News
IMF sees framework for 'smooth' Lithuanian repeg
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Feb 27, 2001 Lithuania had created conditions for a smooth repeg of the litas currency to the euro from the dollar next year and saw prospects for improved economic growth in 2001.
Israeli firms raised $4.3 billion abroad in 2000
Israeli companies raised a record $4.3 billion in offerings abroad in 2000, up from $3.4 billion in 1999, and Europe has become a strong alternative to Nasdaq and Tel Aviv, the Bank of Israel said on Feb 27, 2001.
China to launch OTC debt trading this year - paper
China will launch a trial of over-the-counter (OTC) debt trading at state banks in the second half of this year, a senior central bank official was quoted on Feb 27 as saying.
Indonesia detains two former c.bank directors
Indonesian authorities have detained two former directors of the embattled central bank for alleged misuse of emergency loans given to troubled banks in the late 1990s, an official said on Feb 27, 2001.
Clearstream to refute Secret-Acts charges
Luxembourg's central bank said Feb 26, 2001 that clearing and settlement group Clearstream has given assurances to the authorities here it will "take steps to refute allegations" that it set up thousands of secret accounts for its clients, including…
Turks count cost of crisis, austerity looms
In the first official price hike on Feb 26 sparked by last week's shock 36 percent lira devaluation against the dollar, prices rose 10 percent on state monopoly Tekel goods including cigarettes, salt and Turks' favourite aniseed-flavoured alcoholic drink…
Fed executive picked for position with US Treasury
In a widely expected move, Peter Fisher, the executive vice president in charge of markets for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, has been appointed as the Domestic Finance Official at the US Treasury.
ECB says output of euro banknotes is on schedule
The European Central Bank insisted that production of euro banknotes is on schedule, rejecting a newspaper report that said printing problems could leave European nations short for the introduction of the notes on Jan. 1, 2002.
Singapore MAS to brief on mon policy twice a year
The Monetary Authority of Singapore said on Feb 26, 2001 it will hold a media briefing twice a year on its monetary policy in an effort to raise transparency.
Pakistan cuts GDP forecast to below four percent
Pakistan's central bank on Feb 26, 2001 slashed its economic growth target for the second time in four months, because of slower growth in agriculture, high oil prices and the falling rupee.
Polish rate cuts hinge on meeting '03 inflation
Polish policy-makers will not cut interest rates until confident there is no danger to the medium-term inflation target, central bank chief Leszek Balcerowicz said in a newspaper interview published on Feb 26, 2001.
Indonesia, IMF agree on c.bank independence-Ramli
Indonesia's chief economics minister Rizal Ramli said on Feb 26, 2001 he had reached agreement with the International Monetary Fund on the need to maintain the central bank's independence but stopped short of saying a long running deadlock had been…
Romania must step up inflation fight-c. bank chief
Romania has to step up its battle against inflation but needs to do so gradually to avoid shocks from a sudden reduction, Mugur Isarescu, the governor of the central bank (BNR), was quoted as saying on Feb 26, 2001.
IMF to assess Finnish financial sector
Finland will help the International Monetary Fund to prepare an assessment of the Finnish financial sector, which is a new IMF tool for monitoring member country economies, the central bank said on Feb 26.
Swedish inflation risks receding-Riksbank
Sweden's central bank, the Riksbank, said on Feb 26, 2001 that inflation risks appeared to have diminished since it raised interest rates in December 2000, although the outcome of the current wage round could affect the picture.
Bank of Israel cuts lending rate by 0.2 pct point
The Bank of Israel said on Feb 26, 2001 it was lowering its key lending rate by 0.2 percentage points to 7.5 percent, its eighth straight monthly reduction and the 14th in the past 16 months.
Colombian central bank profits jump 61 pct in 2000
Colombia's Central Bank made profits of 1.45 trillion pesos, or $642.6 million, in 2000, up 61 percent from 1999, mainly due to better performance on its foreign reserves.
Slovak exchange rate mechanism to change for EU
Slovakia has to change its exchange rate regime before joining the European Union, Slovak Finance Minister Brigita Schmoegnerova said on Feb 25.
Oman poised to tighten loan rules again
Barely five months after easing the regulations for personal bank loans, the Central Bank of Oman seems poised to tighten them again.
Launch of review of NZ mon policy-Lars Svensson
Lars Svensson, a professor of economics at the Institute for International Economic Studies,Stockholm University, will publish on Wednesday, February 28, at 4 pm (NZ time, GMT+13 hrs) his independent review of the operation of monetary policy in New…
Colombia cbank cancels meeting amid board changes
Colombia's central bank has canceled this week's regular Friday board meeting on Feb 23, 2001 a spokeswoman for the institution said.
ECB looking to move Frankfurt headquarters
The European Central Bank, not even three years old, has already outgrown its headquarters and plans to construct a building outside the city's high-rise banking district by around 2006.
Turk PM Ecevit under fire for lira float turmoil
Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit faces mounting fury at home after sending the lira currency into freefall to try to curb a financial crisis and resisting pressure to reshuffle his beleaguered government.
Japan greets S&P cut with disdain and delight
Japan's loss of its top-notch credit rating caused indignation among politicians on Feb 23, 2001, but the central bank and financial markets welcomed it as a wake-up call for the government to mend its free-spending ways.