News
Swiss gov't resists bid to widen cen bank mandate
SWITZERLAND - The Swiss government has resisted efforts by leftists and trade unions, during a revision of the central bank law, to make the Swiss National Bank lay equal stress on growth and employment as well as fighting inflation.
SocGen halt processing of checks from Israel banks
FRANCE - French bank Societe Generale SA (F.SGF) said Wednesday it has stopped accepting checks from its correspondent banks in Israel for a temporary period of two months amid the furore over an alleged money-laundering ring.
India RBI - Easier liquidity policy boosts econ
INDIA - The Reserve Bank of India Deputy Governor Y.V. Reddy said Wednesday that the bank will continue to follow its easier liquidity policy to boost the economy.
BOE gold auction fifth of six planned auctions
UK - The Bank of England Wednesday auctioned 20.0 metric tons of gold, or 643,200 ounces, at an allotment price of $283.50 per troy ounce.
Sterling may not have to enter ERM to join euro
UK - Brussels has smoothed the path to British entry to the euro, by suggesting that sterling might not have first to rejoin the Exchange Rate Mechanism for two years.
China's bank chief criticises low value of yen
CHINA - The governor of China's central bank offered an unambiguous criticism on Tuesday of the Japanese yen's recent depreciation, saying it was putting pressure on the Chinese currency and would bring no good to Japan or the rest of Asia.
Argentina's president calls for unity
ARGENTINA - Argentina's President, Eduardo Duhalde, has called for an "historic national dialogue" to take the country out of the worst economic crisis of its history.
IMF chief calls for open markets
US - The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has blasted the US, the European Union and Japan for continuing to aid farmers and manufacturers within their countries at the expense of poor nations.
ECB chief: Prices safe from euro launch
EUROPE - Fears of rising prices across Europe as retailers cash in on the change to the euro have been confounded, according to the head of the European Central Bank.
Fed's Moskow sees some signs US economy improving
US - The U.S. economy is in a transition period with "scattered signs" of improvement but the timing of a full recovery is still uncertain, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago President Michael Moskow said on Monday.
Eddie George cautious on interest rate rise
UK - Sir Edward George, governor of the Bank of England, last night played down expectations that the Bank might soon put up interest rates, saying: "I do not suggest that the timing of any such move is imminent."
Japan to unfreeze deposits of Afghan central bank
AFGHANISTAN - The Japanese government said Tuesday it will unfreeze the 77 million yen in deposits held in Japan by Afghanistan's central bank in line with the inauguration of an interim administration in the war-torn country.
Federal Reserve Press Release, 14 January
PRESS RELEASE - Laurence H. Meyer submitted his resignation Monday as a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, effective the last day of his term, January 31, 2002.
Federal Reserve governor Meyer to step down
US - Federal Reserve governor, Laurence H. Meyer, said today that he would step down from the seven-member board when his term expires at the end of the month.
Jakarta expected to pass new c bank law changes
INDONESIA - Indonesia's parliament said on Tuesday it expected to pass central bank law changes in February, a move that could help end year-long debate that had once soured ties with the country's main donors.
China ranks US Dlr as No 1 component of reserves
CHINA - People's Bank of China Governor Dai Xianglong on Tuesday ranked U.S. dollars as the major component of the country's foreign reserves, ahead of the euro and yen.
Better not bank on Afghani
AFGHANISTAN - Abdul Qadeer Fitrat has been appointed acting governor of Da Afghanistan Bank.
Bankers quizzed over money laundering
FRANCE - Daniel Bouton, chairman of Societe Generale, the French bank, has became the latest in a long line of prominent French businesspeople to fall foul of the country's investigating magistrates.
Blair and Straw in euro entry talks
UK - Britain yesterday held talks about the euro with Denmark and Sweden, the two other EU countries that are outside the eurozone.
China c bank chief vows reform as banker is sacked
CHINA - Central bank chief Dai Xianglong vowed on Tuesday to push gradual reforms and tighter supervision in China's first year as a WTO member as he confirmed the sacking and probe of a top commercial banker over problem loans.
IMF Press Briefing on Argentina
PRESS BRIEFING - Transcript of a Press Briefing (Teleconference) on Argentina given by Anne O. Krueger, First Deputy Managing Director, International Monetary Fund, Washington, D.C. 11 January 2002.
Argentina lashes out at IMF
ARGENTINA - The interim government in Argentina has criticised the International Monetary Fund and asked it to let them get on with trying to dig the country out of its economic crisis.
Minehan - Data suggest slowdown bottoming out
US - Federal Reserve Bank of Boston President Cathy Minehan said Friday that the U.S. economy slowdown appears to be reaching its end and that recovery may be in sight.
Greenspan sees risks in path to recovery
US - In his first speech on the economy in months, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan sounded considerably more cautious about recovery prospects than private forecasters and even fellow Fed policy makers.