Wim Duisenberg
Lemierre rejects talks on ECB candidature - report
GERMANY - Jean Lemierre, president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, dismissed media speculation he is a candidate as the next head of the European Central Bank, a British newspaper reported on Apr 16.
ECB keep rates at 4.75%, despite pressure
EUROPE - The European Central Bank on Apr 11 maintained interest rates at 4.75% because of inflationary pressures in the eurozone, but the central bank acknowledged that risks on the downside remained.
France backs Trichet, but Lemierre in wings-paper
FRANCE - Bank of France Governor Jean-Claude Trichet remains France's choice to succeed Wim Duisenberg as president of the ECB, but another Frenchman Jean Lemierre is an "option," French finance ministry sources told Les Echos.
Central bankers want decision on next ECB chief-FT
EUROPE - The Financial Times newspaper reported on Apr 9 that pressure is growing for an early decision to be made on who succeeds Wim Duisenberg as president of the European Central Bank.
E-economy: will we still need banks in the future
SPEECH - Wim Duisenberg, president of the European Central Bank, gave a speech on April 4 about the developments in electronic finance and the implications for banks. He is optimistic of the benefits, such as a more efficient allocation of capital, but…
Trichet casts doubt over ECB rate cut on Apr 11
EUROPE - Following a Franco-German meeting of finance ministers and central bankers, fresh doubt was cast on the prospects for an interest rate reduction when the ECB next meets on Apr 11, 2001.
ECB keeps rates at 4.75%
EUROPE - The European Central Bank maintained interest rates at 4.75% at its Governing Council meeting on Mar 29, 2001, refusing to follow recent rates cuts of the Federal Reserve and Bank of Japan.
Duisenberg to give way to Trichet mid-02-Lemierre
EUROPE - The European Central Bank on Mar 27, 2001 declined to comment on remarks by a senior European banker suggesting ECB President Wim Duisenberg will step down in mid-2002 to make way for Bank of France head Jean-Claude Trichet.
ECB tight-lipped on banking supervision
A confidential ECB report arguing that eurozone central banks should continue to perform banking supervision has been leaked to German daily paper Boersen Zeitung.
ECB keeps rates steady despite growth fears
As expected, the Governing Council of the European Central Bank held interest rates steady (at its March 15 meeting yesterday) undeterred by weak share markets and dimming euro zone growth prospects.
ECB agrees 10% increase of euro notes production
The European Central Bank on Mar 15, 2001 said it approved a 10 percent increase in the production of euro banknotes to create an additional reserve and help smooth the changeover to euro cash.
ECB plans statement on banking supervision - paper
The European Central Bank plans to issue an official warning to governments not to curb the role of central banks in banking supervision, a German newspaper reported on Mar 14, 2001.
Reynders says he not pushing for a 'Mr Euro'
Belgian Finance Minister Didier Reynders said on Mar 12, 2001 he was not pushing to create a "Mr or Mrs Euro" to speak for the common currency and that controversal reform of the Eurogroup had been put on hold.
Joint euro steering group to tackle counterfeiters
The European Central Bank, European Commission and Europol on Mar 7, 2001 said they had jointly developed an action plan to combat would-be euro cash counterfeiters.
ECB official attacks German bank supervisor revamp
European Central Bank Directorate Member Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa was reported on Mar 4, 2001 as reiterating the ECB's objections to German government plans to strip the Bundesbank of its banking watchdog duties.
Duisenberg says euro zone not hit by U.S. slowdown
European Central Bank President Wim Duisenberg said on Mar 5, 2001 there were no firm signs that the U.S. economic slowdown was spilling over to the euro zone and that there was little likelihood of a near term change in interest rates.
ECB mulls voting change due to EU enlargement
European Central Bank President Wim Duisenberg admitted for the first time on Mar 5, 2001 that European Union expansion could blunt the effectiveness of ECB policy-making and the bank's structure may need to adapt.
ECB surprises by leaving rates unchanged
The European Central Bank on Mar 1, 2001 surprised financial markets by leaving interest rates unchanged, showing that it was not yet ready to follow a series of recent rate cuts by the world's other top central banks.
Duisenberg can draw satisfaction from G7 meeting
For European Central Bank President Wim Duisenberg, Feb 17 meeting with the G7 godfathers of global finance in Palermo must have been a thoroughly satisfying experience. None of the finance ministers from the Group of Seven leading industrial countries…
Noyer -2001 GDP growth slightly less than forecast
Euro-zone growth will be "slightly less rapid" in 2001 than predicted a few months ago, European Central Bank Vice President Christian Noyer said Feb. 6. Noyer, speaking at the Robert Schuman University, said growth this year will be "close to 3%"…
Duisenberg slams plan to curb Buba oversight role
European Central Bank President Wim Duisenberg on Feb. 1, 2001, attacked German government plans to strip the Bundesbank of its banking watchdog duties, saying the move may make it harder to supervise the financial system. In unusually strong tones even…
ECB Duisenberg says Irish budget out of line
European Central Bank President Wim Duisenberg on Feb. 1 said he shared the European Commission's critical assessment of Ireland's expansionary budgetary policies. The Commission has asked EU finance ministers to issue an unprecedented formal reprimand…
ECB has achieved price stability - Duisenberg
The European Central Bank (ECB) has achieved its overriding goal of achieving price stability in the euro area, reflecting a "substantial accomplishment," ECB President Wim Duisenberg said Jan. 24, 2001. The main focus of the ECB's monetary policy in the…
Duisenberg gets chief adviser at ECB
The European Central Bank has appointed Olaf Sleijpen chief adviser of Wim Duisenberg, president of the bank. Sleijpen starts on April 1, 2001. Sleijpen is a 30-year old departmental director of the general secretariat of the Dutch central bank. He also…