News
Niedermayer to CNB board with effect from 27 Feb
CZECH REPUBLIC - President Vaclav Havel today re-appointed central bank CNB vice-governor Ludek Niedermayer to the Bank Board for another six-year term, with effect from 27 February.
Polish bank cautious about economic plan
POLAND - Two weeks after Poland's government issued an ambitious five-year strategy to kick-start slumping economic growth, the National Bank of Poland has maintained a stony silence.
Fed ready to raise rates this year - Guynn
US - The Federal Reserve may start reversing its series of 11 interest rate cuts if a stronger-than-expected recovery this year rekindles inflation concerns, says Jack Guynn, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.
Australian Reserve Bank's credit-card plan slated
AUSTRALIA - MasterCard said it will consider scaling back its Australian operations if the central bank proceeds with its plan to cut credit-card fees and open the credit-card system to new participants.
Latvian parliament approves bank's vice president
LATVIA - The Latvian parliament Thursday almost unanimously approved as central bank vice-president Andris Ruselis, recommended for the office by Bank of Latvia president.
Barclays chief hits out at watchdogs
UK - The head of banking giant Barclays has warned City watchdogs against imposing overzealous regulation, or risk seeing financial services business lost abroad.
Gold bugs should not get too excited
AUSTRALIA - Predictions of a sustained increase in gold prices are not expected to be realised. The reason for the lack of a sustained revival is the poor business foundations of the gold industry.
Some EU countries already vying for No. 2 ECB spot
EUROPE - Just days after Wim Duisenberg announced he would resign next year as president of the European Central Bank, some countries began suggesting they would like one of their own in the central bank's No. 2 seat, which opens up at the end of May…
Czech central banker opposes ERM
CZECH REPUBLIC - The Czech Republic should spend as little time as possible in an exchange-rate mechanism prior to adoption of the euro, said the central bank's governor, Zdenek Tuma.
St Louis Fed's Poole - Markets must understand Fed
US - St. Louis Federal Reserve President William Poole said on Wednesday that it was important financial markets understand the goals and plans of monetary policymakers.
Venezuela's currency in freefall
VENEZUELA - Venezuela's currency has plummeted 25% against the US dollar after the government scrapped five-year-old exchange rate controls.
ECB Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - Annual hard copy publication of the: List of Monetary Financial Institutions and institutions subject to minimum reserves as at the end of December 2001, 14 February.
Gay online bank shuts down
US - The first online bank aimed at the gay and lesbian community in the US is to close after admitting it could not make a profit in the current economic climate.
Argentine peso strengthens
ARGENTINA - It is now three days since Argentina allowed its currency, the peso, to float freely for the first time in more than a decade and so far the peso has held its own, contrary to many experts' predictions.
New US stock market rules unveiled
US - The US stock market regulator has proposed new rules for faster corporate disclosures, in the first reform taken in the wake of the Enron scandal.
Havel to re-appoint Niedermayer to CNB Bank Board
CZECH REPUBLIC - President Vaclav Havel will re-appoint central bank CNB vice-governor Ludek Niedermayer, whose six-year mandate would expire on 27 February, to the Bank Board for another term on Friday, presidential spokesman Ladislav Spacek told CTK…
Russian gov't to suggest amendments to c bank bill
RUSSIA - The Russian government intends to suggest its amendments to the Bill on the Central Bank of Russia before the second reading, Deputy Prime Minister, Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin told reporters.
Polish govt strategy breeds more caution
POLAND - Two weeks after Poland's left-wing government issued an ambitious five-year strategy to kick-start slumping economic growth, the National Bank of Poland has maintained a stony silence.
ECB Feb bulletin - Reiterates Duisenberg remarks
GERMANY - The European Central Bank Thursday repeated that interest rates in the euro zone remain at an appropriate level and that it expects a gradual economic recovery this year.
Latvian parl't approves Ruselis c.bank deputy head
LATVIA - A Latvian parliament spokeswoman said on Thursday lawmakers approved financier Andris Ruselis as the central bank deputy president, whose tasks will include preparing the country for eventual adoption of the euro.
Venezuela's currency slides after floating
VENEZUELA - Venezuela's currency has fallen 3.9% to about 824 bolivars to the dollar after the government scrapped five-year old exchange rate controls.
Banks review systems for managing risk
UK - Risk managers at banks in Britain and Ireland are re-examining defences against rogue traders following the loss of $750m (£532m) by Allied Irish Banks last week.
Argentina's peso firms
ARGENTINA - Argentina's peso has gained 10% against the US dollar on its second day as a free floating currency in a decade.
Peso float buys time in Argentina
ARGENTINA - The controlled flotation of the Argentine peso on Monday bought President Eduardo Duhalde's government a little time to continue improvising a plan to rescue the country from financial collapse, but pressing issues remain unresolved in the…