it from loosening monetary policy in the short term, even though the ailing rupiah has shown some strength.
Congo floats its currency
CONGO - The Democratic Republic of Congo has floated its currency and raised the price of fuel in an effort to overcome the economic chaos bequeathed by almost three years of state control and inter-regional war.
Thailand to focus on economic stability
THAILAND - Thai Finance Minister Somkid Jatusripitak said on 1 June that the government did not plan any changes in its fiscal and monetary policies after a new central bank governor takes office.
Thai Baht crisis - 'Losses were typing error'
THAILAND - A committee set up to investigate the 1997 defence of the baht by the Bank of Thailand has amended its report which could potentially clear central bank officials of actions leading to the loss of tens of billions of baht.
NZ Finance Minister rejects Svenson recommendation
NEW ZEALAND - The New Zealand finance minister, Michael Cullen, has rejected a report which claimed Don Brash, Reserve Bank governor, should have his powers curbed.
Second Thailand monetary policy board member quits
THAILAND - Chalongphob Sussangkarn, a member of the Bank of Thailand's Monetary Policy Board, said on 31 May he had submitted his resignation. He cited uncertainty over monetary policy following the ousting of governor Chatu Mongol Sonakul earlier this…
SE Asian central bank governors begin meeting
SINGAPORE - The annual conference of Governors of the South-East Asian Central Banks (SEACEN) needs to focus on ways to maintain its relevance amid a proliferation of regional and international forums, a Singapore government minister said on 31 May.
Armenia to put 50, 000 bank notes into circulation
ARMENIA - The Central Bank of Armenia is putting 50,000 drams bank-notes into circulation beginning on 4 June.
Brazil Central Bank blames prices for rates hike
BRAZIL - Brazil's Central Bank raised interest rates in May for the third consecutive month to head off inflationary pressures and the potential impact of the country's energy crisis on consumer prices, according to the minutes of the May meeting of the…
Polish MPC blamed for keeping interest rates high
POLAND - The Polish central bank came under heavy fire from officials and analysts on 31 May for holding interest rates steady despite saying there was little demand-side price pressure in the economy.
ECB chief predicts success for euro notes launch
EUROPE - Wim Duisenberg, president of the European Central Bank, has insisted that the changeover to euro notes and coins on January 1 2002 would be a success, rejecting pleas for small denomination euro notes to be distributed to the public in advance.
Canada lowers key interest rate
CANADA - Canada's central bank trimmed its key overnight interest rate on 29 May by 25 basis points to 4.5 per cent, stating that while US demand for Canadian products had slowed during the first part of the year, the domestic economy continued to show…