News
Trichet praises BoJ's communication
The Bank of Japan's communication with financial markets was "very, very good," European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet said Monday 13 March. He also said independence was of "extreme importance" for the National Bank of Poland.
Keep politics out of Bank of Spain, says PP leader
People's Party (PP) leader Mariano Rajoy said on Wednesday 8 March that he does not agree that Miguel Angel Fernandez Ordoez, the current secretary of state for internal revenue, should be the next governor of the Bank of Spain.
Central Bank of Turkey governor named - report
A press report on Thursday 9 March said the replacement has been chosen for Sureyya Serdengecti, after he resigns on 13 March as governor of Turkey's central bank.
Malaysia's Zeti gets new five-year term
Malaysian central bank governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz's term in office has been extended for another five years, effective from 1 May, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Finance on Friday 10 March.
Fukui: Zero rate policy can't last 'indefinitely'
Bank of Japan governor, Toshihiko Fukui, said on Friday 10 March that the central bank won't keep borrowing costs at zero forever.
China considering expansion of HK yuan business
The Chinese government may allow Hong Kong companies to issue yuan-denominated bonds and settle trade transactions using the yuan, in order to expand yuan business in the city, Zhou Xiaochuan, governor of the People's Bank of China (PBoC) said, according…
NBP chief defends decision over meeting
Leszek Balcerowicz, governor of the national bank of Poland, rejected accusations on Friday 10 march that he broke the law by excluding a government official from a regulatory meeting on Italian lender UniCredit's deal to buy Polish Bank BPH.
Bank of Canada announces research award
The Bank of Canada announced on Friday 10 March that Professor Gregor Smith of Queen's University is the recipient of the Bank's Research Fellowship for 2006.
PBOC says US pressure not a factor on yuan
A People's Bank of China official was quoted on Thursday 9 March as saying that pressure from the US is not a factor under consideration in determining the yuan's exchange rate.
New vice-governor for Slovak central bank
The National Bank of Slovakia is to get a new vice-governor, the Slovak Spectator reported.
Liebscher says EU integration must not be hampered
National Bank of Austria governor Klaus Liebscher said in an interview that EU integration must not be hampered by protectionist measures to fight cross-border mergers in some countries.
RBNZ leaves OCR unchanged at 7.25 per cent
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand announced on Thursday 9 March that its Official Cash Rate (OCR) will remain on hold at 7.25 per cent.
IMF upholds sanctions against Zimbabwe
The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund met Wednesday 8 March to review Zimbabwe's overdue financial obligations to the Fund and consider the sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.
Bank of Japan ends quantitative-easing policy
The Bank of Japan voted 7-1 to end its five-year-old super-easy monetary policy on Thursday 9 March at the end of a two-day meeting, but said it will maintain short-term interest rates near zero until its next meeting in April.
Japan's Abe praises Fukui's wisdom
Japan's top spokesman repeated the government's position on Wednesday 8 March that the Bank of Japan should exercise caution over scrapping its ultra-loose monetary policy.
Greenspan's memoirs sold to Penguin
Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan signed a deal on Tuesday to publish his memoirs with The Penguin Press.
Prime Minister of Lithuania visits ECB
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania, HE Algirdas Brazauskas, visited the European Central Bank (ECB) on Tuesday.
Swedish Riksbank unanimous in rate hike decision
The Swedish Riksbank's board was unanimous in its 22 February decision to raise the repo rate by 0.25 pct to 2 pct, according to the minutes of the meeting published Wednesday.
Fed's Poole says more rate hikes may be needed
The U.S. economy has a "great deal of momentum" and the Federal Reserve may have to raise interest rates further, one of its top policymakers said on Monday 6 March.
ECB warns on further Asian reserves build-up
The ECB said in a paper published Wednesday 8 March that a further build-up of foreign exchange reserves in Asia could lead to problems such as inflation pressures and asset price bubbles.
Riksbank to introduce new, more secure banknotes
On 15 March, Sweden's Riksbank will introduce new, more secure 50-krona and 1,000-krona banknotes.
Norges Bank's monetary policy conference 2006
On Thursday 30 March, Norges Bank is holding a monetary policy conference in connection with the publication of Norges Bank's Annual Report for 2005.
SARB slows forex buying
The Reserve Bank of South Africa slowed its buying of US dollars to $345m last month from $1,289bn in January, figures published Tuesday showed.
Bank of Canada raises rates to 3.75%
The Bank of Canada announced Tuesday that it is raising its target for the overnight rate by one-quarter of one percentage point to 3 3/4 per cent.