Regulation
Is Greenspan growing tired of his task?
ARTICLE - Alan Greenspan has always been as good a politician as he is a central banker. The Federal Reserve chairman is the master of the non-answer-answer to a hostile question and he does it with remarkable grace. Last week's appearance on Capitol…
BIS urges watch on Asian c.bank balance sheets
AUSTRALIA - The Bank for International Settlements said today, 24 July, more attention should be paid to the balance sheet independence of central banks in Asia.
Thai c.bank to finalise new forex rules this week
THAILAND - A senior Bank of Thailand (BOT) official said on 24 July changes to forex trade reporting rules for foreigners would go to the governor for approval this week.
Bank Indonesia extends capital adequacy deadline
INDONESIA - Bank Indonesia has extended its deadlines for banks to achieve a minimum capital adequacy ratio (CAR) of 8 per cent.
Philippine Bank will strictly enforce Forex rules
PHILIPPINES - In a stern warning to banks deemed responsible for several days of volatility in the peso market, the Philippine Central Bank said today, 23 July it will strictly implement existing sanctions against violators of foreign exchange rules,…
O'Neill believes ECB is not fully independent
US - U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill said on 23 July that the European Central Bank is not totally independent from the views of the most influential member states of the euro zone.
Argentina softens economic reforms
ARGENTINA - The Argentine government is to soften its belt-tightening economic reforms after two days of crippling strikes and protests.
The Brazilian Supervisory Framework - Developments
RESEARCH - Brazil's central bank, Banco Central Do Brasil, has recently published a paper tiltled 'Recent Developments in the Brazilian Supervisory Framework - Consolidated Supervision in Brazil.'
Singapore MAS to hold 30th anniversary conference
SINGAPORE - The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) will host a central bankers' conference tomorrow, 20 July to mark its 30th anniversary, the central bank said in a statement on Wednesday 18 July.
Central bank Cooperation planned
POLAND - The National Bank of Poland (NBP) has officially signed cooperative agreements with its French and Italian counterparts at a ceremony in Warsaw.
Bank of Canada names deputy gov of finance markets
CANADA - Sheryl Kennedy has been asked to serve as deputy governor of financial markets for Bank of Canada.
BoJ urges move on measurement of bad loans
JAPAN - The Bank of Japan has discreetly urged the Financial Supervisory Agency, the main regulator in Japan, to develop better methods for measuring questionable bank loans, writes the Financial Times in London, 19 July.
Russia link to murder of Ukraine central bank head
UKRAINE - The Kiev Prosecutor-General's Office today announced the completion of an investigation into the case of the Top Servis Vostok company. The case involved 17 members of a crime gang who are accused of committing murder and arson in 1997-99 at…
Russian bank reform - key topic at autumn session
RUSSIA - Minister for Economic Development and Trade of Russia, German Gref, after the traditional meeting of Russia s President Vladimir Putin with the m embers of the Cabinet in the Kremlin informs, that Putin demands that actions o f the Central Bank…
C Bank - Favoured firms made $bn in Milosevic era
YUGOSLAVIA - Yugoslav companies given special privileges during the rule of Slobodan Milosevic creamed off more than 8.3 billion German marks ($3.66 billion) in extra profits, the central bank said on 18 July.
Bank of Italy merger veto curbs ambitions of banks
ITALY - Bank of Italy Governor Antonio Fazio's continued opposition to mergers between leading Italian banks is proving to be a big drag on the sector as domestic mergers and acquisitions are the only way Italian banks can grow to catch up with larger…
Thai bank agrees with cabinet time zone shift idea
THAILAND - The Thai cabinet intends to accelerate economic growth by turning clocks forward one hour, to bring Thai time in line with regional economic powerhouses such as Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong, the Bangkok Post reported Wednesday. Thailand's…
Russian C Bank stripped of right to control audits
RUSSIA - On 13 July, the Russian State Duma adopted in third and final reading two bills, entitled On auditing activities and on the state registration of legal entities.
Reserve bank begins financing tobacco growers
ZIMBABWE - THE Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has started disbursing 20% pooled foreign exchange proceeds drawn from off-shore facilities to finance tobacco growers, ending several months of waiting by the growers, it has been learnt.
South Africa banks fear effects of brain drain
SOUTH AFRICA - South Africa's banks have identified skill shortages as the biggest threat facing the industry.
Dutch Government poised to revamp supervision
NETHERLANDS - Gerrit Zalm, the Dutch finance minister, is considering transforming the financial sector's three existing supervisory bodies into two watchdogs, according to well-informed sources. The reorganisation could mean that the central bank DNB…
Cuban bank to stop services to 'deadbeat'companies
CUBA - The Cuban Central Bank plans to suspend banking services to deadbeat Cuban companies effective in January 2002, a bank spokesman said.
IMF Fischer stresses Turkey econ program on track
US - The International Monetary Fund signalled the beginning of a new public relations campaign to relieve market pressure on Turkey 13 July, with the Fund's second-ranked executive declaring investors aren't giving Ankara enough credit for the reforms…
Y V Reddy: International Financial Standards
SPEECH - Public lecture by Dr Y V Reddy, Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, at the Centre for Banking Studies of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Colombo, 28 June.