News
BoJ report paints bleak picture of Japan's economy
JAPAN - The Bank of Japan on Tuesday painted a bleak picture of the world's second largest economy in its monthly report, pointing to lower capital investment, weak private consumption and a harsh lending environment for small companies seeking to raise…
Inflation leap adds to expectation of rate rise
UK - Inflation leapt in January, outstripping economists' expectations and raising fears that companies are exploiting surging consumer demand to push up prices.
ECB's Noyer - Euro Undervalued Vs Dollar
EUROPE - European Central Bank Vice President Christian Noyer said Wednesday the euro is undervalued against the dollar, but added it was "very difficult" to tell when the euro would rebound.
Sovereign Debt Restructuring - Thomas C. Dawson
LETTER - A Letter By Thomas C. Dawson, Director, External Relations Department, International Monetary Fund, 7 February.
Bank of Israel Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - Developments in the Foreign-Currency Market, 12 February.
UK inflation posts sharp rise
UK - UK inflation has soared unexpectedly, making an increase in interest rates in March more likely.
Chavez appoints new head of state oil company
VENEZUELA - President Hugo Chavez on Saturday appointed a leftist central banker as head of state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), a move that observers said sets the stage for foreign exchange controls and which will financially damage Latin…
Devaluation fears hit Nigeria's currency
NIGERIA - The Nigerian naira fell on the official currency market, following a slide on the black market on Friday on fears that a devaluation is imminent.
Greek media touts Papademos to replace ECB's Noyer
GREECE - Greek media has begun touting Bank of Greece Governor Lucas Papademos as a leading candidate to take over as vice president of the European Central Bank (ECB).
Havel probably breached law with c bank account
CZECH REPUBLIC - President Vaclav Havel has probably been violating the law for many years, the tabloid Super writes today.
Israeli regulators warn banks
ISRAEL - Israeli regulators warned commercial banks they looked to be inadequately covered against a surge in foreign-currency lending last year and urged them to tighten standards.
Laundering Bill will tighten rules, Jalan tells US
INDIA - The US has asked India to "redouble efforts against hawala" as part of the proposed measure to combat terrorist financing, Kenneth Dam, deputy secretary, US treasury department, told the media on Monday.
UAE mint coin for university silver anniversary
UAE - The UAE Central Bank will issue a commemorative Dh50 coin on Sunday to mark the 25th anniversary of Emirates University.
Czech National Bank shows loss for 2001
CZECH REPUBLIC - The Czech national Bank (CNB) posted a loss of CZK 28.6 bn in 2001, against a profit of CZK 2.5 bn in 2000, according to figures released by the bank.
China to concentrate on supervision in 2002
CHINA - The People's Bank of China (PBOC), China's central bank, will focus its attention on reinforcing financial supervision in the year 2002, said Dai Xianglong, governor of the PBOC.
Argentina has a month to get IMF aid, bankers say
ARGENTINA - Argentina may descend into a chaotic spiral of hyperinflation and social unrest unless the government can secure a massive IMF loan package in the next 30 days, local bankers and analysts said.
Tobin tax, regulation may win favour-Swede cbanker
SWEDEN - Capital market regulation and the idea of a levy on speculative foreign exchange transactions, a "Tobin tax", may gain favour among politicians after a decade of currency crises, Sweden's central bank said on Monday.
Central Bank of Sweden Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - Sveriges Riksbank's Lars Heikensten: Low-inflation environment has underpinned growth: four examples, 4 February.
The Riksbank's annual report 2001
PRESS RELEASE - The Executive Board of the Riksbank has taken a decision on the Riksbank's annual report for 2001. Net revenue amounted to SEK 19.3 billion, 8 February.
Federal Reserve Board FOMC Minutes
PRESS RELEASE - The Federal Reserve Board on Friday released the minutes of its discount rate meetings from 19 November, 2001 to 11 December, 2001.
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta - Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - Atlanta Fed names Juan C Sanchez Assistant Vice President, 31 January.
Argentina's peso under pressure
ARGENTINA - Argentina's currency, the peso, has fallen sharply on the money markets after a one-week suspension of trading.
G7 upbeat on global economy
CANADA - The world's seven leading industrialised states have said prospects of an upturn in a global economy hit by the 11 September attacks on America have strengthened, although risks remain.
South African bank's accounts frozen
SOUTH AFRICA - Deposits have been frozen at the eighth largest bank in Africa after bankruptcy fears spurred savers to withdraw more than 1bn rand (£61m; $87m) last week.