Regulation
Brazil's central bank - a question of independence
FEATURE - Brazil's central bank president, Arminio Fraga, may appear the only sure thing in Brasilia these days as election fever grips the capital of South America's number one economy. But the question to be asked is, for how long?
Supervision seminar to be hosted by c bank of Oman
OMAN - Hamoud bin Sanjoor al Zedjali, Executive President of the Central Bank of Oman (CBO), inaugurated at the CBO on Sunday a regional seminar on supervisory developments and practices in the banking sector.
Russian gov't seeks central bank draft law changes
RUSSIA - The Russian government will press for a revision of a number of amendments to the draft law on the Central Bank the State Duma (lower house) proposed Friday, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Aleksey Kudrin has said.
Korean financial supervisory system to be assessed
SOUTH KOREA - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank are expected to evaluate Korea's progress in establishing effective frameworks for supervising banks, insurers and securities firms during a 14-day assessment program on the country's…
Russian c banker in court for abuse of office
RUSSIA - The Zamoskvoretskiy intermunicipal court in Moscow begins proceedings in the criminal case involving Aleksandr Alekseyev, deputy head of the Russian Central Bank's main territorial directorate for Moscow, ITAR-TASS reports.
Iran judiciary says has no plans to try ministers
IRAN - Iran's judiciary denied on Sunday persistent media reports it planned to summon Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh and Central Bank Governor Mohsen Nourbakhsh to court to face corruption charges.
Bangladesh to close 500 bank branches
BANGLADESH - The central bank in Bangladesh has disclosed a plan to close down 500 branches of state owned commercial banks which were incurring losses over the last five years.
Deputies to G-7 finance chiefs to meet in London
UK - The deputies to the Group of Seven industrial nations' finance ministers will meet in London Thursday, sources told Jiji Press Saturday.
Polish PM scales back anti-central bank rhetoric
POLAND - Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller softened hostile rhetoric against the country's central bank on Sunday but kept intact the message that bankers should stop damaging the limp economy with high interest rates.
Ecofin's Rato sees deal on ECB's Noyer in Oviedo
SPAIN - Spanish Economy Minister Rodrigo Rato said on Friday he expected European finance ministers to agree next week on a replacement for the vice president of the European Central Bank, Christian Noyer.
Russia's banks face 'health check'
RUSSIA - An inspection team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank start work in Moscow on Wednesday on what is described as a "comprehensive health check-up" of Russia's shaky financial sector.
ECB's French connection is still fuzzy
FEATURE - The next president of the European Central Bank will be a Frenchman, but the question is: Which one?, asks the Wall Street Journal, 3 April.
US Judge dismisses claims against BIS, Fed Reserve
US - A federal judge in Boston has dismissed claims of price manipulation a consultant to the Gold Antitrust Action Committee made against the Bank of International Settlements, several leading investment houses and officials of the U.S. Treasury and…
New Solomon Islands minister reverses devaluation
SOLOMON ISLANDS - The new minister of finance, Laurie Chan, has revoked the 25 per cent devaluation of the Solomon Islands dollar announced by now sacked Finance Minister Michael Maina on 26 March.
Japan Lower House approves new BOJ board members
JAPAN - Japan's powerful Lower House of parliament on Thursday approved the appointment of two businessmen to the Bank of Japan's (BOJ) policy-setting board, to replace members whose terms expired at the end of March.
Gov't demand changes in law on Nat Bank of Georgia
GEORGIA - Ministry of State Security of Georgia demands entering changes to law on National Bank of Georgia to study "doubtful bank enumerations".
Zimbabwe's c bank calls for debt issue discussion
ZIMBABWE - The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), the country's central bank, has urged the government to intensify efforts to shift debt towards longer term securities to address the huge debt service burden, according to the Zimbabwe Inter-Africa News…
Boost for Germany's financial role
GERMANY - Recent reforms to modernise regulation of Germany's financial markets are likely to strengthen the country's position as an international financial centre, even though the government had to compromise on its proposals.
IMF Working Paper Series
RESEARCH - Regulatory and Supervisory Independence and Financial Stability by Marc Quintyn and Michael Taylor of the Monetary and Exchange Affairs Department of the International Monetary Fund, March 2002.
Basel Committee on Banking Supervision
REPORT - Supervisory Guidance on Dealing with Weak Banks, Basel Committee Publications No. 88, March 2002.
US-based professor new Afghan central bank chief
AFGHANISTAN - An American-based university professor and former merchant banker on Sunday was appointed to probably the toughest finance job in the world - governor of the Afghan Central Bank.
HK monetary chief takes a 10% pay cut
HONG KONG - Hong Kong monetary chief Joseph Yam, claimed by many as being over-paid, became the first senior civil servant to take a pay cut as part of the government's belt-tightening drive.
Argentine ex-minister arrested
ARGENTINA - The former Argentine economy minister, Domingo Cavallo, has been arrested in connection with illegal arms sales to Croatia and Ecuador in the 1990s.
Bulgarian nat bank to tighten bank system control
BULGARIA - The Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) will closely monitor the small shareholders in Bulgarian banks, which acquire stakes of over 3.0 pct, according to Banking Act amendments, reports Bulgarian News Digest.