News
China reforms would cut volatility says Paulson
US treasury secretary Henry Paulson said Tuesday 6 March that the global economy is as strong as he's ever seen and that reforms in China would help reduce market volatility.
Bank of Canada holds interest rates steady
The Bank of Canada held its benchmark overnight lending rate steady at 4.25 per cent Tuesday 6 March saying the risks to its forecast remain balanced, despite the wild swings in global financial markets recently.
Brazil's fin min says Bevilaqua's exit was routine
The resignation of Brazilian central bank economic policy director Afonso Bevilaqua represented a routine change that won't alter the direction of policy at the institution, Finance Minister Guido Mantega said on Friday 2 March.
RBNZ re-appoints Arthur Grimes to Board
Arthur Grimes has been re-appointed as a non-executive director on the Reserve Bank of New Zealand's Board for a second five-year term, finance minister Michael Cullen announced Monday 5 March.
Oman could still join currency union says Suwaidi
There is a strong possibility that Oman could join a regional currency union if a simpler version than the one currently on the table were adopted, the governor of the UAE central bank, Sultan bin Naser Al Suwaidi, said on Saturday 3 March.
Iran plans banknote with atomic symbol - reports
Iran, which is currently embroiled in a row with the West over its nuclear ambitions, will issue a new banknote this month carrying an atomic symbol, newspapers reported on Sunday 4 March.
PBOC's Wu says FX reserves to be used vigorously
A new state investment company in charge of investing China's vast foreign exchange reserves will be established, said Wu Xiaoling, vice governor of the People's Bank of China on Monday 5 March.
Zhou says China's yuan band may be widened
Yuan flexibility is "desirable" and China can consider "gradually" widening the yuan's trading band, central bank governor Zhou Xiaochuan said Monday 5 March.
Public finances 'an obstacle' to Czech euro bid
The current state of the Czech Republic's finances is an obstacle to the country switching to the euro, a top official at the Czech central bank (CNB) said in an interview published Friday 2 March.
Brazil's central bank econ director resigns
Brazilian central bank economic policy director Afonso Bevilaqua resigned Thursday 1 March citing "personal reasons" and an interest in "pursuing new projects," the central bank said in a statement.
New IMF chief economist nominated
International Monetary Fund chief Rodrigo de Rato said Wednesday 28 February he would recommend Simon Johnson, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as the IMF's new chief economist.
Romania not rushing on euro entry - report
Romania will resist European Central Bank advice to bring forward its target date for adopting the euro, opting instead for a more cautious path towards the single currency, the Financial Times reported Friday 2 March, citing central bank governor Mugur…
No recession coming says St Louis Fed chief
St. Louis Fed president William Poole on Friday 2 March rejected fears that the U.S. economy was heading into a recession, saying that while there "could be a recession," one isn't likely, echoing comments this week by former Fed chairman Alan Greenspan.
BOJ says market should be ready for global flows
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui told a forum on the money market Thursday 1 March that the Japanese money market should make necessary adjustments to be able to deal with growing global capital flows.
Greenspan says US recession possible, not probable
Former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan said a recession in the U.S. is possible, though not probable this year as excess inventory is being reduced quickly, according to people attending a CLSA Japan Forum in Tokyo Thursday 1 February.
Report says watchdog to probe ECB settlement plan
The European Central Bank's plans to establish an integrated securities settlement system in the euro zone will be examined by the region's competition watchdog, according to a report by the FT Thursday 1 February.
Kenya names new head of central bank
Economics professor and think-tank director Njuguna Ndung'u was named as the new head of the Central Bank of Kenya on Thursday 1 March to replace the former governor who was suspended.
Thai central bank eases controls
The Bank of Thailand said Thursday 1 March it intends to further ease capital controls on inflows of foreign funds that were imposed in December to weaken the Thai baht.
Mizuno says BOJ needs to keep raising rates
The Bank of Japan needs to keep raising interest rates, board member Atsushi Mizuno said in a speech Wednesday 28 February, a week after he and other policy board members voted to increase interest rates for the second time in six years.
ECB's Wellink says euro economy good, rates low
European Central Bank governing council member Nout Wellink said on Tuesday 27 February that eurozone interest rates were still low but oil prices are clouding the inflation outlook.
ECB's Stark continues to see inflation risks
European Central Bank board member Juergen Stark told Die Welt Wednesday 28 February that although eurozone inflation will probably slow this year, medium-term price developments remain a concern.
Buba's Weber signals ECB rate hikes
Bundesbank president Axel Weber signalled Wednesday 28 February in a speech that the European Central Bank was set to further raise its key interest rates, which are already at a five-year high point.
SNB's Jordan hints at further rate hikes ahead
Thomas S Jordan, alternate member of the Swiss National Bank's governing board, suggested Tuesday 27 February in a speech that the SNB will again raise interest rates at its meeting this spring.
Garganas says price risks growing
European Central Bank council member Nicholas Garganas told Bloomberg in an interview that economic growth may prove stronger than the ECB forecasts and inflation risks are increasing.