News
World Bank to borrow gold
UK - The World Bank is set to issue its first gold bond, according to informed sources in London. The bond is aimed to attract investment from central banks, notably in emerging markets. The agents are Goldman Sachs/J. Aron, the big US investment bank (J…
ECB cuts interest rates
EUROPE - The European Central Bank has cut interest rates by a quarter of a point to 4.25%.
ECB press release - Monetary policy decisions
At today's meeting the Governing Council of the ECB took the following monetary policy decisions:
Domingo Solans - Mass media campaign
EURO - Domingo Solans: Press conference on the occasion of the unveiling of the euro banknotes and their security features. Presentation of the mass media campaign including a brief overview of the Euro 2002 Information Campaign, Frankfurt, 30 August.
Domingo Solans - Euro notes and security features
EURO - Domingo Solans: Press conference on the occasion of the unveiling of the euro banknotes and their security features. Introductory remarks on the euro banknotes and their security features, Frankfurt, 30 August.
The unveiling of euro banknotes - Duisenberg
EURO - Wim Duisenberg: Press conference on the occasion of the unveiling of the euro banknotes and their security features. Introductory statement, Frankfurt, 30 August.
Japan moves closer to recession
JAPAN - Steep falls in industrial production and retail sales in July have pushed Japan closer to official recession, figures showed on 30 August.
Countdown to euro cash
EUROPE - The European Central Bank begins its campaign today, 30 August, to persuade the 300 million citizens of the eurozone to recognise - and love - their new currency.
Pakistan savers' money at risk
PAKISTAN - About 90,000 savers in Pakistan can't get at their money temporarily as the central bank examines a merger in the sector.
Welteke - ECB focus is inflation, not growth
GERMANY - Ernst Welteke, member of the European Central Bank council, on 29 August said there were signs of a possible recovery of the euro zone's largest economy, but stressed the ECB's main task was to control inflation and not stimulate growth.
IMF to cut global forecasts
US - The IMF has cut its forecast for world economic growth this year to 2.8% from 3.2%, Reuters reported on 29 August citing unnamed sources at the international lender.
Hayami - Absolutely wrong to say BOJ OKs deflation
JAPAN - Bank of Japan Governor Masaru Hayami 29 August shot down suggestions the central bank is tolerating Japan's severe deflationary environment, Kyodo News reported.
Lithuanian c bank to set 2002-2004 guidelines
LITHUANIA - Lithuania's central bank said its board will discuss on 30 August its action plan for the next three years, but the document will not affect exchange rate policy.
Polish c bank urges speedy public finance reform
POLAND - Poland's outgoing deputy central bank head Richard Kokoszczynski on 28 August urged the government to reform public finances quickly or face disgruntled capital markets and possible delays in European Union (EU) accession.
Regulators to order banks to publicly reveal more
PHILIPPINES - The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will soon implement stricter disclosure requirements for banks as part of its thrust to promote greater transparency in the industry.
New notes pose problems for cash machines
SPAIN - Spain's Azkoyen, one of the world's leading cigarette and vending machine producers, is already cashing in on next January's launch of euro notes and coins.
Montenegro to introduce two-currency system
YUGOSLAVIA - The Montenegrin government will introduce a two-currency system in the republic, including the German mark and the euro, on January 1, 2002.
E Timor rushes to build new monetary system
ASIA-PACIFIC - E Timor rushes to build new monetary system - The region has never had a central bank and must create it from scratch, writes Joe Leahy.
C Bank chief, dep premier hold talks with Ato
SOMALIA - The chairman of the Central Bank of Somalia, Dr Mahmud Muhammad Ulusow, yesterday hosted Uthman Hasan Ali Ato for lunch at his [Mogadishu] residence. Mr Ato was accompanied by members of the USC-SNA [United Somali Congress-Somali National…
High-value euro notes spark concern
FRANCE - Carrefour, the large French-based retail group, yesterday urged only small-scale distribution of high-denomination euro notes in the first months after the January 1 changeover to euro notes and coins, claiming the move would minimise confusion…
U.S. coins to cease circulation in Cuba
UNITED STATES - U.S. dollar coins will be taken out of circulation from the Cuban foreign currency commercial network as of October, the island's Central Bank reported 28 August.
Chile banks may soon pay interest on checking acc
CHILE - Banks might soon offer interest-bearing checking accounts to clients in Chile, after Central Bank President Carlos Massad on 28 August publicly invited the country's leading bank trade association to join in studying the matter.
Greece says readying for countdown to euro switch
GREECE - Greece, the euro zone's 12th member since January this year, is getting ready for a euro information blitz in the months ahead to familiarise citizens with the single currency changeover.
Brazil cenbank chief to meet IMF's Fischer
BRAZIL - Brazilian Central Bank President Arminio Fraga will leave for Washington D.C. today, 28 August, to meet with the outgoing No.2 official at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the bank said on 27 August.