Latvia
Bank of Latvia establishes first overnight clearing cycle
New cycle will accelerate processing of retail payments submitted late in the day and comes with an upgrade to business continuity that should see fewer payments rejected
Latvia central bank brings rates and rules in line with eurozone
Bank of Latvia slashes rates to match ECB's ultra-low 0.25%; economists say the move, along with new regulations, was designed purely to ready the country to join the eurozone in January
People: Latvian governor re-appointed; Lithuania hires board member from ECB
Long-serving Latvian governor wins another term, to see Latvia into the eurozone; Lithuania appoints fifth member to the board; Riksbank promotes new head of financial stability department
Latvia to adopt euro in 2014
European Commission gives Latvia the green light to become eighteenth eurozone member after it comfortably meets convergence criteria, but ECB voices concerns over price and financial stability
Latvian annual report reveals reserves diversification
Bank of Latvia publishes annual report for 2012; reveals 15% increase in foreign reserves and diversification into Canadian and Singapore dollar-denominated assets
Latvia submits application for a seat at the euro table
Baltic nation sees membership of European single currency as the 'logical next step' of further integration into the European Union
Signal-extraction analysed by Latvian paper
Study considers ability of a regularised filter to extract signals from large data-sets
IMF’s Lagarde praises ‘remarkable’ recovery in Latvia
Christine Lagarde highlights successful reform efforts in Latvia; Asmussen says struggling eurozone countries could learn lessons from Baltic experience
Latvia governor assesses state of domestic economy
Bank of Latvia governor discusses developments in the Latvian economy as central bank leaves interest rates unchanged
Lithuanian central bank completes euro credit migration to Sepa
Bank of Lithuania says government institutions holding accounts with central bank will now be able to initiate and receive payments in euros through Sepa credit payments scheme
IMF paper on foreign credit expansion in European EMEs
Fund study finds evidence of significant increase in level of foreign credit growth in emerging European countries
Estonia nabs firms over euro leak
Bank of Estonia fines two companies for mishandling euro coins ahead of the currency’s launch in 2011; strong link to coin sale in neighbouring Latvia
IMF finds persistent debt overhang in Baltic countries
Fund study finds level debt overhang most pronounced in Estonia and Latvia
Nordic and Baltic regions strike financial stability deal
Eight Nordic and Baltic countries sign Memorandum of Understanding on cross-border financial stability and crisis management
Riksbank's Persson: don't shoot CDS "messenger"
The Swedish central bank uses CDS spreads as an indicator of financial stability
Emerging Europe keen on euro despite Greek debt woe
Central and Eastern European countries remain drawn to the single currency despite Greek troubles
Lats peg under spotlight once again
Rumours of devaluation resurface following government move to limit debt burden, but state officials say will maintain euro peg
Foreign lenders pledge support to Latvia
Four biggest foreign-owned banks in Baltic state agree to prop up branches and subsidiaries
IMF says yes to second Latvia loan
International Monetary Fund gives Latvia a second pay-out under the economic programme set up in December
S&P downgrades Latvia, Estonia
Latvia’s and Estonia’s long-term sovereign ratings downgraded, Lithuanian rating’s outlook put on negative watch
Will Dr. Gloom and Dr. Doom’s Next Domino Fall?
The current plight of Latvia and its Baltic neighbours is far different from Argentina’s in the early part of this decade
Realign lats: ex-Argentine chief economist
A former chief economist at the Central Bank of Argentina has claimed that the best strategy for Riga to pursue would be a contained devaluation of the lats.
Latvia buys euros for first time since November
The Bank of Latvia bought euros for the first time in seven months last week after the lats gained on hopes that Riga would not have to devalue the currency.
Trade spillovers hit Baltics most
Trade channels dominate the transmission of cross-border spillovers to the Baltic States, a new paper from the International Monetary Fund reveals.