Asia
ASEAN swap ceiling agreement signed
The Central Bank of Indonesia (BI), the Cambodian National Bank, the Monetary Authority of Singapore and the Bank of Thailand have signed an agreement to increase the ceiling of the ASEAN Swap Arrangement from 1 billion USD to 2 billion USD.
Oil price rise leads to C-word use in Asia
This article published onb Friday 2 September says that when respected and sober Asian economists start using the word 'crisis' in reference to surging oil prices it's time to take them seriously.
Academics discuss East Asian Monetary Union
Academics meeting on Friday 19 August called for Asian nations to set up a regional cooperative body similar to the EU and adopt a common East Asian currency.
Growth rate in Korea at second-lowest: ADB
Korea's economic growth rate for 2006 will be the second-lowest out of a dozen Asian economies, the Asia Development Bank predicted in a report.
Towards a new Plaza Accord?
The explosive growth in Asian reserves puts a premium on international action to redress global imbalances. By Jean-Jacques Rey.
A punch bowl made in China
China is supplying a punch bowl to keep the party going despite the Federal Reserve's best efforts, according to an article published on Wednesday 10 August. So consumers can thank Beijing and other Asian central banks for all the cheap credit, it says.
Pressure on Asia to shift reserves
Asian central banks may have to shift up to $500 billion in reserves from dollars to euros and yen or risk foregoing $28 billion a year in potential revenue, according to a report published by Goldman Sachs Group.
EMEAP central banks to boost economic security
The governors of central banks from 11 East Asian and Pacific countries agreed to build a regional financial security network and strengthen coordination in a bid to decrease financial vulnerability against external pressure.
ADB chief calls for early yuan shift
Asian Development Bank President Haruhiko Kuroda said on Tuesday 14 June that China should shift to a more flexible currency regime at an early date as such a move would benefit China and the rest of the world.
Dangerous drift in international money
The international monetary situation is being allowed to drift dangerously as the leading countries neglect the risks and ignore calls for reform. Robert Pringle reports from Beijing.
Is the IMF an endangered species in Asia?
This article says last week's meeting of the Asian Development Bank marked the resurrection of the idea of an "Asian Monetary Fund". This step, along with the Asian Bond Fund, will not only move Asia further down the path of integration, but also reduce…
EMEAP announces ABF2 moves to implementation phase
The eleven central banks and monetary authorities from East Asia and the Pacific which make up the EMEAP Group announced on Thursday 12 May that the Asian Bond Fund 2 (ABF2) has moved into its implementation phase.
Fed's blunder should make Asia green with envy
This article published on Thursday 5 May says no policy maker in Asia can claim to match the Fed's mastery over "open mouth operations". Where many of the Asian central banks go wrong is in thinking they'll get more respect from the market by being…
Asian central banks set to gather for ACU meeting
Heads and representatives of central banks from ten countries, including India, will visit Pakistan later this month to attend an annual meeting of the Asian Clearing Union, an official of the State Bank of Pakistan said on Tuesday 3 May.
Asian central banks' dilemma
Diversification away from dollar denominated foreign exchange reserves is a natural reaction for Asian central banks, this article says. But because of the size of their holdings, any sudden move to sell a substantial part of these holdings could cause a…
ADB looking forward to Turkey hosting meeting
The Asian Development Bank said on Tuesday 8 March that it is looking forward to Turkey hosting the Bank's next Annual Meeting in Istanbul.
Ex-Fed's Wyss says Asia should diversify reserves
Asian central banks need to diversify their foreign reserves but in doing so, they should allow the local currencies to appreciate against the dollar, a former US presidential economic adviser and Federal Reserve governor said on Thursday 3 March.
Asian central bankers affecting markets
The dollar's nearlythree-year decline has led many central banks to consider diversifying into other types of money, especially in the face of a more valuable euro. According to this article, the reaction to recent comments from South Korea serves as a…
Foreign reserves, Asia's problem of plenty
The dilemma facing many of emerging Asia's economies over how best to use their massive stock of dollar reserves is hardly new, this article says, but some economists suggest spending central bank reserves on domestic projects, rather than leaving them…
ASEAN currency swap deal extended
Central bankers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations signed an agreement on Thursday 24 February to extend until 2006 a currency swap deal intended to help ASEAN members experiencing international liquidity problems.
Interview: Alexander Swoboda
Governments, not central banks, hold the future of the world economy in their hands. Without action, preferably coordinated, on both sides of the Atlantic and in Asia, the outlook is grim says Alexander Swoboda.
IMF's Krueger on reforming economies
In a speech on 'Shared experience: What reforming economies have in common' given on 14 January, Anne Krueger of the IMF said India should tread a cautious path as far as infrastructure spending is concerned, since too much spending can trigger high…
Statement by IMF's Rato at ASEAN Leaders' Meeting
Rodrigo de Rato, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), issued the following statement on Thursday 6 January at the high-level meeting on humanitarian relief for countries affected by the Asia tsunami disaster in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Statement by IMF's Rato ahead of Jakarta meeting
Rodrigo de Rato, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), issued the following statement on Wednesday 5 January after arriving in Jakarta, Indonesia, for a high-level meeting on humanitarian relief for countries affected by the Asia…