United Kingdom
Sanctions threat to 'opaque' tax haven
UK - The government is considering imposing sanctions on Jersey, one of the Channel Islands, if it fails to comply with international action to force tax havens to improve financial transparency.
Debt relief urged for poorest seven countries
UK - Aid donor countries are to meet in London later this week to consider possible new financial support - including foreign debt relief - for the seven poorest countries of the former Soviet Union.
UK to encourage Islamic mortgages
UK - Moves by the UK Treasury and the Bank of England to encourage Islamic mortgages, investments and current accounts in Britain may be under way.
Barclays chief hits out at watchdogs
UK - The head of banking giant Barclays has warned City watchdogs against imposing overzealous regulation, or risk seeing financial services business lost abroad.
Speech by Eddie George, Bank of England Governor
SPEECH - In the speech made Tuesday evening George said an unexpected jump in the UK's January inflation rate was probably "erratic" and forecast it would be around the Bank's 2.5 percent target in two year's time.
Bank of England Inflation Report - February 2002
REPORT - The Bank of England has published its latest quarterly inflation report for February 2002, 13 February.
Banks review systems for managing risk
UK - Risk managers at banks in Britain and Ireland are re-examining defences against rogue traders following the loss of $750m (£532m) by Allied Irish Banks last week.
Inflation leap adds to expectation of rate rise
UK - Inflation leapt in January, outstripping economists' expectations and raising fears that companies are exploiting surging consumer demand to push up prices.
UK inflation posts sharp rise
UK - UK inflation has soared unexpectedly, making an increase in interest rates in March more likely.
New anti-fraud cards on the way
UK - New measures to counter credit and debit card fraud have been unveiled by the UK's banking industry.
Bank may put printing pounds in private hands
UK - Private sector operators may be given the chance to print money under proposals by the Bank of England to jettison its banknote operations.
How Much Should Central Banks Talk? A New Argument
FEATURE - The appropriate level of disclosure of central bank information is a subject that has attracted much debate. Although there is still disagreement on the matter, some sort of consensus does appear to have been reached.
Bank of England keeps UK rates on hold
UK - The Bank of England has kept interest rates on hold following its latest rate-setting meeting.
Bank of England - News Release
NEWS RELEASE - Bank of England Maintains Interest Rates at 4.0%, 7 February.
BoE most transparent G7 central bank - economists
UK - The Bank of England is the most transparent central bank among the world's leading economies, according to a new ranking devised by two European economists.
Foreign banks play down euro importance to City
UK - Foreign banks operating in London believe that the City's success does not depend on the euro.
FSA steps up split caps probe
UK - The city watchdog has stepped up its investigation into split caps, with the announcement that it has started swooping on investment firms involved in the controversial trusts.
Speech by Eddie George, Bank of England Governor
SPEECH - In the speech George said "With inflationary pressures subdued, monetary policy generally can, for the time being at least, afford to remain reasonably supportive" - although he added that he made "no predictions as to what that may mean for…
BoE's George hints at reluctance to raise rates
UK - Sir Edward George, governor of the Bank of England, hinted last night that he does not support a rapid rise in interest rates.
Goodhart talks on central bank independence
UK - Professor Charles Goodhart a former member of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee made a powerful argument for central bankindependence in a talk at the London School of Economics yesterday, Thursday. A CentralBankNet correspondent was…
ECB and BoE - distinguishing features
UK - Analysts often laud the speed of the Fed's response times, like the BoE's, to changes in the business climate, while they decry the supposed "slowness" and unpredictable nature of the ECB.
Bank of England - News Release
NEWS RELEASE - Financial Sanctions: Afghanistan (Taliban and Usama Bin Laden), 28 January 2002.
Regulator warns about health of insurance industry
UK - The Financial Services Authority has warned that it is important for the long-term health of the insurance industry and clients that its capital base is strengthened.
Voters 'will back euro' if economic tests passed
UK - Tony Blair would win a euro referendum just by saying that Britain had passed the five economic tests for joining, according to a poll published on Wednesday.