Regulation
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.
Swiss Nat Bank supports draft of central bank law
SWITZERLAND - The Swiss National Bank 13 July gave its support to the draft of a new law governing the central bank.
Russian duma gives easy passage to currency law
RUSSIA - Russia's parliament on 13 July supported President Vladimir Putin's plan to liberalise currency controls, ignoring a central bank request to postpone approval until the autumn.
Bank directors told to undergo training
PHILIPPINES - The Bangko Sentral has expanded its "fit and proper" rule for bank officers and directors by requiring all appointees to banks' boards to undergo mandatory training in "good corporate governance".
Mon council member resigns at new central bank act
HUNGARY - Professor Janos Kornai, one of Hungary's most prominent economists, has announced his resignation from his position on the monetary council of the National Bank of Hungary (MNB).
Second banker in month nominated to Fed board
US - President Bush announced 10 July that he will nominate former community banker and Senate Banking Committee aide Mark Olson to the Federal Reserve Board.
NZ central bk seeks additional mon policy advisors
NEW ZEALAND - The Reserve Bank of New Zealand on 11 July placed advertisements in local newspapers for one or two recruits to provide additional monetary policy advice to the central bank.
French to ease cash deposit laws
FRANCE - The French parliament looks set to adopt a law that eases the responsibility of banks for reporting large cash deposits during the introduction of euro notes and coins.
Reserve Bank of Malawi must have greater autonomy
MALAWI - Economists in the country have called on the government to leave the country's Central Bank, the Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) alone saying that creating the independence of the bank would benefit the whole nation.
CBR makes life easier for capital exporters
RUSSIA - On 5 July, the Central Bank of Russia established a new procedure for making direct investments in the economies of CIS countries.
Sharon backs Klein and an independent Central Bank
ISRAEL - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has published a statement on 9 July expressing support for maintaining the independence of the Bank of Israel and for Governor David Klein, Ha'aretz reports.
Nepal to let foreigners have majority bank stakes
NEPAL - Nepal announced on 10 July it would let foreign players hold majority stakes in joint venture banks as part of a drive to open up its banking sector to outsiders.
Extra year for the new Basel plans
ARTICLE - The Economist magazine in London published an article in its 30 June edition suggesting that the postponement of the new Basel capital accord was a relief, but not a surprise.
Regulator to study Brazil comparative rate system
CHILE - Chilean banking authorities will study the implementation of the Brazilian Central Bank's comparative interest rate system with a view to boosting transparency and competition in the loan market, Chile's chief banking regulator Enrique Marshall…
Liberal rules for S-type accounts in force, Russia
RUSSIA - The Central Bank of Russia has drafted a number of instructions aimed at liberalising rules for S-type accounts, in which foreign investors must keep rubles received from redemption of government bonds that were frozen after the 1998 financial…