Australia
RBA is losing minds in credit card battle
FEATURE - The Reserve Bank is digging itself into a hole in its new role as a consumer advocate and risks damaging its relations with the banks over its efforts to "reform" Australia's credit-card system.
Reserve Bank of Australia Media Release
MEDIA RELEASE - Reform of credit card schemes in Australia, 18 March.
Credit card advantages overlooked, RBA told
AUSTRALIA - Two leading banking industry consultants have criticised planned reforms of Australia's credit card industry.
RBA's Macfarlane to give speech on 22 March
AUSTRALIA - Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Ian Macfarlane has two speeches scheduled in coming weeks, his first public outings since December.
Australia's Macfarlane moves Reserve goal posts
AUSTRALIA - The Reserve Bank of Australia governor advised the Australian Government against repayments of borrowed US dollars.
Speech by Glenn Stevens of the RBA, 6 March
SPEECH - Stevens said in the speech titled 'Economic Performance and Issues in 2002' that "as best as we can judge, the economy is not only continuing to expand, but has reasonable prospects of continuing to do so in the near term".
Reserve Bank of Australia Media Release
MEDIA RELEASE - Statement by the Governor, Ian MacFarlane. Australian Office of Financial Management cross currency interest rate swaps.
Gold loses its shine as banks sell, costs fall
AUSTRALIA - A third of the gold ever mined, or 30,000 tonnes, is stored in central banks around the world. The banks want to lower their reserves in favour of higher yielding investments such as bonds and currency.
Regulators not in real world, says McFarlane
AUSTRALIA - The ANZ Bank CEO, John McFarlane, has spoken out against Australia's financial regulators.
Reserve Bank of Australia Bulletin, February 2002
REPORT - RBA Statement on Monetary Policy, 21 February 2002.
Reserve Bank of Australia Bulletin, February 2002
REPORT - RBA Recent Developments in Small Business Finance, 21 February 2002.
CBA hits Reserve, playing "social policy" on cards
AUSTRALIA - On Thursday Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) attacked the Reserve Bank over its proposed credit card reforms.
Asian economies on the mend
ASIA - While many of Asia's economies are stagnating or deep in recession, anecdotal evidence emerges from Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea and Australia that a recovery could be under way.
Speech by Glenn Stevens of the RBA, 18 Feb
SPEECH - In the speech titled 'The Economic Outlook in 2002' Stevens said economic prospects were "pretty good", although there could be a weak patch during 2002.
RBA says Australia's prospects pretty good
AUSTRALIA - The Reserve Bank of Australia said on Monday there were good reasons to be confident about the domestic economy over 2002, but warned that Japan remained the biggest risk to a global recovery.
Australian Reserve Bank's credit-card plan slated
AUSTRALIA - MasterCard said it will consider scaling back its Australian operations if the central bank proceeds with its plan to cut credit-card fees and open the credit-card system to new participants.
Gold bugs should not get too excited
AUSTRALIA - Predictions of a sustained increase in gold prices are not expected to be realised. The reason for the lack of a sustained revival is the poor business foundations of the gold industry.
Reserve Bank of Australia Report
REPORT - The latest quarterly Statement on Monetary Policy has been released by the RBA, 11 February.
Reserve Bank of Australia - Media Release
MEDIA RELEASE - Senior Management Changes, 29 January.
Australia's Res Bank appoint head of domestic mkts
AUSTRALIA - The Reserve Bank of Australia said Tuesday it has appointed Philip Lowe as head of its domestic markets department.
Credit card clean-up in Australia
AUSTRALIA - The Reserve Bank of Australia is poised to make sweeping changes to credit card regulations in 2002. Should it prohibit the banks' interchange fee structure, as has already been flagged, Australia's banks will lose a collective $A400 million…
Reserve Bank of Australia - Media Release
MEDIA RELEASE - Appointment of Dr Malcolm Edey as Assistant Governor (Economic), 23 January 2002.
RBA appoints new assistant governor economic
AUSTRALIA - The Reserve Bank today announced the appointment of Dr Malcolm Edey as assistant governor (economic).
RBA names new deputy governor
AUSTRALIA - The appointment on Thursday of Mr Glenn Stevens as deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia makes him the frontrunner to become the central bank's next governor.