Regulation
FSA 'self-critical' of role in Equitable
UK - An internal investigation by the Financial Services Authority has sharply criticised its own role in the Equitable Life debacle.
Fed nominees pledge inflation fight, help growth
US - Two candidates for the Federal Reserve board, Susan Bies and Mark Olson, Wednesday gave their support to the U.S. central bank's dual mandate of fighting inflation and pursuing steady economic growth.
Fed eases rules on foreign banks, US branches
US - Almost four years after it was first proposed, the Federal Reserve on Wednesday approved easing rules on activities of branches of U.S. banks abroad and for U.S.-based branches of foreign financial institutions.
Economic leaders choose Ottawa
CANADA - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank have confirmed that their delayed annual meetings will now be held in Ottawa on 17-18 November.
Gambia struggles with economic reform
GAMBIA - Presidential elections this week in the Gambia will push the small West African nation into the international limelight.
ECB's Hamalainen urges speedier market integration
IRELAND - European Central Bank board member Sirkka Hamalainen has urged euro zone countries to speed up the integration of financial markets and help the implementation of monetary policy in the 12-member currency bloc.
Ministers clear way on money laundering laws
EUROPE - European Union finance ministers on Tuesday 16 October cleared the way for a long-sought agreement on tougher money-laundering laws that could be used to fight terrorism.
International finance meetings back on agenda
UK - The International Monetary Fund and World Bank are finalising plans to call meetings of their powerful policy-making committees within two months. The meetings were postponed after the 11 September attacks.
World's most unusual central bank
AFGHANISTAN - This is no ordinary central bank. The currency reserves of the Northern Alliance - large wads of Afghani notes that arrive from neighbouring Tajikistan - are kept in a broom cupboard in a mud-walled hut in the dusty Afghan town of Khoja…
Ex-economics minister again c bank council member
ESTONIA - Along with the president's decision to relieve Mihkel Parnoja of the post of economics minister, Parnoja's powers as member of the supervisory council of the Bank of Estonia were restored.
Swaziland on money-laundering alert
SWAZILAND - Swaziland is on alert for foreign organisations trying to channel money through the tiny African kingdom after a government official was offered a bribe, authorities said on Monday 15 October.
Euro coins out in Austria ahead of official launch
AUSTRIA - A small volume of euro-denominated coins have already entered into circulation amongst the general public in Austria. This is despite the fact that starter packs of euro coins are not officially due to be released to private citizens until mid…
Financial regulator rejects Tory call for probe
UK - The City regulator has rejected Conservative calls for an investigation of the government's role in the collapse of Railtrack, and told MPs if impropriety were proven it would be up to the government to prosecute itself.
Repse's deputy may take a shot at top position
LATVIA - The Bank of Latvia vice-president Ilmars Rimsevics may agree to run for the top position with the central bank, if approached with such an offer.
Hearing on nominees to US Fed set for 17 Oct
US - The U.S. Senate Banking Committee will hold a hearing on 17 October to consider two candidates for the Federal Reserve Board, a Senate aide said on Friday 12 October.
Egypt's central bank deputy becomes temporary head
EGYPT - Egypt's deputy central bank governor, Mahmoud Abu Al-Ayoun, is standing in as the governor of the bank until a new one is appointed to replace Ismail Hassan, a central bank official said Monday 15 October.
Why China needs a real central bank
ARTICLE - On paper, the People's Bank of China is in charge of monetary affairs - In reality, its authority is emasculated by party politics - a huge liability as WTO entry nears.
Conference targets terror funds
CANADA - An international conference on money laundering opens in Montreal late on Monday 15 October, aimed at helping countries harmonise their approaches to tackling the issue.
Prime candidate for Bank of England hot seat
ARTICLE - In all the turmoil over a momentous weekend, a valuable contribution to City gossip is in danger of being overlooked. The esteemed City chronicler, Christopher Fildes, reminded us in his Spectator column last week that the next big job vacancy…
Speech by Christian Noyer of the ECB
SPEECH - Speech by Mr. Christian Noyer, Vice-President of the European Central Bank, at the European Federation of Finance House Associations (EUROFINAS) conference, Warsaw, 15 October.
Banks tighten monitoring use of capital in Taiwan
TAIWAN - Many banks in Taiwan will further tighten monitoring the movements of funds lent to enterprises to prevent borrowers from wiring the money they get from the banks abroad and then left their debts in Taiwan.
Poland's Miller denies plan to curb central bank
POLAND - Poland's Prime Minister designate Leszek Miller denied in a radio interview that his future coalition government had agreed to curb the central bank's independence if it does not cut interest rates by 600 basis points over the next six months,…
Duisenberg calls for 12 more months as ECB leader
GERMANY - Wim Duisenberg has virtually ruled out any prospect that he would step down as European Central Bank president halfway through his term by making clear he wanted to stay in his job for at least the next 12 months.
US tightens 'terror cash' laws
US - The US Senate has passed legislation to tighten laws against money-laundering, as financial authorities seek ways to clamp down on terrorists' sources of funding.