News
Fed chairman Greenspan to testify to Congress
US - US Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan will testify before the congressional Joint Economic Committee on Wednesday 17 October.
Swedes warm to euro as krona totters
SWEDEN - Swedes have become positive about joining the euro for the first time in 18 months, thanks to a plunge in the value of the krona.
ECB probes fishy tale of Dutch euro bank note
GERMANY - The European Central Bank was investigating an embarrassing breach of security on Monday after a man used a five-euro note to buy fish food from a Dutch shop three months before the single currency becomes legal tender.
Cardoso rules out extra measures to support real
BRAZIL - President Fernando Henrique Cardoso said that the central bank has taken the necessary measures to stem the fall of the real, adding that no additional measures are required.
Philippine central bank orders banks to prepare
PHILIPPINES - The central bank has required banks to submit a contingency plan within 30 days to contain possible risks arising from the terrorist attacks in the US last month, central bank deputy governor Alberto Reyes said.
Risk deals unrestricted in Latvia
LATVIA - The Latvian Finance and Capital Market Commission on 28 September lifted previous restrictions on Latvian bank's risk deals with residents of Estonia and Lithuania, reported the commission.
Monetary policy at centre stage
US - The US Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates by 50 basis points when it meets this week.
India banks non-compliant with RBI for net banking
INDIA - None of the banks in the country which offer internet banking facilities today has an IT security policy as stipulated by the Reserve Bank of India.
Survey raises Japan recession fears
JAPAN - Evidence that business confidence in Japan slumped over the summer has sharpened fears that the country is on the verge of its fourth recession in a decade.
Brazilian regulators make the right move
BRAZIL - Brazil's central bank has done its share of manoeuvring to stem the damaging plunge of the country's currency this year.
House to choose BI deputy governors next month
INDONESIA - The House of Representatives will choose new deputy governors for Bank Indonesia in the second week of October, ending the vacuum which has left the three positions empty since early this year.
Australia RBA undertakes 2nd round of dealing
AUSTRALIA - The Reserve Bank of Australia said Friday 28 September it will undertake a second round of dealing in the money market in order to improve liquidity.
Japan eases Pakistan debt burden
PAKISTAN - Pakistan is to get over half a billion dollars in debt rescheduled by Japan, in recognition of its move to back the global "fight against terrorism".
Buba head sees US, Europe economies slowing more
GERMANY - Deutsche Bundesbank President Ernst Welteke believes the economies of the U.S. and Europe are likely to slow further after the 11 September terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.
Russian government approve banking reform strategy
RUSSIA - The Russian government approved, in broad outline, a banking reform strategy in Russia on 27 September.
S Africa ctrl bk may move against Rand speculators
SOUTH AFRICA - Tito Mboweni, South Africa's Reserve Bank governor may move to stamp out the use of local finance to fund speculative attacks against the rand, the daily Business Day newspaper reported Friday 28 September.
Russia gov't lifts restrictions on bank bond issue
RUSSIA - Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin reported that on 27 September the government decided to lift restrictions on the issue of Central Bank bonds.
Central bank attempts to improve capital market
CHINA - People's Bank of China Governor Dai Xianglong said the ongoing crackdown on illegal transfers for stock purchases is part of a strategy to improve the local equities market, China Daily reports Friday 28 September.
VISA attacks RBA credit card plan
AUSTRALIA - Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) plans to regulate credit card interchange fees have come under attack from Visa International.
BI governor surrenders passport
INDONESIA - Bank Indonesia governor Sjahril Sabirin handed over on Tuesday 25 September his passport to the Directorate General of Immigration in response to the government regulation that bans crime suspects from travelling overseas.
Ten firms submit material for audit tender, Russia
RUSSIA - Ten audit firms have submitted additional materials for participation in a tender to perform an annual audit on the Central Bank of Russia for 2001, deputy head of the State Duma budgetary committee, Ashot Yegiazaryan, told Interfax.
Federal Reserve Board Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - "The Federal Reserve Board on Friday announced it is extending the deadline for public comment on the potential longer-term direction of the Board's policy on payments system risk. Comment is requested by November 16, 2001."
ECB Press Release - Monetary policy decisions
ECB PRESS RELEASE - At today's meeting the Governing Council of the ECB decided that the minimum bid rate on the main refinancing operations and the interest rates on the marginal lending facility and the deposit facility will remain unchanged at 3.75%,…
Euro zone rates kept on hold
EUROPE - The European Central Bank (ECB) has kept eurozone interest rates on hold.