News
ECB collateral to include non-euro debt
The European Central Bank (ECB) will for the first time accept European bonds denominated in dollars, sterling and yen as collateral as of 14 November, the central bank said on Wednesday.
Paulson continues Tarp U-turn
Henry Paulson, the US secretary of the treasury, has signaled a further shift in the way the administration will use the $700 billion at its disposal under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (Tarp), by saying purchasing bad assets from financial…
Bank of England sees deep recession
The Bank of England sharply adjusted its outlook for growth and inflation in the British economy, saying it was "very likely" that the UK was already in a recession that could last until 2010.
Slovakia rates to keep up with the ECB
The National Bank of Slovakia (NBS) on Tuesday decided, at an irregular monetary meeting, to cut its key rate by half a point to 3.25%.
Russia's Ignatiev signals loosening of rouble peg
The head of Russia's central bank on Monday indicated Moscow could loosen its grip on its exchange rate regime.
Carmaker to borrow from ECB
Volkswagen, a German carmaker, plans to tap the European Central Bank (ECB) for a €2.3 billion ($2.9 billion) loan in December.
RBI may need to cut again: former governor
Bimal Jalan, a former governor of the Reserve Bank of India, has said the institution could have to cut rates again so that banks can lower borrowing costs to a level businesses and the public can afford.
Top economists have their say on G20 summit
A group of 21 of the world's most prominent economists have called on officials from the G20 countries meeting in Washington this weekend to start thinking outside the box about longer-term reforms.
People's Bank pledges Rmb100 billion by year-end
The People's Bank of China will loan banks Rmb100 billion ($14.6 billion) by the end of December as part of Beijing's efforts to stave off a slowdown in growth.
Bloomberg sues Fed
Bloomberg, a news agency, filed a lawsuit against the Federal Reserve on Friday, alleging that the central bank had refused to disclose public information.
Regulator slams calls for IMF supervisory role
A senior European regulator has launched a scathing attack on politicians' calls for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to take a leading role in supervising the global economy.
Washington restructures loan to save battered AIG
The Treasury is to take a $40 billion stake in American International Group (AIG), once the biggest insurance company in the world, as part of a restructuring of the firm's $122.8 billion Federal Reserve loan.
DSK calls on G20 to bolster IMF coffers
Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has urged G20 leaders to discuss ways to boost the Fund's resources at this weekend's summit.
Global banks want greater role for FSF
An enhanced Financial Stability Forum (FSF) should regulate the most important financial institutions, the global banking industry has said.
Eurozone banks clamp down on gloomy outlook
Eurozone banks are applying ever more-stringent conditions on the region's borrowers on fears of a worsening of economic activity.
SNB and Poland arrange currency swap
The Swiss National Bank and the National Bank of Poland on Friday agreed a currency swap facility to compensate for a lack of Swiss franc liquidity.
Zimbabwe returns charity donations
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe on Friday repaid $7.3m to a charity after it was found to have confiscated donations pledged to fight killer diseases.
RBNZ to operate TAF to avert liquidity crunch
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand on Friday said it will follow the Federal Reserve's lead in establishing a Term Auction Facility (TAF) operation to enhance liquidity.
Korea cuts for second time in a fortnight
Bank of Korea chopped a quarter-point off its key rate on Friday on signs of a further weakening in domestic economic activity.
IMF sees advanced economies contracting in 2009
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Thursday revised downwards its estimate for global growth next year by four-fifths of a percentage point to 2.2% and said it believes the advanced economies will contract over 2009.
Bank shocks with steepest cut for 24 years
The Bank of England on Thursday lopped one-and-a-half basis points off its benchmark rate for the first time since August 1984, confounding expectations of a far less severe move.
Markets obey laws of nature not math: NBB's Praet
The "once in a century" credit crisis demands a fundamental re-think in the way we view, and regulate, financial systems, Peter Praet, an executive director at the National Bank of Belgium and a member of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, has…
Czechs surprise with 75 basis-point cut
The Czech National Bank slashed its key rate by 75 basis points to 2.75% on Thursday on signs inflation risked falling below target next year.
ECB, SNB cut by 50 basis points
The European Central Bank (ECB) on Thursday lopped a quarter point off its key rate and indicated further cuts were likely. The Swiss National Bank (SNB) also cut the upper and lower bounds by the same margin.