News
Central bank Cooperation planned
POLAND - The National Bank of Poland (NBP) has officially signed cooperative agreements with its French and Italian counterparts at a ceremony in Warsaw.
Bank of Canada names deputy gov of finance markets
CANADA - Sheryl Kennedy has been asked to serve as deputy governor of financial markets for Bank of Canada.
Philippine bank expands dollar hedging facility
PHILIPPINES - The Philippine Central Bank said today, 19 July, its policy- making Monetary Board has approved the expansion of coverage under the currency risk protection program, a hedging facility managed by the monetary authority.
Eurostat launches online economic database
UK - The European Union's statistical office Eurostat has launched a "Euro-indicators" subscription database aimed at economists and other professionals, some of whom complain that detailed data are hard to obtain.
ECB leaves interest rates unchanged
GERMANY - The European Central Bank (ECB) left eurozone interest rates unchanged, despite evidence of an economic slowdown.
World Bank questions US plan for the poor
ITALY - On the eve of the G8 summit of world leaders in Genoa, a potentially embarrassing row has broken out between President Bush and other world leaders over how to best help the poor.
BoJ urges move on measurement of bad loans
JAPAN - The Bank of Japan has discreetly urged the Financial Supervisory Agency, the main regulator in Japan, to develop better methods for measuring questionable bank loans, writes the Financial Times in London, 19 July.
Russia link to murder of Ukraine central bank head
UKRAINE - The Kiev Prosecutor-General's Office today announced the completion of an investigation into the case of the Top Servis Vostok company. The case involved 17 members of a crime gang who are accused of committing murder and arson in 1997-99 at…
Bank of Uganda introduces new cheques
UGANDA - Bank of Uganda (BOU) has announced the introduction of new cheques in a bid to standardise and improve the cheque operation system.
UK rates may head higher
UK - The Bank of England has given its clearest indication yet that interest rates may start to climb again in the near future.
Russian bank reform - key topic at autumn session
RUSSIA - Minister for Economic Development and Trade of Russia, German Gref, after the traditional meeting of Russia s President Vladimir Putin with the m embers of the Cabinet in the Kremlin informs, that Putin demands that actions o f the Central Bank…
Meyer takes aim at the Greenspan legacy
US - Kansas City Fed President Thomas Hoenig, who broke a recent pattern of Federal Open Market Committee unanimity by voting against a half-percentage-point rate cut on May 15, is not a real FOMC dissident, reports Dow Jones news.
C Bank - Favoured firms made $bn in Milosevic era
YUGOSLAVIA - Yugoslav companies given special privileges during the rule of Slobodan Milosevic creamed off more than 8.3 billion German marks ($3.66 billion) in extra profits, the central bank said on 18 July.
Bank of Italy merger veto curbs ambitions of banks
ITALY - Bank of Italy Governor Antonio Fazio's continued opposition to mergers between leading Italian banks is proving to be a big drag on the sector as domestic mergers and acquisitions are the only way Italian banks can grow to catch up with larger…
Thai bank agrees with cabinet time zone shift idea
THAILAND - The Thai cabinet intends to accelerate economic growth by turning clocks forward one hour, to bring Thai time in line with regional economic powerhouses such as Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong, the Bangkok Post reported Wednesday. Thailand's…
Russian C Bank stripped of right to control audits
RUSSIA - On 13 July, the Russian State Duma adopted in third and final reading two bills, entitled On auditing activities and on the state registration of legal entities.
Lebanese prime minister meets US bank delegation
LEBANON - The Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri met a delegation of the U.S. Central Bank on 13 July. They discussed issues concerning the bank situation in Lebanon. Hariri also met the head of the International Trade Chambers' Union Adnan Al…
Reserve bank begins financing tobacco growers
ZIMBABWE - THE Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has started disbursing 20% pooled foreign exchange proceeds drawn from off-shore facilities to finance tobacco growers, ending several months of waiting by the growers, it has been learnt.
Bank backs Aussie-Kiwi policy
NEW ZEALAND - A journal published by the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) has called on Australia and New Zealand to adopt a common monetary policy.
Korea to adopt flexible monetary policies
SOUTH KOREA - Bank of Korea Governor Chon Chol-hwan said 16 July he will be flexible with the bank's monetary policies in view of the uncertainties surrounding both international and domestic economies, and will pay close attention to inflation and real…
South Africa banks fear effects of brain drain
SOUTH AFRICA - South Africa's banks have identified skill shortages as the biggest threat facing the industry.
Dutch Government poised to revamp supervision
NETHERLANDS - Gerrit Zalm, the Dutch finance minister, is considering transforming the financial sector's three existing supervisory bodies into two watchdogs, according to well-informed sources. The reorganisation could mean that the central bank DNB…
No change in Japan gov't economic assessment
JAPAN - Vice Finance Minister Toshiro Muto said on 16 July that the government stands by its assessment of Japan's economy although the Bank of Japan (BOJ) slightly downgraded its economic assessment in its latest monthly report on economic and financial…
Indian committee suggests overseas clearing agent
INDIA - A committee set up to study the Indian financial system's payment and settlement modes has recommended creating an overseas clearing agent and a guarantee fund for foreign exchange clearing, a central bank statement said on 16 July.