Europe
IMF's Koehler sees Europe 2001 growth exceeding US
International Monetary Fund Managing Director Horst Koehler said on Feb 15 he saw European GDP growth in 2001 of some three percent against two percent expected for the United States. In a wide-ranging conversation with Italian business daily Il Sole 24…
Interview: ECB's Otmar Issing
The chief economist and executive board member of the EuropeanCentral Bank gives an inside view on the ECB's thinking: Why hasthe ECB recently started publishing macroeconomic projectionsrather than forecasts, and what do these projections mean…
Graham Bishop on Lamfalussy Wise Men Final Report
The Federal Trust set up a Working Party of senior financial practitionersto look at the "Initial Report" of the Committee of Wise Men (colloquiallyknown as the Lamfalussy Report) on the Regulation of European SecuritiesMarkets. Graham Bishop, owner of…
Bank of France raises growth forecast for Q1 2001
The Bank of France raised its forecast for first-quarter economic growth in 2001 after its latest survey of business sentiment pointed to a rosier outlook than the bank had anticipated previously. The central bank raised its forecast for first-quarter…
ECB Hamalainen-Eurozone needs structural changes
The euro zone still needs to make further strides in structural changes if it is to see a potential economic growth rate similar to that of the U.S., European Central Bank executive board member Sirkka Haemaelaeinen said on Feb 12, 2001. "Certainly, we…
Buba's Stark says ECB should meet less often
The European Central Bank should hold council meetings once a month rather than every two weeks, Bundesbank Vice President Juergen Stark said in remarks published on Feb 8, 2001. Stark, who is not a member of the ECB's council and has no say in ECB…
ECB slams banks over cross-border payment charges
The European Central Bank on Feb. 8, 2001 accused commercial banks of persistently overcharging retail customers for cross-border payments and said it may have to step in unless fees are cut substantially this year. The ECB said in its February report…
Communications plays key role in mon policy - ECB
Communication policy plays a vital part in supporting the European Central Bank's (ECB) monetary policy by helping the central bank achieve its price stability goal and in assuring public acceptance of policy decisions, the ECB said in its report for…
'Monetary Union, Employment and Growth' -P. Padoan
"Monetary Union, Employment and Growth: The Impact of the Euro as a Global Currency", Edited by Pier Carlo Padoan, Professor of Economics, University of Rome 'La Sapienza', Italy and Director of Economic Studies, College of Europe, Bruges, Belgium. Below…
ECB's Trichet - European growth to continue strong
European Central Bank council member and Bank of France governor Jean-Claude Trichet said on Feb. 7, 2000 growth in Europe will continue "at a reasonable, strong pace." There were, however, downside risks to real gross domestic product growth, he told a…
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%"…
Belgium finalises euro note, coin switchover plans
Belgium announced on Feb 6, 2001, its final plans for the switch to euro notes and coins in 2002, a mammoth logistical task which is set to mobilise all 12 euro zone countries in the second half of this year. Belgium's "Euro Commission" said banks and…
ECB Trichet-solid euro in interests of Europe -CNN
European Central Bank council member and Bank of France Governor Jean-Claude Trichet reiterated on Feb. 5, 2001, that a solid euro is in Europe's bests interests. "We call for a solid euro. A solid euro is in the interests of Europe," Trichet said in an…
'Econ pol coordination in the Europe' by P Jacquet
"Economic policy co-ordination in the Euro zone: What has been achieved? What should be done?"In this pamphlet, French policy advisors Pierre Jacquet and Jean Pisani-Ferry review economic policy co-ordination since the Euro was launched and recommend…
Cash launch to boost public support for euro-Noyer
European Central Bank Vice President Christian Noyer said on Feb. 2 that public support of the single currency would grow with the introduction of euro notes and coins from January 1, 2002. Echoing earlier comments from other ECB officials, Noyer said it…
Bank of Spain says economy slowed in Q4
Spanish economic growth, among the fastest in the euro zone, slowed to an estimated 3.9 percent year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2000 from 4.1 percent in the third quarter, the Bank of Spain said on Feb. 2, 2001. Gross domestic prorduct (GDP) growth…
IMF says ECB right to wait for more info on rates
The European Central Bank should wait for more information about core inflation in the euro zone and the growth outlook for the U.S. economy before cutting interest rates, the International Monetary Fund said. In a statement on euro-zone economic…
'European Central Bank' by Georg Schweiger
As befits a man with his background, Schweiger's book primarily deals with the legal and institutional framework of the European Central Bank (ECB). Although the jacket claims the book focuses on the personalities behind the bank, this is better left to…
Lack of confidence shouldn't slow eurozone-Vanhala
Finland's central bank governor said on Feb. 1 he hoped "reasons of confidence and psychology" would not slow euro zone growth more than real economic conditions justify. Matti Vanhala was speaking after the European Central Bank's governing council, of…
New ECB website on introduction of euro notes, coin
The European Central Bank on Feb. 1, 2001, unveiled a new website as part of its campaign to prepare the public in the 12 euro-zone states for the introduction of notes and coins from January 1, 2002.The website, with the address www.euro.ecb.int, has…
Stock market consolidation to help euro - Reynders
Belgian Finance Minister Didier Reynders said on Jan. 30 that "technical measures" were needed to stimulate foreign investor interest in the euro, singling out further stock market consolidation.Reynders said also that with the introduction of euro notes…
Speech: Pedro Solbes at Euroclear Euro Conference
Pedro Solbes, the Member of the EU Commission Economic and Monetary Affairs, gives a speech to the Euroclear conference titled 'Preparation for the euro cash changeover: state of play and tasks ahead'.
ECB-forex reserves almost unchanged at 260.9 bln
The European Central Bank said on Jan. 30, 2001, foreign currency reserves of the euro zone central banks in the week ending January 26 were "virtually unchanged," while its gold holdings were also unchanged. The net position of the ECB and euro zone…
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…