Australia
RBA will make rates decision at meeting on 1 May
AUSTALIA - The Reserve Bank of Australia board meets tomorrow, 1 May, to consider whether the future risks to the Australian economy warrant further interest rate reductions. And according to market economists the decision will be a finely balanced one.
Australian inflation lowers rate cut call
AUSTRALIA - Expectations of an interest rate cut have been lowered after the release of surprisingly high inflation figures. The Reserve Bank board is due to meet next week.
Settlement system to remain in New Zealand
NEW ZEALAND - The Reserve Bank of New Zealand announced on Apr 18 that its plan to move the hardware used for inter-bank settlements in New Zealand to Sydney will not proceed.
Debelle becomes RBA head of economic analysis
AUSTRALIA - The Reserve Bank of Australia has appointed Dr Guy Debelle as head of the economic analysis department, replacing Malcolm Edey.
RBA supervises credit card payment systems
AUSTRALA - The Reserve Bank of Australia took supervisory control of Australian credit card service fees on Apr 12, putting under threat A$600 million in fees the banks earn from Bankcard, MasterCard and VISA schemes.
RBA governor talks up Australian economy
AUSTRALIA - Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Ian Macfarlane said on Apr 10 that he remained optmistic about growth in 2001 and that recent rate cuts are aimed at protecting the economy from a global slowdown.
RBA Stevens optimistic on economic growth
AUSTRALIA - Reserve Bank of Australia assistant governor Glenn Stevens said on Apr 5, 2001 there is genuine uncertainty about Australia's short-term economic outlook, but he expected a return to normal rates of growth, possibly by mid-2001.
What central banks can and can't do-RBNZ Don Brash
SPEECH - The Reserve Bank of New Zealand's Governor Don Brash is urging people to be realistic about what monetary policy can achieve. Speaking to the Trans-Tasman Business Circle in Sydney, Dr Brash said that "In recent years ... the public have come to…
Australia cuts interest rates by 0.5%
AUSTRALIA - Australia's central bank on Apr 4, 2001 cut interest rates by half percentage point to boost consumer confidence and limit the impact of a global slowdown. It was the third reduction at board meetings in a row.
RBA launches newly designed website
AUSTRALIA - The Reserve Bank of Australia has launched a major redesign of its website at www.rba.gov.au, increasing the quality and quantity of information, and the ease of access.
House committee urges RBA to increase transparency
AUSTRALIA - A two-year study of international financial markets by Australia's House of Representatives economics committee has concluded that the the Reserve Bank of Australia has to explain more about its monetary policy decisions and economic thinking.
RBA board members debate economic prospects
AUSTRALIA/SPEECH - The newest board member of Australia's central bank, Donald McGauchie, doubts whether there will be a quick return to economic growth, in sharp contrast to the views of the central bank's deputy governor Stephen Grenville.
Australia's Costello names McGauchie to RBA board
Former president of Australia's National Farmers' Federation Donald McGauchie has been appointed to the board of the Reserve Bank of Australia for a term of five years, Treasurer Peter Costello said on Mar 22, 2001.
Credit-card reform goes to the RBA
AUSTRALIA - On Mar 20, 2001, the Australian competition regulator handed the job of reforming Australia's credit-card system to Australia's central bank.
BIS sets up Asia-Pacific consultative council
The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) said on Mar 12, 2001 it had set up an Asian Consultative Council comprising governors of its central bank members in the region.
Measuring regulatory success- by Alan Cameron
ARTICLE - Effective regulation cannot be measured by high-profile prosecutions or by counting boxes ticked. Financial regulators have much to learn from Professor Malcolm Sparrow's study of crime and environmental policing, argue Alan Cameron and Bill…
RBA appoints Frank Campbell as assistant governor
The Reserve Bank of Australia has announced the appointment of Frank Campbell to the post of Assistant Governor, Corporate Services department.
RBA cuts official cash rate by 25 bps to 5.50%
The Reserve Bank of Australia announced on Mar 7, 2001 it had cut the official cash rate target to 5.50 per cent, from 5.75 per cent, but was criticised for past policy mistakes by the prime minister.
RBA upbeat but says U.S. still main risk
Australia's central bank painted a cautious picture of the economy on Feb 12, 2001, saying domestic growth had slowed and much depended on the outlook for the United States. Less than a week after slashing official interest rates by half a percentage…
Aussie stays lumped with euro despite decisive RBA
Proactive policy action by the Reserve Bank failed to give the Australian dollar much of a lift on Feb. 7, 2001 with the unit undermined against the U.S. dollar by weakness in the euro and flows towards the yen. The half point rate cut by the RBA had…
Australia's central bank supported A$, worst over
Australia's central bank intervened to support the local dollar to the tune of A$860 million in November as the currency plumbed record lows, the Reserve Bank said on Dec 21.
PNG should adopt the Aust dollar, says expert
Papua New Guinea should adopt the Australian dollar to ensure economic stability, an expert on developing Asia Pacific economies advised today.
A$ bounces back from record lows
The Australian dollar bounced back from this week's record lows against the US dollar on Wednesday, buoyed by talk of central bank support in the options market.
Australian dollar falls to 17 year low
The tide of global foreign exchange markets has turned against the Australian dollar again with the local currency falling to a record 17 year low.